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 1, 2026 | 2PM - 3:30PM | Large Meeting Room - Bainbridge Public Library | Free. Light refreshments. Donations appreciated

Ukraine and the Future of European Security

Moderator: John Koenig, retired Deputy Permanent Representative to the U.S. Mission at NATO

With reduced U.S. support for NATO and Ukraine, Europe faces strategic uncertainty. The Trump administration has signaled an intention to reduce its security role in Europe. What are America's stakes in NATO and Europe's strategic dilemmas, and how might Europe respond?

Moderator: John Koenig, retired Deputy Permanent Representative to the U.S. Mission at NATO. Ambassador Koenig retired in 2015 after more than three decades in the U.S. Foreign Service. His last post was as U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus, where he brokered the agreement to launch the latest round of US-sponsored settlement negotiations. He previously served as Political Advisor to the NATO Joint Forces Command in Naples, Italy; as Deputy Chief of Mission in Berlin, Germany; and as Deputy Permanent Representative to the U.S. Mission at NATO. In 2011, he received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award in recognition of the policy and leadership roles he played in Berlin and at US-NATO.

Suggested Readings:
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's January 20 Remarks at Davos.ï¿½
The Economist - January 21, 2026. The True Danger Posed by Donald Trump.
Foreign Affairs - Jan./Feb. 2026. The West's Last Chance: How to Build a New Global Order Before It's Too Late.
Associated Press - Jan. 23, 2026 - Ukraine, Russia, US discuss fraught issue of territorial concessions in Abu Dhabi.

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

U.S. - China Relations

Moderator: Phil Wall, Affiliate Professor of International Studies and retired U.S. Foreign Service diplomat

Relations with China remain tense, with tariffs, military modernization, and pressure on Taiwan. Does Trump have a coherent China policy, and will his tariffs on Rare Earth minerals be effective? What are America’s strategic options?

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?

Moderator: Terence McNamee, senior fellow at the Montreal Institute for Global Security

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.

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.