America’s Changing Strategic Assumptions about China: Implications for the Bilateral Relationship
2026-01-13 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Chicago)
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 providing your contact information in the form below. Priority registration is available for World Affairs Council of Austin members. Bring your invitation to the event. Invitations are non-transferable.

REQUEST YOUR INVITATION HERE

David J. Firestein is the inaugural president and CEO of the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations (Bush China Foundation) and a founding and current member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Before joining the Bush China Foundation, Mr. Firestein was the founding executive director of The University of Texas at Austin’s (UT) China Public Policy Center (CPPC) and a clinical professor at UT’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.
A decorated career U.S. diplomat from 1992–2010, Mr. Firestein specialized primarily in U.S.-China relations, posted in both Beijing, China, and Moscow, Russia. Mr. Firestein is the author or co-author of three books on China, including two China-published Chinese-language best-sellers, as well as numerous China-focused monographs, policy reports, and articles.

WorldNow: The Architect of Espionage - The Man Who Built Israel’s Mossad
2026-01-14 18:00 - 19:00 | ONLINE
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 Man Who Built Israel’s Mossad in to the World’s Boldest Intelligence Force, joins WorldNow to introduce us to the former Mossad director.
Katz will give us an inside look at Dagan’s leadership and the operations carried out during his tenure, including counterterrorism efforts, covert missions related to Iran’s nuclear program, and expanded intelligence cooperation with international partners – and how he transformed modern espionage and the Middle East.
REGISTER HERE

Meet the Author

Samuel M. Katz is a New York Times bestselling author who has written over twenty books on the Arab Israeli conflict, military and law enforcement special operations, espionage, and counterterrorism. He has written hundreds of articles for magazines and journals around the world, as well as documentaries for television. He is also the former editor-in-chief of Special Operations Report, a trade publication for the world’s commando and counterterrorist community. Katz lectures police agencies and military commands around the world on the history of terrorism, and he is a frequent guest on television and radio networks.

Meet the Host

Jim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe, NM, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk, Jim produces and hosts The Forum, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

About the Book
The Architect of Espionage: The Man Who Built Israel’s Mossad into the World’s Boldest Intelligence Force by Samuel M. Katz
From a New York Times bestselling author and an expert on Middle Eastern conflict comes a riveting biography of Meir Dagan, the legendary Mossad director who transformed Israel’s intelligence service into a global powerhouse of espionage and counterterrorism.
In The Architect of Espionage, Samuel M. Katz masterfully chronicles the life of Meir Dagan, a visionary covert warfare veteran who revolutionized the art of intelligence and espionage. Born in the shadows of the Holocaust, his life personified the modern history of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Dagan’s journey embodies decisive action, innovative thought, and bold leadership under fire. His tenure as the head of the Mossad marked a transformative era in Israel’s history, reshaping the agency into a formidable global force.
Dagan spent thirty-two years in uniform, and under his eight-year leadership, Mossad orchestrated a series of high-stakes missions, including targeted assassinations, clandestine attempts to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power, and the covert expansion of Israel’s strategic collaborations with members of the global intelligence fraternity, notably with the CIA. These operations not only bolstered Israel’s security but also altered the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East.
Katz brings to life the portrait of a spymaster whose influence extended far beyond Israel’s borders, shaping intelligence relationships across the Middle East and worldwide.
For anyone captivated by espionage thrillers or historical biographies, this is an essential and timely read, providing an insightful glimpse into the mind of one of the most influential spymasters of our era.
Get yourself a copy of The Architect of Espionage on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore.

WorldNow: Trillion Dollar War Machine with Bill Hartung
2026-01-21 18:00 - 19:00 | ONLINE
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 U.S. and the world at large.
On January 21st, Hartung joins WorldNow with Jim Falk to reveal how the American military industrial complex operates, its key players – from Hollywood and Silicon Valley to lobbyists and the Pentagon’s top contractors – and how we can secure America’s future and prosperity by re-envisioning America’s trillion-dollar war machine.

