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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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WorldBoston is proud to offer the Global Up program, an exciting and completely free professional development opportunity for educators! This program begins in early February, so don't forget to register!
Following an updated AFS Global Up for Educators curriculum, you will have the opportunity to engage in this free global skills training which will further enrich the experience of your students. Participants in this free program will receive 20 hours of professional development credits, an AFS Global Competency Certificate, and more!
Don't miss your chance to take part in this incredible program! If interested, please reach out to Matt Zuccaro at mzuccaro@worldboston.org.
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South Korea in 2025: Democratic Evolution and Implications for Policy
Monday, January 27th
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM ET
Last month’s political upheaval in South Korea—from the declaration and reversal of martial law to the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol—has highlighted the vibrancy and resilience of the country’s democracy. The political crisis will continue until South Korea’s Constitutional Court rules on the impeachment charges. If the impeachment holds, this will be the second time a South Korean president has been removed from office in the last decade, but the story of South Korea’s struggle for democracy has deeper roots in the country’s 70-plus years of history.
Join the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) for an in-depth discussion on the historical and regional context of the current events in Seoul. Expert panelists include John Delury, Luiss University in Rome, Ji Yeon (Jean) Hong, University of Michigan, Scott A. Snyder, President and CEO at the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI), and Tae Gyun Park, Seoul National University.
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India's Policy Landscape: Insights From The Survey Of India
Tuesday, January 28th
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET
This event will delve into India's current policy landscape, using the Hoover Institution's inaugural edition of the 'Survey of India' as a foundation for the discussion. The 'Survey of India' is a comprehensive volume that provides an overview of developments in India across various policy arenas, including foreign policy, demography, economics, and education. Each of its eight chapters offers a panoramic view and an authoritative account of specific policy issues that are collectively shaping India's trajectory. Speakers at this event include Šumit Ganguly, Indiana University, Jack A. Goldstone, George Mason University, Dinsha Mistree, Hoover Institution, Nirvikar Singh, UCSC.
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Diplomacy or Discord? U.S.-Mexico Relations at a Crossroads
Wednesday, January 29th
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM ET
With Claudia Sheinbaum's recent ascendance to Mexico's presidency and Donald Trump's return to the White House, relations between Mexico and the U.S. stand at a crossroads. How is Mexico preparing to approach trade negotiations, border security, and migration in the second Trump term? Has Mexico's negotiating position evolved since 2020? And how might the two countries sustain their economic and security cooperation given Sheinbaum and Trump’s ideological differences? Join us for a conversation with Denise Dresser, Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico, and Lila Abed, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, moderated by Cécile Shea as we explore what’s to come for Mexico and the U.S. and its global implications.
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Bridging Divides: The Power of Religious Engagement in Global Diplomacy
Thursday, January 30th
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
For billions of people around the world, religion is an integral part of daily life that often shapes approaches to peace and conflict. But until the 1990s, religion’s potential as a peacebuilding tool was overlooked by many policymakers and diplomats. Join USIP and the International Center for Religion & Diplomacy for a conversation reflecting on the history and legacy of religious engagement in peacebuilding. The discussion will examine key accomplishments, assess global trends, and explore bold new strategies for strengthening diplomacy, security and peacemaking through religious engagement. Speakers include Dr. Douglas M. Johnston, International Center for Religion & Diplomacy, Martine Miller, International Center for Religion & Diplomacy, and Palwasha Kakar, USIP.
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A Transatlantic Strategy For Competitiveness and Innovation
Thursday, January 30th
1:00 PM ET
The Global Energy Center will host a discussion on the European Union’s forthcoming sustainability policies and what they will mean for the transatlantic partnership. The future of the transatlantic alliance stands at a defining moment following ground-shifting elections in the United States and Europe. To address shared challenges like rising energy costs and inflation, the United States and Europe must jointly advance low-carbon, affordable, and reliable energy solutions, which can drive economic growth, foster innovation, and protect energy systems from hybrid threats. Achieving these sustainability and resilience goals will require compatible policies to enable the United States and the EU to build a skilled workforce, diversify supply chains, and scale up financing mechanisms. Speakers for this event include Jean Froehly, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Javier Sancho Velazquez, European External Action Service, Tom Quaadman, CCMC, and David Woodcock Gibson, Dunn, & Crutcher.
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Great Decisions 2025: American Policy in the Middle East—Taking Stock & Looking Ahead
Friday, January 31st
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
The war in Gaza has brought the region to a crossroads. What are the possible outcomes of the war, and how might the United States use its influence to shape a long-term settlement that leaves both Israel and the Palestinians in a better position? How might Arab states in the wider region be brought into a settlement? What are America’s interests in the Middle East and how can it advance them. Join WorldOregon for a discussion on this topic with expert speaker Joel Beinin, Stanford 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.
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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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