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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/

Peter Petri: Decoding U.S.-China Trade

Thu, Jun 20, 2019

In the foreseeable future, China and the United States will be the world’s largest economies and most influential countries. Yet their relationship has taken a nosedive and is now cooler than at any time since President Nixon visited China in 1972. Many expect “disengagement” and an “economic cold war.” This talk examines the nuts-and-bolts of the trade deal, the challenges of the China-US relationship, and possibilities for better outcomes based on rebuilding trust. Image: [Event Image](http://www.worldboston.org/calendar/2019/6/20/great-decisions-decoding-us-china-trade)

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The United States and Mexico: Partnership Tested

Mon, May 20, 2019

The United States and Mexico have a long, intertwined history, with both countries prominently featured in each other’s politics and agendas. The war on drugs, immigration and trade issues have taxed the relationship over the years. What impact will new leadership in both countries have on this crucial partnership? Image: [Event Image](http://www.worldboston.org/events-calendar/2019/5/20/great-decisions-the-united-states-and-mexico-partnership-tested)

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Refugees and Global Migration

Thu, Apr 4, 2019

Countries determine their own policies for accepting immigrants and refugees. No country has open borders. What is the difference between an immigrant and a refugee? Who determines this difference? How do international laws and groups affect national laws? Or even state laws? WorldBoston, Boston Network for International Development, and the United Nations Association of Greater Boston join forces to host this Great Decisions on Refugees and Global Migration. Mary Truong, Jeffrey Thielmen, and Professor Karen Jacobsen expand on the process of the immigration system, its triumphs and shortcomings.

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Cyber Security and Geopolitics

Wed, Feb 27, 2019

The threat of cyber conflict in the 21st Century comes to the forefront with Gus Coldebella. Threats such as industrial sabotage, election meddling, and others attacks are just examples of how the world of cyberspace presents a new form of international conflict and sabotage. Is the United States prepared to respond to such threats?

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The State of the State Department and Diplomacy

Thu, Mar 7, 2019

During the Trump administration, the usual ways of conducting diplomacy have been upended. Many positions in the State Department have never been filled, and meetings with foreign leaders such as Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin have been undertaken with little advance planning. What effect are these changes having now, and how will they affect ongoing relationships between the United States and its allies and adversaries? Ambassador Nick Burns and Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield team up to address these questions.

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South Africa's Fragile Democracy

Wed, Dec 12, 2018

The African National Congress (ANC) party has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994. But the party today suffers from popular frustration over official corruption and economic stagnation. It faces growing threats from both left and right opposition parties, even as intraparty divisions surface. Given America’s history of opportunistic engagement with Africa, there are few prospects for a closer relationship between the two countries. Meanwhile, a weaker ANC could lead to political fragmentation in this relatively new democracy. Learn more about the state of South Africa's democracy with Evan Lieberman. Image: [Pexels.com](https://www.pexels.com/photo/atlas-continent-country-creativity-269850/ "Pexels.com")

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The Waning of Pax Americana

Mon, Nov 19, 2018

Since 1945, Pax Americana has promised peaceful international relations and an open economy, buttressed by U.S. military power. But in championing "America First," President Trump has advocated selective U.S. engagement, in which foreign commitments are limited to areas of vital U.S. interest and economic nationalism is the order of the day. Allies and challengers alike are paying close attention. Ambassador Daalder and Dr. Lindsay have co-authored the book, The Empty Throne: America's Abdication of Global Leadership, released October 16, 2018. The book discusses the apparent disruption to the world order that the United States fashioned from the ruins of WWII and that produced unprecedented global stability, prosperity and democratic consensus. Critics argue that Donald Trump's America First Policy threatens this world order, yet, the authors maintain, this order has been fraying for years. Photo credit: [Joyce N. Boghosian/The White House](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/photos-of-the-week-033018/ "")

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Russia's Foreign Policy

Thu, Sep 6, 2018

Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia is projecting an autocratic model of governance abroad and working to undermine the influence of liberal democracies, namely along Russia's historical borderlands. Russia caused an international uproar in 2016, when it interfered in the U.S. presidential election. But Putin's foreign policy toolkit includes other instruments, from alliances with autocrats to proxy wars with the U.S. in Georgia, Ukraine and Syria. How does Putin conceive of national interests, and why do Russian citizens support him? How should the United States respond to Putin's foreign policy ambitions? Alexandra Vacroux is the Executive Director of the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies and Lecturer on Government at Harvard University. Her scholarly work addresses many Russian and Eurasian policy issues. She discusses this history of Russian foreign policy and the effects resonating to today. Image: [Wikipedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimir_PUtin_Russia_Guggenheim_museum.jpg "Wikipedia Commons")

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Dan Blumenthal: Chinese Grand Strategy

Tue, May 15, 2018

The rise of China as a modern superpower has prompted a variety of questions in the U.S. and around the world. From the height of the Qing empire to the present day, how has China approached the world? What is Beijing’s geopolitical “grand strategy,” and how might the U.S. respond as China seeks to shape its future in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond? Dan Blumenthal, Director of Asian Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), discusses these and related questions. **Photo:**_National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Ambassador to China Terry Branstad, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, White House Senior Aide Jared Kushner, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Director of Social Media and Assistant to the President Dan Scavino Jr., Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Cui Tiankai, and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Zheng Zeguang during President Trump and the First Lady’s tour of the Forbidden City, Beijing, China on November 8, 2017. [State Department photo/Public Domain]

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Susan Moeller: Media and Foreign Policy

Thu, Apr 26, 2018

The world order in 2018 is heavily reliant on the flow of information across various media platforms. The media has a massive influence on how events are perceived, which can be hazardous if there is misreporting or bias–so-called "fake news." On the other hand, increased reporting may lead to more transparency and communication on a global scale. “The CNN Effect” was impactful during the Cold War and has continued to have a similar impact since; political consciousness is largely shaped by what people, and states, hear from various media sources. So just how does media influence foreign policy–and to what lengths? Does international goodwill and cooperation depend on the media, and how could this change in the future? Image: [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/en/adult-laptop-computer-business-3327336/)

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