Great Decisions Archive

great decisions 2023

Foreign Policy Association Topics

  1. Politics in Latin America
  2. Energy Geopolitics
  3. War Crimes
  4. Climate Migration
  5. Global Famine

Charlotte Lecture Series

Wednesday, January 25, “Politics in Latin America”

Greg Weeks, Ph.D., Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, UNC Charlotte

Tuesday, January 31. “Energy Geopolitics”
Peter Schwarz, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Economics, UNC Charlotte

Wednesday, February 8, “War Crimes”
John Cox, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Global Studies, UNC Charlotte

Wednesday, February 15, “Climate Migration”
Kristina Shull, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of History, UNC Charlotte

Wednesday, February 22, “Global Famine”
Colleen Hammelman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, UNC Charlotte​

GREAT DECISIONS 2022

Foreign Policy Association Topics

  1. Changing Demographics
  2. Outer Space
  3. Climate Change
  4. Russia and the U.S.
  5. Myanmar and ASEAN
  6. The Quad Alliance
  7. Drug Policy in Latin America
  8. Industrial Policy
  9. Biden’s Agenda

Charlotte Lecture Series

Wednesday, January 26th, 2022, “Drug Policy in Latin America,” ​

Greg Weeks, Ph.D., Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, UNC Charlotte
(Co-sponsored by the Young Professionals@International House)

Wednesday, February 2, 2022, “Climate Change,”
Mark Kelso, Ph.D., Professor, Political Science and Sociology Department, Queens University
(Co-sponsored by the Young Professionals of the World Affairs Council of Charlotte)

Wednesday, February 9th, 2022, “Changing Demographics,”
Michael Ewers, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, UNC Charlotte
(Co-sponsored by Charlotte Country Day School)

Wednesday, February 16, 2022, “Russia and the U.S.,”
Steve Sabol, Ph.D., Professor, Department of History, UNC Charlotte
(Co-sponsored by Charlotte Sister Cities)

Wednesday, February 23, 2022, “Industrial Policy and the Military/Industrial Complex,”
Mark Wilson, Ph.D., Professor, Department of History, UNC Charlotte​
(Co-sponsored by the Young Professionals@International House)

Great Decisions 2018

Foreign Policy Association Topics

1. The waning of Pax Americana?
2. Russia’s foreign policy
3. China and America: the new geopolitical equation
4. Media and foreign policy
5. Turkey: a partner in crisis
6. U.S. global engagement and the military
7. South Africa’s fragile democracy
8. Global health: progress and challenges

Charlotte Lecture Series

Wednesday, Jan. 24th : Media and Foreign Policy
Dr. Dean Kruckeberg, UNC Charlotte
Dr. Katerina Tsetsura, University of Oklahoma
UNC Charlotte Center City – 320 9th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Wednesday, Jan. 31st : China and America: The New Geopolitical Equation
Dr. Cheryl Brown, UNC Charlotte
UNC Charlotte Center City – 320 9th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Wednesday, Feb. 7th: The waning of Pax America
UNC Charlotte Center City – 320 9th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Wednesday, Feb. 14th: South Africa’s Fragile Democracy Dr. Mark Kelso, Queens University
UNC Charlotte Center City – 320 9th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Tuesday, Feb. 20th: Global Health: Progress and Challenges Dr. Elizabeth Racine, UNC Charlotte
Charlotte Country Day School – 1440 Carmel Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226

Wednesday, Feb. 28th : U.S. Global Engagement and the Military
Dr. Justin Conrad, UNC Charlotte
Charlotte International House – 1817 Central Ave #215, Charlotte, NC 28205

Great Decisions 2017

Foreign Policy Association Topics

  1. The future of Europe
  2. Trade and politics
  3. Conflict in the South China Sea
  4. Saudi Arabia in Transition
  5. U.S. Foreign Policy and Petroleum
  6. Latin America’s political pendulum
  7. Prospects for Afghanistan and Pakistan
  8. Nuclear Security

Charlotte Lecture Series

Wednesday, February 1: The Future of Europe
Dr. Steve Sabol, Professor, Department of History
UNC Charlotte Center City, Room 204 – 320 9th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
*** joint event with The Magellan Society, the young professional branch of the World Affairs Council of Charlotte***

Wednesday, February 8: Trade and Politics
Dr. Dale Smith, Professor and Chair, Department of Global Studies
UNC Charlotte Center City, Room 204 – 320 9th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Wednesday, February 15: Latin America’s Political Pendulum
Dr. Greg Weeks, Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science and Public Administration
UNC Charlotte Center City, Room 204 – 320 9th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Wednesday, February 22: Conflict in the South China Sea
Dr. Cheryl Brown, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration
Charlotte International House – 1817 Central Ave #215, Charlotte, NC 28205
*** joint event with Young Professionals @ International House***

Wednesday, March 1: Nuclear Security
Dr. Justin Conrad, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration
Charlotte Country Day School – 1440 Carmel Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226

Great Decisions 2016

Foreign Policy Association Topics

  1. Shifting Alliances in the Middle East
  2. The Rise of ISIS
  3. The Future of Kurdistan
  4. International Migration
  5. Korean Choices
  6. The United Nations Post-2015
  7. Climate Geopolitics
  8. Cuba and the U.S.