REGISTER HERE

The Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home by William D. Hartung and Ben Freeman
A hard-hitting investigation into how the Pentagon’s runaway spending embroils America in foreign wars, squanders its wealth, and enriches a privileged elite
“A damning indictment of the conflicts of interest running rampant in the defense establishment.”―Publishers Weekly
America spends nearly a trillion dollars a year on its military. This extraordinary spending not only detracts from our ability to address pressing social problems but compels us into foreign wars to justify our vast arsenal. Sold to us in the name of “security,” our military industrial complex actually makes us far less safe.
Top policy experts William D. Hartung and Ben Freeman follow the profits of militarism from traditional Pentagon contractors, which receive more than half of the Pentagon’s budget, to the upstart high-tech firms that shamelessly promote unproven and destabilizing technologies. They unmask the enablers of the war machine—politicians, lobbyists, the media, Hollywood, think tanks, and so many more—whose work enriches a wealthy elite at the expense of everybody else, spreading conflict around the world and embroiling America in endless wars.
A damning tour de force, The Trillion Dollar War Machine shows who is pulling the strings and pushing for war, and offers a blueprint for how we can shut down the war machine and restore American security and prosperity.
Get yourself a copy of The Trillion Dollar War Machine on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore.

Globalist Coffeehouse: China in the First Decades of the 21st Century
2026-02-04 18:30 - 20:00 | 5280 Burger and Taphouse, 7032 Wood Hollow Dr, Austin, TX, 78731, United States
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 World Initiative” as they move into the vacuum the U.S. has created, from Africa to Asia and the Indian subcontinent. And finally, how will our traditional allies view their relationship with China?
Please join us for what will be a discussion that will dominate global interests for years, if not decades, to come.
REGISTER HERE

WorldNow: The Great Firewall with Yi-Ling Liu
2026-02-10 18:00 - 19:00 | ONLINE
Journalist Yi-Ling Liu takes us behind the Great Firewall to the reality of 30 years of surveillance and censorship on the Chinese Internet.

Thirty years ago, the world began to discover the power of the Internet: a digital world and resource to connect, share ideas, learn, and earn. While the rest of the world connected, the Chinese government began creating a system of strict surveillance and censorship on its internet – now known as the Great Firewall.
Today, as the country’s leadership intensifies its control of public discourse and Western headlines reduce the Chinese public to a faceless monolith, what is the true online and on-the ground reality for Chinese citizens?
Join us February 10th on WorldNow as author and journalist Yi-Ling Liu tells the untold story of the Chinese internet. Hear how Chinese citizens have navigated the last 30 years of surveillance and censorship while searching for freedom and connection – behind the Great Firewall.

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The Wall Dancers: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet by Yi-Ling Liu
An eye-opening exploration of the Chinese internet that reveals the intricate dance between freedom and control in contemporary China
In the late 1990s, as the world was waking up to the power and emancipatory promise of the internet, Chinese authorities began constructing a system of online surveillance and censorship now known as the Great Firewall. But far from being a barren landscape, the digital world that sprouted up behind the firewall brimmed with new subcultures and tech innovations, offering many Chinese citizens previously unimaginable connection and opportunity.
Today, as the country’s leadership intensifies its control of public discourse and Western headlines reduce the Chinese public to a faceless monolith, journalist Yi-Ling Liu presents an intimate portrait of China’s online ecosystem—and a crucial lens into the on-the-ground reality of life there. Tracing the last three decades of the Chinese internet’s evolution—from its lexicon to its memes to the precise nature of its censorship—she equips readers with a critical tool to assess the past, present, and future of a global power.
Drawing on years of firsthand reporting, The Wall Dancers weaves together the stories of individuals navigating China’s transformation into both the world’s largest online user base and one of its most populous authoritarian states. As these entrepreneurs, activists, artists, and dreamers experience the internet’s power as a tool for both control and liberation, they grapple with universal questions of success and authenticity, love and solidarity, faith and resilience.
The Wall Dancers is at once an unforgettable work of human storytelling and a vital exploration of what it means to live with dignity and hope within the technological systems that now shape all our lives.
Pre-order a copy of The Wall Dancers, coming February 3rd, 2026.

