News & Media

Great Decisions 2018

Free Community Discussion Series on U.S. Foreign Policy to Begin Feb. 2

The 2018 Great Decisions Community Discussion Series on U.S. Foreign Policy gives Delaware County residents an opportunity to evaluate the changes that have taken place during the year since President Donald Trump was elected. 

The opening talk by Sean Kay, professor of international politics at Ohio Wesleyan University, will focus on “Russia’s Foreign Policy.” 

Equally of interest will be OWU professor Ji Young Choi’s discussion of “China and America: The New Geopolitical Equation.” Related presentations will focus on “The Waning of Pax Americana?” by Randall Schweller of The Ohio State University and “U.S. Global Engagement and the Military” by retired Major General Dennis Laich. 

Careful looks at Turkey’s crises, South Africa’s fragile democracy, global health issues, and the media and foreign policy will complete this year’s roster of topics. 

All Great Decisions discussions will be held at noon in the Fellowship Hall of William Street United Methodist Church, 28 W. William St. Attendees are welcome to bring a brown-bag lunch. Complimentary coffee and tea will be provided. Learn more at the Great Decisions of Delaware, Ohio Facebook page.

Schedule

Distinguished speakers during the eight-session series are as follows: 

• Feb. 2 – Russia’s Foreign Policy
  • Sean Kay, Chair, International Studies Program; Professor, Department of Politics and Government, Ohio Wesleyan University; Mershon Associate, The Ohio State University 
• Feb. 9 – Media and Foreign Policy
  • Paul E. Kostyu, Associate professor and chair, Department of Journalism and Communication, Ohio Wesleyan University 
• Feb. 16 – South Africa’s Fragile Democracy
  • Raissa Kanku, Student, Department of Politics and Government, International Studies Program, Ohio Wesleyan University 
• Feb. 23 – U.S. Global Engagement and the Military
  • Dennis Laich, Major General, U.S. Army (retired) 
• March 2 – Global Health: Progress and Challenges
  • Mary Howard, Professor, Department of Sociology/Anthropology, Ohio Wesleyan University 
• March 9 – The Waning of Pax Americana?
  • Randall Schweller, Professor, Department of Political Science, The Ohio State University 
• March 16 – Turkey: A Partner in Crisis
  • Michael Houlahan, Foreign Service Officer (retired), U.S. State Department 
• March 23 – China and America: The New Geopolitical Equation
  • Ji Young Choi, Associate professor, Department of Politics and Government, Ohio Wesleyan University 

Audience Participation

Following each discussion, participants will have the option of completing a survey, prepared by the Foreign Policy Association, to add their opinions to thousands of others across the nation. Survey results will be sent to executive and legislative policymakers in Washington, D.C., so that Delaware’s voice as a community of informed citizens will be heard by federal decision-makers. 

Sponsors

Grateful thanks to the following local organizations for their generous and continuing support: the American Association of University Women, Kiwanis, the League of Women Voters, the International Studies Program at Ohio Wesleyan University, William Street United Methodist Church, Willow Brook Christian Communities, Anchor and Away Travel, and private donors.

About Great Decisions

The Great Decisions Discussion Program, a free community discussion series, is designed to encourage debate and discussion of the role of the United States in world affairs. Developed by the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) in 1954, Great Decisions is the longest-standing and largest grassroots world affairs educational program of its kind. It is the core of FPA’s civic education outreach efforts, bringing millions of Americans together in communities across the country to discover, discuss, and decide their opinions on foreign policy issues.

About the Foreign Policy Association

The Foreign Policy Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring the American public to learn more about the world. Founded in 1918, FPA provides independent publications, programs, and forums to increase public awareness of, and foster popular participation in, matters relating to those policy issues.