Charlotte Lecture Series

Wednesday, January 27: International Migration
Dr. Sebastian Cobarrubias, Assistant Professor, Global, International and Area Studies

Wednesday, February 3: The United Nations Post-2015
Dr. Cindy Combs, Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration

Wednesday, February 10: Shifting Alliances in the Middle East
Dr. Amal Khoury, Assistant Professor, Department of Global, International and Area Studies

Wednesday, February 17: The Rise of ISIS
Dr. Kathryn Johnson, Associate Professor, Department of Religious Studies
*** joint event with The Magellan Society, the young professional branch of the World Affairs Council of Charlotte

Wednesday, February 24: Cuba and the U.S.
Dr. Greg Weeks, Professor/Chairman, Department of Political Science and Public Administration
*** joint event with Young Professionals @ International House

Great Decisions 2015

Foreign Policy Association Topics

  1. Russia and the Near Abroad
  2. Privacy in the Digital Age
  3. Sectarianism in the Middle East
  4. India Changes Course
  5. U.S. Policy Toward Africa
  6. Syria’s Refugee Crisis
  7. Human Trafficking in the 21st Century
  8. Brazil’s Metamorphosis

Charlotte Lecture Series

Wednesday, January 14: India Changes Course
Dr. J. Daniel White, Associate Professor, Department of Religious Studies and Director of Undergraduate Studies

Wednesday, January 21: U.S. Policy Towards Africa
Dr. Beth Elise Whitaker, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration

Wednesday, January 28: Brazil in Metamorphosis
Dr. Oscar de la Torre, Assistant Professor, Department of Africana Studies

Wednesday, February 4: Biometrics and Privacy in the Digital Age
Dr. Bojan Cukic, Professor and Chair of the Department of Computer Science

Wednesday, February 11: Sectarianism in the Middle East
Dr. Joyce Dalsheim, Assistant Professor, Department of Global, International and Area Studies

Wednesday, February 18: Russia and the Near Abroad
Dr. Steve Sabol, Associate Professor, Department of History

Great Decisions 2014

Foreign Policy Association Topics

  1. Defense Technology
  2. Israel and the U.S.
  3. Turkey’s Challenges
  4. Islamic Awakening
  5. Energy Independence
  6. Food and Climate
  7. China’s Foreign Policy
  8. U.S. Trade Policy

Charlotte Lecture Series

January 15: U.S. Trade Policy
Greg Sizemore, Director, U.S. Commercial Services, U.S. Export Assistance Centers

January 22: Food and Climate
Dr. Greg Pillar, Professor and Chair of Environmental Science and Chemistry, Queens University

February 5: Defense Technology
Dr. James Walsh, Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Political Science and Public Administration, UNC Charlotte

February 19: Energy Independence
Dr. Johan Enslin, Director, Energy Production and Infrastructure Center, UNC Charlotte

February 26
Joint Program resulting from cancellations of previously scheduled events due to inclement weather.

China’s Foreign Policy
Dr. Cheryl Brown, Associate Professor, Political Science and Public Administration, UNC Charlotte

and

Israel and the U.S.
Dr. James Tabor, Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, UNC Charlotte

Great Decisions 2013

Foreign Policy Association Topics

  1. Future of the Euro
  2. Egypt
  3. NATO
  4. Myanmar and Southeast Asia
  5. Humanitarian intervention
  6. Iran
  7. China in Africa
  8. Threat assessment

Charlotte Lecture Series

January 15: Iran
Dr. Kathryn Johnson, UNC Charlotte

January 22: Threat assessment
Dr. Justin Conrad, UNC Charlotte

January 29: Future of the Euro
Jay Bryson, Wells Fargo

February 5: Humanitarian intervention
Dr. Brett Tempest, UNC Charlotte
and Dr. Eddy Souffrant, UNC Charlotte

February 12: China in Africa
Dr. Ola Aborisade, UNC Charlotte

February 19: Egypt
Dr. Gregory Starrett, UNC Charlotte

Great Decisions 2012

Foreign Policy Association Topics

  1. Middle East realignment
  2. Promoting democracy
  3. Mexico
  4. Cybersecurity
  5. Exit from Afghanistan & Iraq
  6. State of the oceans
  7. Indonesia
  8. Energy geopolitics