Austin Sister Cities Overview Featuring Kristie Bryant
2026-02-25 17:30 - 19:00 | Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel Street, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
Join the World Affairs Council of Austin as we welcome Kristie Bryant, Chair of the Austin Sister Cities International. Ms. Bryant is also Chair of the Austin Oita Sister Cities Committee. Attendees will learn more about the difference between Friendship Cities and Sister Cities, how many of these types of relationships are active with Austin, how individuals can engage with the various exchanges coordinated by these volunteer-led international exchanges.
REGISTER HERE
About the speaker:
After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in International Business and Japanese Language and Literature, Kristie Bryant began her career with Tokyo Electron, a leading global semiconductor manufacturing company, where she rose to serve as North American Sales Manager for a business unit. She now holds a Texas real estate Broker’s license, is a top-producing agent, and leads the Best of Austin Living Team at Keller Williams Realty.
Kristie’s passion for global engagement began as a student volunteer over 30 years ago with the Austin-Oita Sister City Committee and has grown into a central part of her civic leadership. She currently chairs both the Austin-Oita Sister City Committee and the board of Austin Sister Cities International, which supports Austin’s network of 13 international sister city relationships. Under her leadership, AOSCC celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2025. She has been recognized for her service with a Distinguished Service Award from the City of Austin and, in 2026, received a Certificate of Commendation from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for her contributions to international friendship and cultural diplomacy.

Women in Power: Ambassador Susan Page | International Women’s Day
2026-03-05 11:00 - 11:40 | ONLINE
Women’s representation in global leadership has slowed and, in some places, backslid in recent years. We ask why this is occurring – and where women’s leadership is thriving – with Ambassador Susan Page. Ambassador Page was the first U.S. Ambassador to the newly independent South Sudan and served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.
Celebrate International Women’s Day and explore where women are leading – from Ukraine to Mexico to Italy – where women leaders are facing increased challenges, and what it means for the world when women are in power.
This celebration of International Women’s Day is part of an annual collaboration between the Women’s Leadership Center at the University of Saint Joseph and the World Affairs Council of Connecticut.
The Details
When: Thursday, March 5 | 11:00AM – 11:40AM CT
Where: Zoom Webinar
RSVP HERE

Featuring

Ambassador Susan D. Page
Former U.S. Amb. to South Sudan; Director, Weiser Diplomacy Center; Professor of Practice in International Diplomacy at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, and Professor from Practice at the University of Michigan’s Law School
Ambassador Susan D. Page, a former diplomat, joined the Ford School faculty and the Weiser Diplomacy Center in 2020 as a Professor of Practice in International Diplomacy. She also serves as a Professor from Practice at the Law School. Page has served the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the United Nations, and non-governmental organizations in senior roles for decades, across East, Central, and Southern Africa, and in Haiti and Nepal.
Page was the first U.S. ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan and served as deputy assistant secretary of State for African Affairs, covering Central and Southern Africa, and Sudan; legal adviser to the IGAD-led peace process that resulted in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) for Sudan. Page also served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH). Among her many roles, she was attorney-adviser for Politico-Military Affairs in the State Department’s Office of the Legal Adviser, USAID regional legal advisor in Kenya and Botswana covering East and Southern Africa, and political officer in Rwanda.
Page earned a JD from Harvard Law School and an AB in English with high distinction from the University of Michigan. She was awarded a Rotary International Postgraduate Fellowship to Nepal where she conducted research on women’s and children’s rights. In addition, she received certificates of merit and distinction from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland before attending law school. Ambassador Page is an elected member of the American Academy of Diplomacy, a board member of Road Scholar, and a member of the Association of Black American Ambassadors.

