Title:Great Decisions 2020Date: 2/26/2020
Description:Great Decisions returns for a fifth year to Franklin Public Library.
Sponsored by the Franklin Public Library Foundation with financial support by WaterStone Bank, Tom and Carole Donovan, and in memory of our library friend and Great Decisions fan, Dora Sargent.
February 5, 2020: Climate Change and the Global Order (Speaker: Dr. Pablo Toral, Beloit College)
Climate change has become one of the defining issues of our time. As much of the world bands together to come up with a plan, the U.S. remains the notable holdout. What is the rest of the world doing to combat climate change? What impact will the effects of climate change have on global geopolitics?
About the speaker: Dr. Pablo Toral is a Professor of Environmental Studies and International Relations at Beloit College where he involves students in his three interests of activism, sustainability, and teaching.
February 12, 2020: Red Sea Security (DVD/Roundtable Discussion)
Once home to the spice trade, the Red Sea now sees millions of barrels of oil a day transported across its waters. With major nations like China, France, Italy, and the U.S. building large ports and bases in the region, what does the future of the region look like? How important is Red Sea security for global security? Can the region be a place of global cooperation?
February 19, 2020: U.S. Relations with the Northern Triangle (DVD/Roundtable Discussion)
The Northern Triangle of Central America, made up of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, is a special target of the Trump Administration, which hold the nations responsible for the large flow of migrants from Latin America to the U.S. With funds from the U.S. cut, how can the Northern Triangle countries curtail migration?
February 26, 2020: Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (Speaker: Dr. Beth Dougherty, Beloit College)
Almost every nation has enacted laws criminalizing human trafficking, and international organizations, governments, and NGOs sponsor a large variety of projects to curb trafficking and slavery. Billions of dollars have been allocated to these efforts. What is the international community doing to combat slavery and trafficking? What are the experiences like for those being trafficked?
About the speaker: Dr. Beth Dougherty is Manger Professor of International Relations at Beloit College. Dr. Dougherty is a graduate is Chatham College with a Master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.
March 4, 2020: Artificial Intelligence and Data (Speaker: Dr. Iqbal Ahamed, Marquette University)
Policymakers in many countries are developing plans and funding research in artificial intelligence (AI). Global growth is slowing, and not surprisingly, many policymakers hope that AI will provide a magic solution. The EU, Brazil, and other Western countries have adopted regulations that grant users greater control over their data and require that firms using AI be transparent about how they use it. Will the U.S. follow suit?
About the speaker: Dr. Iqbal Ahamed is Professor and Chair at the Department of Computer Science at Marquette University. He is also the co-founder of Ubitrix, a technology transfer company that develops mobile applications for a number of uses, including healthcare communication, speech therapy, palliative care, as well as marketing, fitness tracking, embedded systems and location-based services.
March 11, 2020: The Philippines and the U.S. (Speaker: Mr. John Katzka, retired Senior Foreign Service Officer)
The Philippines has had a special relationship with the United States since the islands were ceded by Spain to the United States after the Spanish-American War at the end of the 19th century. However, since the election of Rodrigo Duterte, the country has pivoted more toward China, and away from the U.S. Duterte has also launched a large-scale war on drugs that many criticize for its brutality. What does the future hold for U.S. relations with the Philippines?
About the speaker: Mr. John Katzka is a retired Senior Foreign Service Officer with 37 years of federal and foreign service experience. He is also a Wisconsin native, UWM graduate, and regular guest on the “International Focus” program on Milwaukee PBS.
March 18, 2020: China’s Road into Latin America (DVD/Roundtable Discussion)
As the Trump administration continues to withdraw from the world stage, China is looking to fill the void. How does Latin America fit into China’s “One Belt, One Road” plan? How will the relationship with China affect the region? Should the U.S. be concerned about China’s growing “sphere of influence”?
March 25, 2020: India and Pakistan (Speaker: Mr. Doug Savage, Director-Institute of World Affairs at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi rode a wave of Hindu nationalism to a historic reelection in 2019. His first order of business was to revoke the special status granted to the Kashmir region, inflaming the rivalry between India and Pakistan. How will the Kashmir situation affect the region, both economically and politically?
About the speaker: Mr. Doug Savage is Director of the Institute for World Affairs at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he serves as producer and host of the weekly “International Focus” program on Milwaukee PBS. He holds a Master’s Degree in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago, and has done graduate study at Yarmouk University in Irbid, Jordan.