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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,
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Mary P. Yntema
President & CEO
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Chat & Chowder with Dr. Joseph Nye | A Life in the American Century
Hybrid Event | Only Virtual Registration Available
Wednesday, January 22nd
6:00 – 7:30 PM
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Join us for this installment of our popular Chat & Chowder series, featuring Joseph S. Nye Jr., Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at Harvard University to discuss his book A Life in the American Century.
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Tuesday, January 21st
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
As the Ukraine War heads into its third year, it is clear that the grinding military battle has not resulted in a clear path to victory for either side, despite all efforts — including billions of dollars of weapons and aid — by the West to destroy the Russian presence there and even the Putin leadership back in Moscow. For many in Western capitals, the media, and especially the Washington establishment, this should have been a clearcut case of an invader and violator of sovereignty and democracy denying conquest. But history has a tendency to complicate things, and as journalist Scott Horton writes in painstaking detail, that this is not just a story of Russian revanchism, but the apotheosis of decades of American policy to diminish and isolate the former Soviet Union for the benefit of its own empire. In Provoked: How Washington started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine, Horton unearths the building blocks of the crisis, beginning with President George H.W. Bush and leading right into the twilight of the Biden Administration.
Join the author and Kelley Vlahos, Editorial Director of Responsible Statecraft, for a conversation that delves into the making of a war, and the hubris of empire.
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Wednesday, January 22nd
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM ET
Join the Stimson Center for an expert discussion on strategic competition at sea and its impact on competition between China, India, and Pakistan. A panel of regional experts will assess the role that naval competition plays across the Indian Ocean Region today and how deterrence at sea is likely to evolve going forward. This discussion marks the launch of our latest online course, which features lessons on the technical requirements, policy drivers, emerging trends, and risks related to maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region with perspectives from a range of regional experts.
The expert speakers featured at this event are, Rizwana Abbasi, Associate Professor, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Christopher Clary, Associate Professor of Political Science, University at Albany; Nonresident Fellow, Stimson Center, Monty Khanna, Rear Admiral (Ret.), Brian Finlay, President and CEO, Stimson Center, and moderated by Zeba Fazli, Research Analyst, Stimson Center.
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Priorities for the New Administration with H.R. McMaster
Thursday, January 23rd
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET
Join the World Affairs Council Connecticut for this special WorldNow virtual conversation. Lt. Gen. (ret.) H.R. McMaster served for 13 months as President Trump’s National Security Advisor. Just three days after the inaugural, he joins us to break down the critical national security and foreign policy priorities that will shape the next four years.
McMaster is also the author of War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House.
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A Conversation with Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias
Friday, January 24th
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET
Greece, positioned at the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East, plays an important role in multiple geopolitical challenges. From providing humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine and navigating the upheavals in the Middle East to managing relations with Turkey, Greece faces critical strategic decisions. How is the country leveraging its position as a diplomatic bridge to advance unity in Europe and stability in the Middle East? As Greece expands its defense capabilities and strengthens its role within NATO, can it help establish a robust and independent European defense? Join us for a conversation with Greece's Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and Endy Zemenides, Executive Director, Hellenic American Leadership Council on Greece's evolving regional and global role.
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Great Decisions 2025: International Climate Cooperation in an Era of Geopolitical Turmoil
Friday, January 24th
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
The 2015 Paris Agreement established a UN-sponsored framework for negotiations on climate change and global warming. In subsequent COP meetings, experts and political leaders have come together seeking common cause for this growing global crisis. What is the future of these efforts, and what have they yielded? What is the U.S. role in fostering cooperation on climate change? In a divided country, what are the possible futures for American policy leadership? Expert speaker for this event are Jillian Gregg, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, and Gregg B. Walker, Communication and Environmental Sciences, Oregon State University
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Registration is now open for WorldBoston’s 2025 Academic WorldQuest Competition! Academic WorldQuest is the World Affairs Councils of America's flagship youth education program and is a fun, fast-paced team competition for high school students. It challenges students to think globally about critical issues facing the U.S. and the world, testing players' knowledge of current international politics, geography, global economics, history, and world cultures.
