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Great Decisions
International Relations Discussion Group

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What is Great Decisions?

Great Decisions is an international relations outreach and discussion group of the League of Women Voters of Larimer County.  We sponsor a monthly, public, Great Decisions discussion on international issues and their impact on our world, with topics chosen annually by the Foreign Policy Association.

 

The mission of the Foreign Policy Association today is to serve as a catalyst for developing awareness, understanding, and informed opinion on U.S. foreign policy and global issues.

 

Through its balanced, nonpartisan programs and publications, the Foreign Policy Association encourages citizens to participate in the foreign policy process.

 

Great Decisions is America's largest discussion program on world affairs. The program model involves reading the Great Decisions briefing book, watching the documentary film series, and meeting as a group to discuss the most critical global issues facing America today. When appropriate, the team presents educational programs to members of the League of Women Voters of Larimer County and the public on matters of international concern. We also provide books, video resources and a teacher's guide for the Social Studies department at Fort Collins High School. 


Our meetings are open to the public!  We meet the first Monday of each month (February – June; October -December) on the Zoom platform, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.


Sign-up for the 2024 season of Great Decisions is underway! To reserve a book, please contact Karen Heckman at (970) 481-9591. Briefing books are available for $30, payable on receipt of the book. Books are also available for purchase by those who cannot attend meetings.  

2024 Discussions

Mideast Realignment  February 5, 2024

The United States and Middle East are at a crossroads.
In spite of a reduced presence in the Middle East, the
U.S. still has significant national interests there and
the area is a key arena for global power politics. Can
the U.S. continue to defend its interests in the Middle
East and globally with a lower level of military and political
involvement, or should it recommit to a leading
role in the region?

 

Climate Technology and Competition March 4, 2024

Will the United States and China, with other powerful
countries following suit, approach current and future
climate initiatives with an increased commitment to
trade protectionism and nationalism, by various measures
including trade restrictions? Or could a growing
spirit of international accord develop to confront the
“common enemy” of climate change?


Science Across Borders  April 1, 2024

Solar Radiation Modification (SRM), also known as Solar Radiation Management, Radiation Modification Measures or Solar Geoengineering, would aim to address a symptom of climate change by reflecting more sunlight back into space, or by allowing more infrared radiation from Earth to escape, in order to reduce the Earth’s temperature. It includes numerous proposed methods which differ significantly. None are ready for deployment. Solar Radiation Modification could not be a substitute for reducing emissions, or removing atmospheric CO2. Is this a viable method to reduce the earth's temperature?





U.S. - China Trade Rivalry  May 6, 2024
China’s economic rise and its current policies of increasing
the role of the state in the economy have led
some U.S. policymakers to seek to deny China access
to U.S. technology and investment. This is seen as a
necessary corrective to decades of predatory Chinese
economic policies. Is this a wise strategy, and how
effective can it be?

NATO’s Future  June 3, 2024

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February
2022, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
has come under increased scrutiny, not because
NATO troops are involved in the conflict, but because
of its role in relations between Russia and its neighbors.
Will expanding membership in NATO protect
countries, or will it further provoke Russia?

Understanding Indonesia  October 7, 2024

Despite its large size, Indonesia remains virtually
invisible to most Americans. But as one of the world’s
largest democracies, the world’s largest Muslim-majority
nation, and as an economic driver of ASEAN,
why does it fly below the radar? What are current
issues in U.S.-Indonesian relations, and what role can
the country play in Asia?

High Seas Treaty   November 4, 2024

Areas of the seas beyond national jurisdiction comprise
the high seas, which are facing a degradation of
ecosystems due to climate change and the increase
in human activities, such as shipping, overfishing,
pollution, and deep-sea mining. The recently negotiated
High Seas Treaty, also known as the Biodiversity
Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty, will attempt to
address these issues. How difficult will it be to convince
nations to participate?

Pandemic preparedness  December 2, 2024

Looking back at the covid-19 pandemic, there are many
lessons to take away in terms of domestic and international
policies. Although this pandemic seems to have
waned, how can we apply these lessons to future pandemics?
Will countries cooperate, and will a consensus
emerge on how to manage global health challenges?


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