Asia x Austin International Summit at SXSW
2026-03-17 12:00 - 21:00 | Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin, TX, 78704, United States
The Asia x Austin International Summit returns in 2026!
Attendees will hear from international trade experts and country representatives about business and investment opportunities in some of Asia’s most dynamic and robust markets.
Agenda At-A-Glance
Explore expanded session details below.
VENUE: KODOSKY DONOR LOUNGE (12 – 9 pm)
12:00 – 1:45 pm
[session info]Why Asia?:
The Central Texas Connection
1:45 – 2:00 pmNetworking Break
2:00 – 3:15 pm
[session info]Development @ Asia x Austin:
The Heart of the Texas Triangle
3:15 – 3:30Networking Break
3:30 – 6:00 pm
[session info]Technology @ Asia x Austin:
Robots, Chips & Rockets
6:00-6:30 pmNetworking Break
6:30 – 9:00 pm
[session info]Asia x Austin After Dark:
Cinema, Soul & Sound
VENUE: 701 GALLERY (2 – 6:45 pm)
2:00 – 3:15 pm
[session info]Markets @ Asia x Austin:
The Trade & Investment Connection
3:15 – 3:30 pmNetworking Break
3:30 – 5:30 pm
[session info]Startups @ Asia x Austin:
Born Global!

5:30 – 6:45 pm
[session info]
Creators @ Asia x Austin:
Get Noticed!

MORE DETAILS HERE

Texas-Europe Business Summit
2026-03-31 08:30 - 18:00 | San Jacinto Meeting Rooms, 309 E 21st St, Austin, TX, 78712, United States
In its 14th year, the Texas-Europe Business Summit is the premier event for Texas businesses, entrepreneurs and economic development professionals seeking to expand their footprint in Europe.
Texas is already the largest exporting state to the European Union. The Summit builds on that foundation, focusing on promoting the international trade capacity of Texas businesses while creating greater awareness regarding the benefits of exporting.
The Texas-EU Business Summit sessions are led by business leaders, trade and investment officials from EU countries, trade policy experts and political officials.
Stay for the post-summit reception where the inaugural World Affairs Council Austin Global Impact Award recipients will be honored.
Admission to the Global Impact Awards and post-summit reception are included in your Texas-Europe Business Summit registration.
We’d like to thank Access to Culture for their generous sponsorship of both the Texas-Europe Business Summit and the post-summit reception.

Summit hosts include:
The World Affairs Council of Austin,
Center for European Studies at the University of Texas at Austin,
Austin Community College,
The Consulate General of Ireland in Austin, IDA Ireland,
Access to Culture,
and
Pendas International

World Now: 250 Years of U.S. Foreign Policy - The Best & Worst
2026-03-31 18:00 - 19:00 | ONLINE
From the Marshall Plan, the Louisiana Purchase, and the creation of the United Nations to the bombing of Nagasaki, Indian Removal Act, and the invasion of Iraq, U.S. foreign policy decisions throughout its 250-year history have had an immense impact in reshaping our nation and the world.
James Lindsay, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, unveils the ultimate rankings of the best and worst decisions in U.S. foreign policy in 250 years. Join us March 31 on WorldNow with Jim Falk as we explore these foreign policy moves, their impact on the U.S. and the world, and the future of U.S. foreign policy in the century ahead.
The details:
When: Tuesday, March 31 | 6pm Central
Where: Zoom Webinar
RSVP HERE

Meet the Guest

James M. Lindsay is the Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy and Director of Fellowship Affairs at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). A leading expert on U.S. national security and foreign policy, Lindsay has held senior roles at CFR and previously served on the National Security Council.
He is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Empty Throne and America Unbound, and hosts the podcast The President’s Inbox. He holds advanced degrees from Yale University and has taught at the University of Texas and the University of Iowa.