Charlotte Lecture Series

January 10: Mexico
Dr. Greg Weeks, UNC Charlotte
Associate Professor, Associate Chair and Undergraduate Director, Department of Political Science

January 17: Promoting democracy
Dr. Beth Whitaker, UNC Charlotte
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science

January 24: Middle East realignment
Dr. Cindy Combs, UNC Charlotte
Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration

January 31: State of the Oceans
Dr. John Bender, UNC Charlotte
Professor, Department of Geography & Earth Sciences

February 7: Exit from Iraq and Afghanistan
Dr. Alexa Royden, Queens University
Assistant Professor, Political Science and International Studies Department

February 14: Energy geopolitics
Dr. Bob Kravchuk, UNC Charlotte
Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science

Great Decisions 2011

Foreign Policy Association Topics

  1. Rebuilding Haiti
  2. American national security since 9/11
  3. The Horn of Africa
  4. Banks, governments and debt crises
  5. Germany’s ascendancy
  6. Sanctions and nonproliferation
  7. The Caucasus
  8. Making Sense of Multilateralism

Charlotte Lecture Series

January 11: Germany Ascendant
Dr. Scott Denham, Davidson College

January 18: Crisis in the Caucasus
Dr. Elkhan Mehdiyev, Fulbright Scholar at Duke University

January 25: Horn of Africa
Dr. Kenneth Menkhaus, Davidson College

February 1: Global Governance
Dr. James Walsh, UNC Charlotte

February 8: Sanctions and Proliferation: North Korea and Iran
Dr. Chris Van Aller, Winthrop University

February 15: Responding to the Financial Crisis
Dr. Richard Buttimer, UNC Charlotte

Great Decisions 2010

Foreign Policy Association Topics

  1. Special envoys
  2. Kenya/Responsibility to Protect
  3. Global Crime
  4. China
  5. Global Financial Crisis
  6. Russia and its neighbors
  7. Persian Gulf
  8. Peacebuilding

Charlotte Lecture Series

January 12: Global Financial Crisis
Dr. Bill Van Lear of Belmont Abbey College

January 19: Persian Gulf
Dr. Bill Brandon of UNC Charlotte

January 26: Russia and its Neighbors
Dr. Bob Kravchuk of UNC Charlotte

February 2: U.S.-China Security Relations
Dr. Cheryl Brown of UNC Charlotte

February 9: Preventing Genocide
Dr. Oscar Lansen of UNC Charlotte

February 23: Globalized Crime
Dr. Alexa Royden of Queens University

Great Decisions 2009

Foreign Policy Association Topics

  1. U.S. and rising powers
  2. Afghanistan/Pakistan
  3. Energy & the global economy
  4. The Arctic
  5. Egypt in the 21st Century
  6. Global food supply
  7. Cuba after Castro
  8. Universal human rights

Charlotte Lecture Series

January 13: U.S. and Rising Global Powers
Dr. James Piazza, UNC Charlotte

January 27: Global Food Supply
Dr. Greg Pillar, Queens University

February 3: Human Rights
Dr. Alexa Royden, Queens University

February 10: U.S. and Egypt
Dr. Jonathan Berkey, Davidson College

February 24: Cuba and Castro
Dr. Russell Crandall, Davidson College

March 3: Afghanistan/Pakistan
Dr. Chris Alexander, Davidson College

Great Decisions 2008

Foreign Policy Association Topics

  1. Iraq
  2. European integration
  3. Security issues
  4. Russia
  5. U.S. defense policy
  6. Latin America
  7. U.S.-China economic relations
  8. Foreign aid

Charlotte Lecture Series

January 15: U.S. Defense and Security Policy
Dr. James Walsh, UNC Charlotte

January 22: The European Union at 50
Dr. Mark Kelso, Queen’s University

January 29: Russia
Dr. Steven Sabol, UNC Charlotte

February 5: U.S.– China Trade Policy
Dr. Loren Fauchier, Providence Day School

February 12: Iraq: End Game
Dr. James Piazza, UNC Charlotte

February 26: Latin America – Shift to the Left?
Dr. Jurgen Buchenau, UNC Charlotte

Great Decisions 2007

Foreign Policy Association Topics

  1. Middle East
  2. Climate change
  3. Mexico
  4. International migration
  5. South Africa
  6. War crimes
  7. Central Asia
  8. The world’s children

Charlotte Lecture Series

January 16: Mexico
Dr. Russell Crandell, Davidson College

January 23: Middle East
Dr. Harry Chernotsky, UNC Charlotte

January 30: Central Asia
Dr. Steven Sabol, UNC Charlotte

February 6: Climate Change
Dr. Reed Perkins, Queen’s University

February 13: War Crimes
Dr. James Piazza, UNC Charlotte

February 27: South Africa
Dr. Karen Flint, UNC Charlotte