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WorldBoston

WorldBoston was founded in 1961 as the Boston Center for International Visitors, a nonprofit organization with a mission to connect hundreds of emerging leaders from around the globe each year with their counterparts in Greater Boston's business, government, academic, cultural and scientific communities. In 2002, the organization merged with the World Affairs Council of Boston, a nonpartisan forum founded in 1949 to engage the public in discussions about critical international issues. WorldBoston today is an active independent member of both the National Council for International Visitors and the World Affairs Councils of America, and a dynamic and respected community leader in Boston.s global network. With its expertise in fostering international exchanges and unique mix of educational programs, WorldBoston continues to build on its distinguished tradition of promoting dialogue among leaders, cross-cultural connections and public learning.

http://www.worldboston.org/

Trade, Jobs, and China

Wed, Mar 15, 2017

As the recent U.S. presidential campaign has shown, the issue of international free trade and its effect on American jobs has been hotly contested. Public and political opinion of international trade deals like TPP and NAFTA has become more hostile, with many foreign countries being branded as ‘job killers’. China has borne the brunt of this criticism, and the trade imbalance between the world’s largest and second-largest economies – worsened by allegations of currency manipulation – is seized upon by many Americans as justification for a more aggressive, protectionist economic policy against Beijing. But is American economic competitiveness really on the decline? Does the future for international free trade deals look bleak? And what would be the fallout of a U.S. trade war with China? WorldBoston’s Great Decisions series is pleased to host Jeremy Haft, an entrepreneur with nearly two decades of firsthand experience in China, as he discusses these and other questions. An adjunct professor at Georgetown University, he is also the author of the recent book Unmade in China: The Hidden Truth about China’s Economic Miracle. Photo By Base64, retouched by CarolSpears - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4222127

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China in the Time of Trump

Tue, Feb 21, 2017

China has become the world’s second-largest economy and biggest trading nation. Much of its success has stemmed from friendly relations with the United States, where Republican and Democratic administrations alike saw the rise of a stable, prosperous China as serving the national interest. But things have changed. In the U.S., a Trump administration is likely to be less friendly. And in China, challenges are multiplying. The country is in a long-run growth slowdown, while trying to shift to a consumer-based economy and manage a rapidly aging population. Will China continue its rise towards superpower status, or fall victim to financial crisis? And will the U.S. and China find a modus vivendi in Asia, or start a new cold war? Arthur R. Kroeber, one of the world’s leading commentators on the Chinese economy and author of the recent book China’s Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford, 2016), will provide insight into these crucial questions. Photo credit: [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FlagUSA_FlagPRC_crash.svg "")

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The Future of Development for the United Nations and Beyond

Thu, Feb 16, 2017

Recently the U.N. and other international organizations have come under fire as the Trump Administration challenge their contributions to U.S. objectives. But for some time, development practitioners and scholars have been questioning more deeply the effectiveness and future of the UN as the globe’s primary provider of development assistance. Last year marked the halfway point in the UN’s effort to eradicate poverty, hunger and discrimination, as well as ensure justice and dignity for all peoples. At this point, how is the globe progressing, and how are the UN and other organizations doing as a part of that effort? With development expertise from both inside and beyond the UN system, Denise Garcia, Northeastern professor and expert on the UN, and David Offensend, President & CEO of EDC, will offer unique perspectives on global efforts to achieve sustainable development. Photo Credit: flickr/[sanjitbakshi](https://www.flickr.com/photos/sanjit/6365386329 "")

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Great Decisions | China’s Naval Expansion: The Pacific and Beyond

Thu, Dec 8, 2016

The South China Sea has long been an area of contention, but increased tensions in recent years over issues of territory have placed these waters in the global spotlight. Join WorldBoston and the Rosenberg Institute at Suffolk University as we examine China’s geopolitical strategy in the South Pacific. Professor Peter Dutton, an expert on strategic studies, Chinese sovereignty, and maritime law will lead a discussion on how China’s actions in this potential flashpoint could impact the region for years to come. Image Credit: http://www.lowellinstitute.org/media/media/images/event/us-yes-china-we-did-send-a-small-armada-to-the-south-china-sea.jpg

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Cuba and the United States: A Discussion with Ambassador Paul Webster Hare

Wed, Oct 26, 2016

The U.S. announced in December 17, 2014, that, after decades of isolation, it would be taking major steps to normalize relations with Cuba. The announcement marked a dramatic shift away from a policy with roots in one of the darkest moments of the Cold War—the Cuban missile crisis. Although the U.S. trade embargo is unlikely to end any time soon, American and Cuban leaders today are trying to bring a relationship once defined by antithetical ideologies into the 21st century. Join former British Ambassador to Cuba, Paul Webster Hare for a discussion on the future of U.S. Cuba relations. What is the outlook for the island over the next decade? Will there be a transition away from the Castro regime? Can President Obama’s efforts to normalize relations be reversed?