Meet the Host

Jim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe, NM, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk, Jim produces and hosts The Forum, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Presented by
WorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide:

Critical Rare Earth Minerals & Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
2026-04-09 14:00 - 15:30 | ONLINE
Competition on critical rare earth minerals has moved to the forefront of the global geopolitical landscape with many policy leaders and industry experts contending that this issue could be the defining feature of the international security and economic system for decades ahead. In April 2026, the World Affairs Council of Austin in collaboration with the Department of International Affairs/Political Science at St. Edward’s University will feature a two-part forum exploring the role of critical rare earth minerals and global geopolitics and risk.
Leading expert speakers from policy and industry will offer perspectives on forming optimal government and business strategies for managing and mitigating risk in rare earths. Discussion will range from consequences of distribution of
resources, processing and production, supply chains, sustainable development and potential for global competition and cooperation. In part two of the forum, St. Edward’s University students will share research insights on critical rare earths throughout various regions of the world with the Austin World Affairs Council community.
Moderated by Dr. Sharyl Cross, Distinguished Professor of Political Science/International Affairs, St.
Edward’s University
Panelists:
-Steve Clemons, Editor at Large, The National Interest & Co-Founder of PRISM
-Melissa Sanderson, Director, American Rare Earths Limited & Co-Chair, Critical
Minerals Institute
-Rodger Baker, Chairman S4GEO-Society for Geopolitics
The second follow-up session will be held on Thursday April 16 at 12:00 noon where St. Edward’s University Geopolitical Risk students will present their regional semester project team research (Latin America, Africa, Europe-Eurasia) on Geopolitics and Critical Earths. This session will be co-sponsored by World Affairs Council Austin in cooperation with the St. Edward’s University student Global Affairs Group (St. Edward’s University campus, in the St. Andre multipurpose room)

Panelists
Steve Clemons
Steve Clemons is Editor at Large of The National Interest and has served as Editor at Large of The Hill, The Atlantic and Semafor as well as in senior editorial roles at National Journal and Quartz. He is also editor and publisher of the popular political blog, The Washington Note, and host of “The Bottom Line” which airs on the global network of Al Jazeera English. Clemons serves on the Advisory Board of Future U.S. and CareLab, and is Chairman & CEO of Widehall LLC, a strategic communications and global policy events firm that translates ideas into high-traction impact. Steve recently co-founded PRISM aimed to facilitate optimal policy and strategy development in priority areas including critical rare earths. Clemons writes and speaks frequently on politics of all sorts and matters of foreign policy, defense, and domestic and international economic policy. He was Founder and Senior Fellow of the American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation, where he previously served as Executive Vice President. He has also served as Executive Vice President of the Economic Strategy Institute, Senior Economic & International Affairs Advisor to Senator Jeff Bingman (D-NM) in the US Senate and was founding Executive Director of the Nixon Center (now the Center for the National Interest). He serves on the GLOBSEC International Advisory Board.

Melissa Sanderson
Bringing extensive experience in both policy and industry, Melissa “Mel” Sanderson served in the US Foreign Service contributing to shaping policy across Latin America, Europe, and Africa and played an instrumental role in re-establishing US-DRC relations post-conflict while stationed at the American Embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In the mining industry, Mel served as Vice President for Africa operations and subsequently Director of International Affairs for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. developing and executing global strategies that merged government relations with sustainable development initiatives. Her work extended to managing Freeport’s engagement with Indigenous communities in North America, ensuring that corporate activities aligned with best practices in Environmental Social Governance/ESG and stakeholder relations. In 2020, Mel founded Sanderson Consulting LLC, where she advises companies on sustainable development and ESG solutions. In addition to her consulting work, Mel serves as a Director for American Rare Earths Limited, where she focuses on government relations, ESG, and strategic vision. As the company’s Interim President for North America in 2023, she led a business transformation, enhancing investor relations and expanding the company’s profile within the critical minerals sector. Her leadership has positioned American Rare Earths as a key player in the rare earths value chain, with an emphasis on sectors such as defense and technology. Melissa has contributed to The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Reuters and spoken throughout the international community reflecting her standing as a leading expert in critical minerals and geopolitics. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Critical Minerals Institute (CMI), where she drives innovation and policy in the critical minerals sector, focusing on securing sustainable supply chains and advancing ESG principles.

