Join fellow World Affairs Councilmembers from across the nation for a town hall on U.S. Foreign Policy. We’ll address the massive changes to the State Department, the role of the U.S. in conflicts around the world, and relationships with allies and adversaries alike. REGISTER HERE About Senator Murphy U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), is a […]
Former Ambassador Larry Andre, currently with the L.B.J. School, previously presented a program on Africa to the World Affairs Council. He will return to discuss a continent that has seen radical change in the very recent past. The media tends to focus on a continent facing civil war, militant Islam/terrorism, famine, and even genocide. Is […]
In his new political thriller The Human Scale, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright tells the story of an Israeli cop and a Palestinian-American FBI agent who join forces to solve the murder of an Israeli police chief in the West Bank – set against the backdrop of the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict. Wright joins us on […]
How will we define the vital interests of the U.S. related to our foreign policy in this new century? What should be our priorities, and how will we assess tradeoffs from Geostrategy to Economics? Also, what will be our role in promoting Human Rights, Democracy, and Development? Will we continue to lead America’s “Unfinished Fight […]
As a country and world power, we are in a period of transition, from how we approach both our allies and potential adversaries to the impact of technology, from drone warfare to cybertechnology and even AI. We are in the process of redefining our role in the world. What are our vital interests? Is there […]
Join the World Affairs Council of Austin and hear from our featured guest speaker, Kiersten Kullenberg, the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s Outreach Director for Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. Ms. Kullenberg will share details of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition's (USGLC) brand new report, “Economic Security is National Security.” In addition to explaining USGLC’s work […]
The global threats to US national security increase day by day, with our adversaries and competitors working together to create chaos and disruption, not just on the military front, but also economically, and they are playing to win. Yet, too often, security and economic threats are addressed on separate tracks, not recognizing the connection between […]
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman – de facto ruler of one of the wealthiest states in the Middle East – has positioned himself as a transformative leader. His rule is defined by economic and social change, a close relationship with President Trump, and concerns about human rights abuses and power consolidation. Jordan’s King […]
Join your fellow World Affairs Council of Austin members for a conversation with Lawrence Wright, author, screenwriter, and playwright. Mr. Wright received the Pulitzer Prize for this book, "The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11." With a degree from American University in Cairo, he has spent time living and reporting on the Middle […]
An online conversation with LTG Robert Ashley, USA (Ret.), 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and MG Garrett Yee, USA (Ret.) About the speakers: Lieutenant General Robert P. Ashley, Jr. retired from the U.S. Army November 2020 after over 36 years of activity duty service as an intelligence officer. He assumed his last duty […]
As the nuclear threat heats up, we sit down with Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, former Undersecretary of State for Arms Control & International. As the under secretary of state for arms control and international security from 2021 to 2024, Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins oversaw three bureaus: Arms Control, Deterrence and Stability; International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN); and […]
What is the region’s future, starting with Gaza and the West Bank? What will be the role of the US and countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt? The US has announced a 20-point plan for the region, and at this time, some would say that a ceasefire and the return of the Israeli […]
Join your fellow World Affairs Council of Austin members for Ukraine and Innovation at the Edge featuring Ross Guieb, Executive Director for the George H.W. Bush Combat Development Complex at the Texas A&M University System RELLIS Campus in Bryan. This event is by invitation-only. Please notify us of your interest to receive an invitation by […]
Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins us on WorldNow with Jim Falk to explore the global rise of autocracy, new challenges posed by an assertive Russia and China, and an increasingly insular America – and what it all means for democracy and security in a changing world. In Autocrats vs. Democrats, Ambassador McFaul […]
In 1785, the US adopted the dollar sign as its official currency. Just three years later, in 1789, the very first dollar bill was issued. By 1791, Alexander Hamilton established the Bank of the United States. For over the last century, the dollar has been a dominant force in international trade. An interesting fact is that […]