Topics & Videos
Topic Descriptions for Great Decisions 2013
Published annually by the Foreign Policy Association (FPA)-an independent, non-governmental organization-promoting informed public opinion on U.S. foreign policy and global affairs.
Future of the euro by Erik Jones
How did the 2008 global recession contribute to the development of the euro crisis? The health of the euro affects and is affected by the state of the global economy. How can European Union leaders prevent the collapse of the common currency?
Egypt by Bruce Rutherford
The popular revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak in 2011 ushered in the promise of radical change. Two years later, what is the state of Egyptian democracy? How will the military and the civilian government balance power?
NATO by Mark Webber
How has NATO’s agenda evolved since its inception during the cold war? With its military commitment in Afghanistan winding down and a recent successful campaign in Libya, what are the Alliance’s present-day security challenges?
Myanmar and Southeast Asia by Barbara Crossette
The West has welcomed unprecedented democratic reforms made by Myanmar’s government. What challenges must Myanmar overcome before it can fully join the international community? What role can it play in Southeast Asia?
Intervention by Thomas Weiss
The “responsibility to protect” doctrine has become central to modern humanitarian intervention. When should the international community intervene? Why did the West rush to intervene in Libya but not Syria?
Iran by John Limbert
Suspicion and a troubled history have blighted U.S.-Iranian relations for three decades. How can the United States and Iran move forward? Is the existence of Iran’s nuclear program an insurmountable obstacle?
China in Africa by David Shinn
What interests govern China’s engagement in Africa? Should China’s growing emphasis on political ties and natural resource extraction inform U.S. relations with African nations?
Threat assessment by Gregory Treverton
How can the United States address the challenges of a weak economy, homegrown terrorism and nuclear proliferation? What threats and opportunities are presented by the ascendancy of China and by regime change in the Middle East?
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Great Decisions 2013 Video Episodes
Sacred Cow: Defending America on a Budget
Synopsis:
For the first time in decades, the U.S. is tightening its belt on defense spending. While traditional threats like nuclear and great power conflicts do remain. The post 9/11 challenges of terrorism and counterinsurgency have led to a paradigm shift in the way we think about our national security. Emerging threats like cybersecurity and biowarfare also require new thinking. Do 21st century challenges now pose a greater threat to U.S. national security than traditional threats like nuclear war, naval supremacy and ability to fight ground wars? Defense in an age of economic uncertainty.
Guests:
David Ignatius, Columnist, The Washington Post
General James Jones, Former National Security Advisor
Donald Rumsfeld, Former Secretary of Defense
Admiral James Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Chuck Hagel, Former U.S. Senator
Power to the People: The new Egypt
Synopsis:
The US has enjoyed 30 years of relatively stable relations with both Israel and Egypt, thanks in large part to the peace plan outlined by the historic Camp David Accords. The harmony between the two rivals has provided a key element of stability in an otherwise turbulent Middle East. But Egypt’s bumpy transition from the autocratic rule of President Hosni Mubarak to its post Arab Spring reality – has put many on edge. What challenges does the new Egypt post for American policymakers and US allies in the region?
Guests:
Jimmy Carter, Former U.S. President
Jonathan Tepperman, Assistant Editor, Foreign Affairs
Bruce Rutherford, Author, Egypt After Mubarak
Thanassis Cambanis, The Atlantic
Michael Wahid Hanna, The Century Foundation
Feeding the Dragon: China in Africa
Synopsis:
African economies are booming like never before, thanks in large part to China. The global giant is investing in infrastructure projects to help it tap into the continent’s resources – oil, minerals, and its huge agricultural potential. Critics charge China with cozying up to dictators and ignoring issues of human rights and transparency. Others fear that US is being left behind and its influence in Africa waning. China in Africa.
Guests:
Governor Jon Huntsman, Former U.S. Ambassador to China
Dambisa Moyo, Author, Winner Take All
Rosa Whitaker, President and CEO, The Whitaker Group
Ian Bremmer, President and Founder, Eurasia Group
John Campbell, Council on Foreign Relations
Imperfect Union: The Eurozone in Crisis
Synopsis:
After World War Two, the leaders of Europe established greater economic ties to help prevent future continental conflict. Now, more than half a century later, the EU faces the biggest financial crisis in its history – and the future of the Eurozone itself is under question. What’s preventing the world’s second largest economy — and America’s largest trading partner — from pulling itself out of recession?
Guests:
Nouriel Roubini, New York University
Matthew Bishop, New York Bureau Chief, The Economist
Zvolt Darvis, Bruegel
Matina Stevis, The Wall Street Journal, Brussels
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Chair, Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on European Affairs
Red Line: Iran, Israel and the bomb
Synopsis:
For nearly a decade, Iran’s quest for nuclear capabilities has topped global security concerns in Washington, Brussels and Tel Aviv. Why is a nuclear armed Iran considered so dangerous to U.S. and Israeli interests, and what’s prevented Iran from reaching a deal year after year?
Guests:
Yukiya Amano, Director General, IAEA
Trita Parsi, Founder and President, National Iranian American Council
Cliff Kupchan, Eurasia Foundation
Irshad Manji, New York University
Robin Wright, Author, Rock the Casbah
The Intervention Calculation
Synopsis:
The U.S., for better or worse, is often seen as the world’s policeman. But the question of when to intervene in other nations’ affairs with military force has long stymied American policymakers, from Afghanistan and Iraq to Libya and Syria. Why do we intervene in some conflicts and stand on the sidelines in others?
Guests:
Anne Marie Slaughter, Dean, Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University
General James Jones, Former National Security Advisor
Bill Kristol, The Weekly Standard
Max Boot, Council on Foreign Relations
General Richard Meyers, Former Head of Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Generals and the Democrat: Myanmar in Transition
Synopsis:
Controlled by a military junta, the nation of Burma, or Myanmar, has long been isolated as an international pariah state. But a flicker of hope for many Burmese has been Aung San Suu Kyi, who’s spent decades defying military leaders in her quest for democracy. Now, the generals have started to implement a series of democratic and economic reforms – which the US and other Western powers have welcomed overwhelmingly. But are Myanmar’s military leaders serious about reform? And is Aung San Suu Kyi the one to lead Burma through what could be a rocky transition from international outcast to Asian “tiger?”
Guests:
Derek Mitchell, U.S. Ambassador to Burma
Maureen Aung-Thwin, Open Society Foundations
Suzanne DiMaggio, The Asia Society
Louise Arbour, International Crisis Group
David Steinberg, Georgetown University
Joint Strike: NATO and the U.S. in the 21ST century
Synopsis:
NATO enjoyed a surge in popularity following the quick success of its air campaign in Libya. The much needed boost in morale comes as NATO moves into its twelfth year in Afghanistan, fighting a war that many see as destined to fail. Can the NATO alliance - forged during the Cold War – ensure global stability in the 21st Century? And should the U.S. continue to foot most of the bill?
Guests:
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary-General, NATO
Chuck Hagel, Former U.S. Senator
Admiral James Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Ivo Daalder, U.S. Ambassador to NATO
Robert Kagan, The Brookings Institution