Rodger Baker
Rodger Baker, based in Austin, is the Executive Director of Stratfor Center for Applied Geopolitics. Rodger guides the company’s analytical process, to include the development of their understanding and application of Stratfor’s proprietary methodology grounded in the study of applied geopolitics and intelligence analysis. He established the widely accessed RANE analysis platform bringing insights to the defense community, industry and academics on critical geopolitical developments and risk assessment. Rodger leads the MacKinder Forum on Geopolitics and the S4GEO Society for Geopolitics. He teaches in the area of Applied Geopolitics at Florida Atlantic University. Baker is a leading expert on North Korea and Asian/Indo-Pacific geopolitics, defense and geoeconomics. He has dedicated extended periods living and working in and around the Korean peninsula. His core emphasis is the multidisciplinary approach to geopolitics and the evolution of international relations to develop mid- and long-term forecasts to assist companies, governments and other globally engaged organizations in making informed decisions. Rodger holds a master’s degree in military history from Norwich University and regularly engages with academic institutes and research groups around the world briefing executives and corporate boards as well as delivering keynote addresses to a wide range of industry groups. He regularly appears in media including CNN, BBC, CBC, CNBC International, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Economist, Reuters and The Associated Press.

Sharyl Cross, Session Moderator
Dr. Sharyl Cross is Distinguished Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at St. Edward’s University. She served previously in the College of International and Security Studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch Germany, U.S. Air War College at Maxwell AFB and as Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the United States Air Force Academy. Professor Cross earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles with concentrations in international relations, comparative politics (Soviet Union/Russia/ Eurasia/Eastern Europe and Latin America regional concentrations), and American foreign and security policy. She held appointments as a U.S. Fulbright Visiting Senior Research Scholar and Professor at the Institute of USA and Canada Studies and Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Visiting Professor of Transatlantic Security and International Political Studies at Science-Po Lille, Kennan Institute Woodrow Wilson Center, post-Doctoral Fellowship Scholar at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and resident fellowship scholar and consultant at the RAND Corporation. Dr. Cross published China, Russia, and Twenty First Century Global Geopolitics co-authored with Paul J. Bolt Oxford University Press and has published extensively on issues of international security, foreign policy and geopolitics in leading professional peer reviewed journals. She is offering a new course in 2026 on Applied Geopolitical Risk in support of a certificate concentration for the programs in Political Science and International Affairs at St. Edward’s University. Her students, engaged this semester in regional research initiatives exploring the relevance of rare earth minerals to global geopolitics and risk, will present their conclusions next week at a session sponsored by World Affairs Council Austin in cooperation with the Global Affairs Society at St. Edward’s University.

Student Presentations on Critical Rare Earth Minerals & Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
2026-04-16 12:00 - 13:00 | St Edwards University St Andre Apartments Multipurpose Room, 3001 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX, 78704, United States
Join the World Affairs Council of Austin along with others interested in geopolitics, political risk, and critical rare earth mineral issues to hear from St. Edwards University students as they present conclusions from their semester-long major projects on geopolitical risk.
Given the turbulence in today’s world, governments & businesses are increasingly prioritizing assessing geopolitical risks & seeking strategies for mitigation & management of potential crisis, shock or destabilizing circumstances that might adversely impact policy, diplomacy or business investment. A general consensus exists among experts in political risk that neither qualitative or quantitative approaches provide absolute certainty as tools of prediction. However, there is much that focused analysis of geopolitical conditions, national level circumstances & trends can offer as resources in considering development & management of policy & strategy in any given regional or domestic context.
The St. Edwards students have studied the complex array of interconnected transnational trends in geopolitics, economics, socio-cultural & environmental conditions that could be consequential for stability at the global & regional levels or within specific nation-state contexts. Factors such as major power competition & conflict, cyber & hybrid challenges, propensity for societal polarization, corruption, terrorism, crime, legislation within nations restricting investment or leading to expropriation, sanctions, debt, vulnerability to environmental devastation are all issues that can affect stability & policy execution, markets & investment.
The students’ coursework also took into account material & reputational risks generated by non-state actors & individuals with increasing capacity to rival even nation-states in presenting threats to policy & business engagement throughout the world. Student presentations will focus on perspectives from both academics & industry, country case studies & form regional project teams assessing reciprocal geopolitical risk in rare earth minerals during the forum sponsored in cooperation with World Affairs Council Austin.

