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GREAT DECISIONS 2009
Contemporary Art Center of Virginia
January 17th to March 7th (Eight Consecutive Saturdays)
10 AM to 12 PM
Chair: RDML Larry Baucom, USN (Ret)
Full series for members: $50
Full series for non-members: $60
Individual sessions: $15
Teachers enrolled for continuing-education credits and students: Free
Come join us for stimulating lectures and an audience-driven question and answer period with coffee and pastries served before the lecture and during intermission.
Afghanistan and Pakistan: January 17
Vice Admiral Robert Harward
Deputy Commander, US Joint Forces Command
Newfound hopes for stability in Iraq have shifted the U.S. military focus back to Afghanistan and Pakistan, one of the most volatile border regions in the world. What impact will this renewed interest have on the two states as well as on U.S. defense strategy?
Energy and the Global Economy: January 24
Dr. James Koch
Board of Visitors Economics Professor and former President, Old Dominion University
Rising energy prices, driven by instability in key producing regions such as the Middle East and increasing demand from developing countries, are affecting the global economy. What are the potential consequences of huge wealth transfers to oil-exporting states? Are there any realistic alternative energy scenarios on the horizon?
The Arctic Age: January 31
Major General Tom Henry Knutsen
Norwegian Army, Defense Attaché, Norwegian Embassy
Rising global temperatures have created new opportunities in the Arctic for resource extraction and intercontinental transport. How will sovereignty disputes among the five countries that border the Arctic affect its potential development? What impact will this race for the Arctic have on an environment already in serious flux?
Egypt in the 21st Century: February 7
Salah Ayoub
Former Chief of International Organizations, Ministry of Manpower, Egypt
Egypt has long played an important role in the Arab world while maintaining a strategic relationship with the U.S. With elections scheduled for 2009, how will Egypt deal with serious domestic issues, ranging from Islamic radicalism to food shortages? What factors will influence the path of this regional heavyweight?
Global Food Supply: February 14
Dr. Richard Brown
Staff Associate, Physicians for Peace,
Lecturer on Global Health Issues, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Global prices for food staples have risen dramatically, resulting in protests and unrest around the world. What factors are driving prices up, and can they be tamed? What will the political fallout be for governments that fail to act, and what role can global institutions play?
Cuba after Castro: February 21
Dr. Rene Perez-Lopez (Invited)
Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Virginia Wesleyan College
Since Fidel Castro handed over the presidency of Cuba to his brother, Raúl in early 2008, signs of greater economic openness have led to much speculation. Will Raúl seek to reopen ties with the U.S.? What role will Cuba's American exiles play in shaping a post-Castro Cuba?
The U.S. and Rising Powers: February 28
Dr. Dan Margolies
Batten Associate Professor of History, Virginia Wesleyan College
Since the end of the cold war, the U.S. has emerged as the world's predominant power. However, in the 21st century some rapidly developing countries have become increasingly influential. Who are these “rising powers?” Will their emergence change the global balance of power? How will the U.S. react?
Universal Human Rights? March 7
Ms. Mahesha Van Goethem, LLB
Human Rights Law, Sri Lanka Institute of Human Rights
As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrates its 60th anniversary, events in the Balkans, Sudan and Myanmar continue to challenge its idealism, while raising new questions about the prospects for humanitarian interventions. Do human rights transcend national borders and customs? Is the definition of human rights changing?
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