Great Decisions at the Library - 2026

GREAT DECISIONS AT THE LIBRARY
Sundays, February 1 - March 22
2 - 3:30 p.m. at the Bainbridge Public Library
1270 Madison Ave. N., Bainbridge Island
Free, with donations welcome
Refreshments provided!

Beginning February 1, the community is invited to learn about and weigh in on six of the most important foreign policy issues facing the United States today.

February 22, 2026 | 2PM - 3:30PM | Large Meeting Room, Bainbridge Public Library | Free. Light refreshments. Donations appreciated

Rainbow Nation: Can South Africa Revive its Goal of a Nonracial Democracy?

South Africa is struggling to reclaim the world-inspiring ideals of its post-apartheid founding. But its efforts to repair the country's battered reputation, fix its broken economy, and restore public trust are unlikely to succeed unless tethered to the same unifying vision that helped South Africa avoid the abyss in the early 1990s.

This topic is drawn from the our moderator's November 10, 2025, article in the Christian Science Monitor: End of the Rainbow?

Moderator: Terence McNamee, who will be joining us via Zoom, is a specialist in geo-politics, security, and development. Currently a senior fellow at the Montreal Institute for Global Security, he was a 2018-2024 Global Fellow of The Wilson Center in Washington, DC. Dr. McNamee has front-line experience in fragile states, from Afghanistan to Malawi, assisting governments in democratic consolidation, governance, and stabilization efforts. He divides his time between Canada and South Africa.

Other Suggested Readings:
South Africa's G20 Juggling Act. International Crisis Group, November 20, 2025.
South Africa: 30 Years after Apartheid, What Has Changed? Aljazeera, April 27, 2024.
The Case for Optimism in South Africa. The Economist, January 27, 2026.

March 8, 2026 | 2PM - 3:30PM | Large Meeting Room, Bainbridge Public Library | Free. Light refreshments. Donations appreciated

Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation

Moderator: Seth Weinberger, Chair of the Department of Politics & Government, University of Puget Sound

U.S. alliance skepticism may drive countries like Japan and South Korea to reconsider nuclear options. What are the implications of the Trump administration's rethinking of the U.S. alliance system for regional and global security? Will this new uncertainty alter the way allies and rivals in various regions make decisions about security and nuclear weapons?

March 15, 2026 | 2PM - 3:30PM | Large Meeting Room, Bainbridge Public Library | Free. Light refreshments. Donations appreciated

The Future of Human Rights and International Law

Moderator: Kenneth Roth, retired Executive Director of Human Rights Watch

As democracy and human rights retreat globally - and the U.S. pulls back - how can civil society and legal norms remain effective in a divided world? What is the role and force of international law in this era of impunity?

March 22, 2026 | 2PM - 3:30PM | Large Meeting Room, Bainbridge Public Library | Free. Light refreshments. Donations appreciated

America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy

Moderator: David Fenner, affiliate faculty member, U.W. Jackson School of International Studies

Trump's return has marked a break from 80 years of U.S. foreign policy leadership, embracing an "America First" approach. This discussion explores the risks of isolation and diminished influence in relation to Trump 2.0 foreign policy.

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Kathleen Thorne
Martha Bayley
Cindy Harrison
Ki Kilcher
Co-Coordinators
GREAT DECISIONS AT THE LIBRARY
Email:

Now in its twentieth year, Great Decisions at the Library is part of a nation-wide, non-partisan program of the Foreign Policy Association intended to broaden public involvement in foreign affairs. While enjoying light refreshments, participants first view a 30-minute Foreign Policy Association film on the topic under consideration and then engage in a discussion lead by an informed moderator.

Copies of the Great Decisions Briefing Book can be purchased in hard copy or Kindle format from the Foreign Policy Association. A copy is available for reading at the Bainbridge Public Library Information Desk.

Great Decisions at the Library is sponsored by the Bainbridge Public Library with funding support from the Bainbridge Island Friends of the Library, the Bainbridge Community Foundation, and a generous donation in memory of Louise Brody Weissman.