World Now: The Iran War - What We Know, What Comes Next
2026-04-20 19:00 - 20:00 | ONLINE
With the U.S. and Iran now in open conflict and the world’s energy supply under threat, the stakes could not be higher – or more uncertain.
Join us on WorldNow with Jim Falk as we sit down with Steven Cook, senior Middle East expert at the Council on Foreign Relations; Amb. Deborah Jones, U.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Kuwait and Libya; and Beth Sanner, CNN National Security Contributor and former Deputy Director of National Intelligence.
We’ll explore what’s happened so far in the conflict with Iran, what may happen next, and the war’s long-term impact on the region and beyond.
The details:
When: Monday, April 20th | 7pm CDT
Where: Zoom Webinar
REGISTER HERE

As this program will be simulcast with KSFR’s The Forum, it will begin one hour later than our usual start time. The Zoom link will open at 7:00 PM CDT, and the program will get underway at 7:04 PM CDT.

Featuring

Steven A. Cook
Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Steven Cook is Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies and director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). He is an expert on Arab and Turkish politics as well as U.S.-Middle East policy. Cook is the author of The End of Ambition: America’s Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East.

Amb. Deborah Jones
U.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Kuwait and Libya
Ambassador Deborah Jones retired from the U.S. Department of State in 2016 with the rank of Career Minister following a 34-year diplomatic career that included assignments in Argentina, Iraq, Tunisia, Syria, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey, as well as service as U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait and Libya.

Beth Sanner
Deputy Director of National Intelligence (2019-2021), National Security Contributor for CNN
Beth Sanner, a leading commentator and analyst of global affairs, is a national security contributor for CNN, director of geopolitics and strategy at International Capital Strategies. As Deputy Director of National Intelligence from April 2019 to March 2021, Beth was the nation’s top intelligence analyst and also served as President Trump’s intelligence briefer during his first term.
In an intelligence career spanning three decades, she was director of the President’s Daily Brief, vice chair of the National Intelligence Council, and a senior executive in CIA’s Directorate of Analysis, before being appointed DDNI. She also served on the White House National Security Council staff and at the State Department.
In 2021, Beth received the Presidential Rank Award, the highest honor granted to civil servants, for her leadership role in support of U.S. national security and the Distinguished Intelligence Service Medal, the Intelligence Community’s highest award.

Moderated by

Jim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe, NM, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. Inaddition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk, Jim produces and hosts The Forum, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Presented by

Globalist Coffeehouse: Rare Earth Minerals and Global Geopolitics
2026-04-22 18:30 - 20:00 | 5280 Burger and Taphouse, 7032 Wood Hollow Dr, Austin, TX, 78731, United States
REMs (Rare Earth Minerals) and REEs (Rare Earth Elements) and their role in the global economic system and even national security will be defining issues in the decades ahead. The terms are used interchangeably. But the name is a misnomer, as they are not rare. It is the mining and, most importantly, the processing into a component in magnets that can be effectively used in everything from EVs to data centers and AI, which is complicated. Also, there are national security issues; for example, a single F-16 carries 100 lbs. of REMs.
The mining process is very destructive, but in Africa, it is also economically viable for multinational corporations. What does it mean that the US has essentially pulled out of Africa and access to this resource? Currently, the supply chain is on the other side of the world. China dominates the market, producing 90% of the refined product and effectively setting the price. What are the implications of this situation? How does this play into the larger national security issue?

Please join us for a very interesting and surprisingly relevant discussion.

