WorldBoston Recommends: 1/19/2026 - 1/23/2026

Dear Friends,

Welcome to this week's WorldBoston Recommends email, highlighting high-quality programming for the upcoming week, special opportunities, and event recordings, whether our own, from other World Affairs Councils, or other excellent venues.

We hope these recommendations help you stay internationally engaged, wherever you may be.

Best regards,

Your Friends at WorldBoston

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Great Decisions: U.S. Engagement with Africa

Thursday, January 29th

6:00 – 7:30 PM

Africa’s geopolitical importance on the global stage is growing. What lessons can the U.S. learn from past strategic successes and failures on the continent, and how can we use those lessons to meet future challenges as we look to further our engagement with a continent of over 50 countries and over 1.5 billion people?

Join us for a timely Great Decisions program on this topic!

More information on this event will be released shortly, but register now to secure your spot.

This program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.

Disclaimer: WorldBoston is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, non-advocacy, educational organization dedicated to fostering civil discourse on international affairs. Our speakers' opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WorldBoston, our affiliates, or our community.

Iran's Protests: Will this time be different?

Monday, January 19th

10:00 AM – 11:15 AM ET

In the final days of 2025, widespread anti-government protests broke out across Iran. Demonstrations initially focused on the rapidly worsening economic conditions that have pushed many households into precarity. Since then, in the wake of a government crackdown and internet blackouts, the wave of unrest has sustained and grown throughout the country. Protesters are expressing their discontent and distrust with Iran’s leadership and political landscape, demanding systemic change and agency over their futures. In this webinar, a panel of experts will discuss the demographics and future of the protests, as well as the Islamic Republic’s attempts to reassert control amidst its crisis of legitimacy. Panelists will also examine the roles of and implications for regional and international actors, including the United States and Israel.

The Saudi Arabian Vision and the Future of Saudi/U.S. Relations with Fahad Nazer

Wednesday, January 21st

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET

Fahad Nazer is the official spokesperson for the Embassy of Saudi Arabia to the United States and is joining the World Affairs Council of Greater Reading to discuss the future of Saudi-U.S. relations amidst a rapidly changing world.

Systemic Corruption in Russia and War in Ukraine

Wednesday, January 21st

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

Russia’s decision to attack the sovereign nation of Ukraine and start a full-scale war in the middle of Europe in the 21st century was caused in part by a systemic level of corruption that drives Russia towards aggression — against Ukraine, against the international liberal rules-based order, and against democracy itself. Matthew Murray will discuss how Russia’s February 2022 decision can be traced directly to Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity in 2014; and how Russian President Putin aimed in part to divert attention from Russia’s failure to modernize economically and politically. Murray will also discuss how since the Revolution of Dignity, Ukraine has been steadily building a new institutional architecture to counter corruption at home.

2026 U.S. Foreign Policy Update

Thursday, January 22nd

7:00 PM ET

Join Global Minnesota for the insightful and popular U.S. Foreign Policy Update with Diplomat in Residence and career Foreign Service Officer, Tom Hanson. Hanson will explore foreign policy developments, trends, and challenges facing the U.S. in the year ahead. This program will help those who attend stay up-to-date on the year’s most impactful developments in international relations.

Are YOU our NEXT Green Room Scholar?

Named for the proverbial “green room” where people wait before going on stage, the new Green Room Scholars initiative is part of WorldBoston's growing NextGen programming, an essential element of our effort to fulfill and expand our mission of “fostering international engagement and global cooperation.”

For each regular WorldBoston event, the selected Green Room Scholar will help greet and orient the speaker, serving as part of the WorldBoston event team.

What benefits do Green Room Scholars receive?

Networking
Participation in a well-tuned, professional event team
Blogging with byline
Recognition in WorldBoston social media
Connecting with one of WorldBoston's outstanding speakers, who are leading scholars and practitioners in global affairs

Who is eligible to be a Green Room Scholar?

Students at universities that are currently sponsoring WorldBoston!

For further information contact Director of Global Engagement Programs and Operations Harrison Zeiberg at hzeiberg@worldboston.org

LEARN MORE

Writing Opportunities

Are you interested in writing about international affairs? Below are opportunities for you to submit your pieces to publications nationwide!

The Journal of Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs: This quarterly journal is accepting submissions of features and essays, as well as online exclusive submissions to appear on their website on a rolling basis. Submit your piece here.
Realist Review Article Submission: This policy publication is accepting submissions from anyone interested in writing a commentary or analysis piece that expresses a perspective on policies or developments in international affairs and diplomacy. Submit your work here.
AFSA’s National High School Essay Contest: This contest encourages young people to think critically about how U.S. diplomats utilize policy expertise, negotiation skills, and crosscultural understanding to shape a more peaceful and interconnected world. The 2025-2026 topic is The Fragile Front Line: U.S. Diplomacy and the Future of Soft Power. This contest is open to high school students in grades 9-12. Learn more here.