Great Decisions at the Library

Interested in foreign affairs? The Arts & Humanities Council and the Bainbridge Island Branch of the Kitsap Regional Library are pleased once again to bring you Great Decisions at the Library. Drop by on Saturday mornings for coffee, pastries, and a stimulating moderated discussion on some of today's most pressing current events. The initial program is on January 12 and continues every Saturday except February 9 until March 9. The program begains at 9:30 a.m. and ends around 11 a.m. The topics for discussion are:

January 12 The Generals and the Democrat: Myanmar in Transition Suggested Reading Materials	January 19 The Humanitarian Intervention Calculation Suggested Reading Materials	January 26 Power to the People: The New Egypt Suggested Reading Materials
February 2 Joint Strike: NATO and the U.S. in the 21st Century Suggested Reading Materials	February 16 Feeding the Dragon: China in Africa Suggested Reading Materials	February 23 Red Line: Iran, Israel and the Bomb Suggested Reading Materials
March 2 Sacred Cow: Defending America on a Budget Suggested Reading Materials	March 9 Imperfect Union: The Eurozone in Crisis Suggested Reading Materials

1. THE GENERALS AND THE DEMOCRAT: MYANMAR IN TRANSITION – January 12

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 U.S. 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”?

Moderator: Therese Caouette, Executive Director of Partners in Asia, a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that supports community initiatives to improve the lives of the most vulnerable among the people of Myanmar.

Click here for the list of suggested reading materials prior to the meeting.

2. THE HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION CALCULATION – January 19

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?

Moderator: David Harrison, a lecturer in policy analysis at the U.W. Evans School of Public Affairs.

Click here for the list of suggested reading materials prior to the meeting.

3. POWER TO THE PEOPLE:  THE NEW EGYPT – January 26

The U.S. 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 U.S. allies in the region?

Moderator:  Marwa Maziad, an Egyptian journalist and fellow at the Middle East Center of the U.W. Jackson School of International Studies.

Click here for the list of suggested reading materials prior to the meeting.

4. JOINT STRIKE: NATO AND THE U.S. IN THE 21ST CENTURY – February 2

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? 

Moderator: Dr. Christopher Jones, Associate Professor at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington and Co-Director of the UW's Institute for Global and Regional Security Studies.

Click here for the list of suggested reading materials prior to the meeting.

5. FEEDING THE DRAGON: CHINA IN AFRICA – February 16

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 the U.S. is being left behind, and its influence in Africa waning. 

Moderator: Dr. Dongsheng Zang, Associate Professor of Law and Director of Chinese Legal Studies at the University of Washington School of Law

Click here for the list of suggested reading materials prior to the meeting

6. RED LINE: IRAN, ISRAEL AND THE BOMB – February 23

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?

Moderator: Kelly Erickson, Visiting Assistant Professor in Politics and Government at the University of Puget Sound.

Click here for the list of suggested reading material prior to the meeting.

7. SACRED COW:  DEFENDING AMERICA ON A BUDGET – March 2

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.

Moderator: Laurance Kerr, retired U.S. diplomat and former Associate Professor of History at the National Defense University and Distinguished Lecturer at the Inter-American Defense College.

Click here for the list of suggested reading material prior to the meeting.

8. IMPERFECT UNION: THE EUROZONE IN CRISIS – March 9

After World War II, 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?

Moderator: Dr. Lewis Mandell, Professor of Finance Emeritus at SUNY – Buffalo and Senior Fellow in the Aspen Institute's Initiative on Financial Security in Washington, DC.

Click here for the list of suggested reading materials prior to the meeting.