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 […]
Music is a versatile and significant tool in diplomacy, serving as a universal language that crosses cultural and linguistic boundaries. Music also serves as a soft power instrument, enhancing a country’s image and fostering a positive perception worldwide, while also acting as a voice for social change. Mutual appreciation is fostered by platforms that allow different […]
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 […]
Join members of the World Affairs Council of Austin and Austin Sister Cities International on Saturday, November 15 from 12:00pm - 4pm at the Austin Central Library (710 W Cesar Chavez) for the Annual Passport to the World family-friendly festival. Enjoy an afternoon of FREE programming exploring Austin's rich international community through live performances, interactive […]
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 […]
Join us at the World Affairs Council of Austin Member Holiday Party! Invitations have been sent to our members. If you would like to renew your membership, visit: www.wacaustin.org/membership
Each year, The Economist publishes The World Ahead series: an informed prediction of the major themes that will dominate the coming year. Spanning topics from politics to technology to sociology and more, this series edited by Tom Standage is as ambitious as it is awe-inspiring. On December 8, Standage rejoins the Council to discuss his publication’s analysis for 2026. In conversation […]
Gunboat diplomacy, armed conflict, or all-out regime change? As tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela continue to rachet up, all outcomes and more seem to be on the table. The U.S. has declared an armed conflict with Venezuela, increased military pressure in the Caribbean, and accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of heading Cartel de los […]
In his talk, David Firestein will examine how key U.S. assumptions about China and strategic aspirations and intentions have changed over the last ten to fifteen years and analyze and assess the impact of these shifts on U.S. policy choices and policy performance. This event is by invitation-only. Please notify us of your interest to receive an invitation by […]
How did Mossad, Israel’s intelligence service, come to be one of the world’s most notorious and prominent players in global intelligence? Just look to Meir Dagan, the Mossad’s former director who transformed the service into the leading force in counterterrorism and espionage it is today. Samuel Katz, bestselling author of The Architect of Espionage: The […]
The U.S. spends nearly a trillion dollars on its military each year, more than any other nation. Is it really keeping us safe? Bill Hartung, author and senior fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, argues that not only is America's high military spending not keeping America safe, but it is endangering both the […]
NEW DATE: February 4th In the decades to come, what will China's role be in the global world order? The relationship with the U.S. has been one of competition but also cooperation on certain global issues, such as climate change. Still, it is said that the “Belt and Road Initiative” might become the “Belt and […]