Young Professionals Career Development Webinar
2026-05-06 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Join the World Affairs Council of Austin & San Antonio for a program on Future Careers in Foreign Service and Global Logistics!
Featured speakers Navy FAO Plans & Requirements Chief, Jonathan Norris, and President of Webber Air Cargo, Michael Webber will share their fascinating journey’s and what it means to navigate highly complex scenarios in today’s interconnected world.
Chief Jonathan Norris experience previously included assignments in Azerbaijan, Egypt, as well as having been Military Advisor for the South-Central Asia Bureau. Currently, Mr. Norris is the Federal Executive Fellow at the Clements Center for National Security at University of Texas at Austin.
President of his own logistics company, Michael Webber, has provided cargo consulting to the largest U.S. international air cargo gateways, such as LAX, Chicago O’Hare, Miami, and New York JFK airports. Mr. Webber’s assignments included working in India, Thailand, the People’s Republic of China, Kenya and Cape Verde. He has also worked in Jordan and Abu Dhabi, as well as Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Panama.

WorldNow: The Global AI Race with Sebastian Mallaby
2026-05-20 17:15 - 18:15 | ONLINE
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the global balance of power. What does the AI race mean for security, power, and the world economy?

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the global balance of power. Nations are racing for advantage, companies are competing for dominance, and the quest for superintelligence is moving faster than ever.
Join us on WorldNow with Jim Falk as we sit down with Sebastian Mallaby, author of The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, DeepMind, & the Quest for Superintelligence and Senior Fellow for International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations.
From the rise of DeepMind and Silicon Valley to the intensifying global race for AI dominance, we’ll explore what this technological competition could mean for security, power, and the future of the world economy.
The details:
When: Wednesday, May 20 | 6:15pm-7:15pm Eastern
Where: Zoom Webinar

REGISTER HERE

The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, DeepMind, and the Quest for Superintelligence by Sebastian Mallaby
From one of our leading chroniclers of the intersection of innovation and capitalism, a landmark reckoning—based on unprecedented access—with one of the world’s most brilliant and driven tech visionaries, and his game-changing company.
“A fascinating portrait of Demis Hassabis, the influential thinker heading DeepMind, Google’s AI research laboratory…Mallaby captures Hassabis’ curiosity and relentless drive, weaving a vivid tapestry of collaborators, competitors, and engineers of modern AI systems…A tantalizing glimpse inside the pursuit of machine superintelligence.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Get yourself a copy of The Infinity Machine on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore

Partners

Fiesta de El Grito de Independencia 2026 Celebration
2026-09-15 18:00 - 21:00 | Republic Square Park, 422 Guadalupe Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Mexico, the Austin-Saltillo Sister Cities Association, the City of Austin Econonic Development Department, and Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation host the annual Fiesta de El Grito de Independencia.
This day marks the 216th anniversary of the declaration of independence from Spain by the Mexican priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. The event is free and open to the public.
The highlight of the evening will be when Consul General of Mexico Humberto Hernández Haddad reenacts the cry for independence. The event will include music, dance, an artisan mercado with arts and crafts from México.
No RSVPs necessary.

Full List of Upcoming Events for Members of the World Affairs Council of Austin
2026-09-19 | MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
Members, please check your newsletter for registration details. Non-members may join by visiting our Membership page.

April —
9th at 2:00 pm ONLINE Critical Rare Earth Minerals & Shifting Geopolitical Landscape //
16th at 12:00 pm Student Presentations on Critical Rare Earth Minerals & Shifting Geopolitical Landscape //
20th at 7:00 pm ONLINE World Now: The Iran War – What do we Know, What Comes Next? //
22nd at 6:30 pm Globalist Coffeehouse: Rare Earth Minerals and Geopolitics //
May —
6th at 6:00 pm ONLINE Young Professionals Career Development Webinar //
20th at 5:15 pm ONLINE WorldNow: The Global AI Race with Sebastian Mallaby //
26th at 5:15 pm Susan Harper, Consul General of Canada //

September —
15th at 6:00 pm Fiesta de El Grito de Independencia 2026 Celebration //

more events will be listed as details and speakers are confirmed