This year’s Massachusetts-wide competition will take place at Emmanuel College on Saturday, March 15th, 2025. Participation is completely free, and WorldBoston will be sending the winning team to the national competition in Washington, DC! Participating schools may send up to 2 teams to the local competition. You can learn more about Academic WorldQuest and register here.
In addition to the competition, participating schools will be eligible to select up to 2 educators to participate in an exciting professional development opportunity! Following an updated AFS Global Up for Educators curriculum, you will have the opportunity to engage in this free global skills training and develop competencies which will further enrich the experience of your students. Participants in this program will receive 20 hours of professional development credits, an AFS Global Competency Certificate, and more!
The program starts soon, so don’t miss out! The first of 5 weekly facilitated sessions will take place on Tuesday, February 4th. If you don’t yet have the details of your AWQ team, we will gladly take your pledge to ensure that you and/or your colleagues can take advantage of this program.
We certainly hope that we’ll see you at Academic WorldQuest 2025, and for our Global Up for Educators program! Don’t hesitate to be in touch should you have any questions or concerns.
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The UNAGB Summer Institute in Global Leadership offers week-long leadership development programs for middle and high school students that are designed to cultivate global awareness and leadership skills among students through the core principles of Model UN. Throughout the week, participants engage in dynamic simulations of international diplomacy, participate in meaningful skill-building workshops, and explore complex global issues such as human rights, global health and climate change.
Led by experienced educators and industry professionals, UNAGB’s Summer Institute helps participants develop practical skills in public speaking, research, and consensus-building, preparing them to become effective global citizens and future leaders. By the end of the program, students emerge with a deeper understanding of global challenges and the confidence to contribute positively to their communities and the world at large.
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Are you interested in bringing the world into your classroom? Do you want to inspire your students to be globally engaged? The National Museum of American Diplomacy is offering an hour-long program for professionals in education to share how to introduce and incorporate diplomacy and global perspectives into a school curriculum. This program is completely free and will take place seven times over the next 4 months.
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Want to be a part of WorldBoston’s Dinner Diplomacy program? Engage with international professionals of visiting delegations for a meal at your home. We often have opportunities to get involved! Hosting in an informal setting allows you to meet distinguished visitors from all over the world and learn more about their country, culture, and professional expertise. Dinner Diplomacy can take various forms, from brunch to afternoon tea to a sit-down dinner with small groups. Reach out to Sarah Sibley, Vice President of Citizen Diplomacy (ssibley@worldboston.org) to learn more about upcoming opportunities!
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The Alumni Resource Center (ARC) is an online career development hub for U.S. citizen ExchangeAlumni. ARC provides ExchangeAlumni with courses, trainings, and other resources to develop professional skills and abilities, market themselves, and explore careers in and outside of public service. The Alumni Resource Center is offering a new online course, Seize the Advantage: Understanding Non-Competitive Eligibility. This course will explore non-competitive eligibility and how you can leverage this unique opportunity to apply for federal jobs. You must be a U.S. citizen ExchangeAlumni and a member of the Alumni Resource Center.
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Writing Opportunities
Are you interested in writing about international affairs? Below are opportunities for you to submit your pieces to publications nationwide!
- WorldBoston Event Reporting: Volunteer to write an event recap about one of our Global Engagement events or public programs, to be posted on our website blog and social media. For more information, please email Harrison Zeiberg, Manager of Global Engagement and Operations.
- WorldBoston's #BostonPhotoFriday: We want to see your pictures of Boston! As part of our #BostonPhotoFriday series, we would like to feature our community's photos on our social media. For more information, please email Harrison Zeiberg, Manager of Global Engagement and Operations.
- 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.
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