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Peace Through Entrepreneurship: Investing in a Startup Culture

Tue, Oct 11, 2016

In his book _Peace Through Entrepreneurship_ Steven R. Koltai argues that joblessness – not religious or cultural conflict – is the root cause of the unrest, extremism, and terror that vexes American foreign policy and threatens American security. He offers a new solution based on a quintessentially American value and underutilized foreign policy tool: entrepreneurship. As the first Senior Advisor for Entrepreneurship under Secretary Hillary Clinton at the State Department, Koltai not only sets forth why this is good policy, but how the US Government can do it better. Photo: ["The Incubators Youth Outreach Network"](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32105923 "") By Abelkazzah - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,

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Refugee Resettlement: The Massachusetts End of the Pipeline

Wed, Jun 15, 2016

Experts: **Mary Truong**, **Jeffrey Thielman**, And **Marjean Perhot** discuss the fundamental questions surrounding the refugee resettlement process in Massachusetts. Who will be resettled in the Commonwealth? How is Massachusetts chosen as their destination? How does the state distribute funds to assist in the resettlement process? Which organizations manage the process of resettlement? This panel of experts focuses on what is being done to resettle the refugees who are already in Massachusetts or who are on their way. (Photo: [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kurdish_Refuge_Camp_in_Suruc_Turkey.jpg ""))

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America in the Middle East: Alliances and War

Thu, May 26, 2016

Is U.S. military policy to blame for the current instability in the Middle East? From a proxy war in Yemen to an ongoing civil war in Syria, a number of conflicts have shaken traditional alignments in the Middle East to their core. _New York Times_ bestselling author **Andrew Bacevich** discusses what the U.S. can do to secure its interests in the region. Prior to becoming Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History at the Boston University Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Dr. Bacevich served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Based on his expertise in the topic and insights from his book _America's War for the Greater Middle East_ (2016), he outlines the various traditional alliances in the Middle East and how American engagement has influenced decision making in the region. (Image: U.S. Naval War College (120612-N-LE393-170) [[CC BY-SA 2.0]](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ "BYSA 2"), via [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:120612-N-LE393-170_(7368347472).jpg "Andrew Bacevich cover"))

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The Future of Kurdistan

Thu, Apr 7, 2016

Kurdistan, a mountainous area made up of parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria, is home to one of the largest ethnic groups in the region: the Kurds. Now, most in the West know them for their small, oil-rich autonomous region in northern Iraq called Iraqi Kurdistan — one of the U.S.' closer allies in the Middle East and a bulwark against the expansion of the so-called Islamic State. What does the success of Iraqi Kurdistan mean for Kurds in the surrounding region? **Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman**, the Kurdistan Regional Government Representative to the U.S., discusses the status of Kurdistan and its relationship to the United States. Before her appointment as the representative to the U.S., Ms. Abdul Rahman worked as a journalist for 17 years and then began her public service career as the High Representative to the United Kingdom. In her current role, she works to strengthen ties between Kurdistan and the United States, advocate for her government's position on a wide array of political, security, humanitarian, economic, and cultural matters, and promote coordination and partnership, influencing both Kurdistan-U.S. relations and the position of Kurdistan in the world.

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Cities and Climate Change: Boston at the Paris Climate Conference

Wed, Feb 24, 2016

The American public has become more aware during the 2010s of the damage wrought by climate change. From droughts in the west to extreme weather in the east, a rapidly changing climate has already made its footprint in the United States. The extreme winter of 2015 is a reminder that Massachusetts will not escape unscathed from this global phenomenon. Cities around the world are responding as best they can to these changes, even as a global strategy to deal with climate change remains elusive. **Austin Blackmon**, the City of Boston’s Chief for the Environment and Energy, discusses the role of cities in combating climate change. Blackmon represented Boston at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21), where the city received a prestigious C40 award for “Smart Cities and Smart Community Engagement.” How has Boston become a global leader in the fight against climate change? What more must be done to stymie this environmental crisis? (Photo: [Flickr/Aris Gionis](https://www.flickr.com/photos/aris_gionis/5133753470/in/photolist-8PDQ3S-d8nkZu-eqs2C1-5wAYrT-52kLwT-hBUGuD-8XeJyn-5wAThT-8Xfi34-8PCxhj-d8cgf-MqkG2-7bdz2k-3m6gup-9yZKcK-8NAfr9-jLYbEc-8k6dn6-6WfdUe-dZjiUt-qGQEWS-jBwsND-d1aC4N-7RUSrR-d8aT8-hBTRrj-gChztm-djPpS-epvNTc-6ehjsY-8kk4Cz-qhgUgb-5DV1N6-8NTWNm-bPsrYa-4jjkrD-49DezA-d8aJj-8ma4eC-GDRjB-6qo9fz-2TfNft-4VPLYg-ec7AE2-bSxZep-8ma4of-5AfwbM-omDYN-4JkGQc-vSoByz "Boston Environment Photo"), image cropped)

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