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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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“Thanks again for a great learning & networking experience with some amazing educators and leaders!” – Participant from last year's Global Up program
WorldBoston is proud to offer the Global Up program, an exciting and FREE professional development opportunity for educators! Register now to reserve your spot, signups close on February 5th, don't miss out!
Participants in this free program will receive 20 hours of professional development credits, an AFS Global Certificate, and will learn valuable global skills.
AS AN EXCITING NEW BENEFIT FOR THIS YEAR'S PARTICIPANTS, three lucky educators will have the opportunity to go to the World Affairs Council of America National Conference in Washington, DC! Enjoy access to world-renowned speakers, visit embassies in our nation's capital, and engage with civically minded people from across the country.
The first of 5 weekly facilitated sessions will take place on Tuesday, February 11th, so don't hesitate and miss your chance to participate in this program!
If you are interested, please reach out to Matt Zuccaro at mzuccaro@worldboston.org.
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In-Person Event | Foley & Lardner LLP
Tuesday, February 11th
6:00 – 7:30 PM
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Join us for this special community event to swap your international affairs books, network, win raffle prizes, and more! And join us at 5:30 PM for a special presentation by the WorldBoston staff, looking back at 2024 and forward into 2025.
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What’s at stake in the US-Germany relationship in 2025
Monday, February 3rd
9:00 AM ET
Germans head to the polls on February 23 to vote for new leadership in the Bundestag, just as the President Donald Trump re-enters office in the United States. The next German government will have to contend with several crises and challenges immediately and simultaneously, including the evolving landscape in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a lackluster economy at home in Germany, changing relations with China, and a potentially challenging bilateral relationship with the United States under the Trump administration. The Europe Center will convene an expert discussion to look at the most pressing issues which the next German government must confront and the role of the U.S.-Germany relationship in addressing them. Speakers for this event are Jörn Fleck (Europe Center), Stormy-Annika Mildner (Aspen Institute Germany), Jan Techau (Eurasia Group), and Rachel Rizzo (Europe Center).
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Hot Topics, Cold Realties – Trade, Tariffs, and a Shifting Global Economy
Virtual Only
Monday, February 3rd
11:00 AM ET
The current state of the global economy is marked by significant uncertainty and change, driven by geopolitical tensions, evolving supply chains, and shifting economic priorities. After years of globalized trade liberalization, protectionist ideas have resurfaced, with possible trade wars and tariffs that could affect industries and consumers worldwide. Join the ACG and 1014 for a virtual discussion on these protectionist trends and their impact on the global economy with Benn Steil, Director of International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, and Rolf Langhammer, former Vice President of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
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The World Ahead 2025
Tuesday, February 4th
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
In The World Ahead 2025, Tom Standage highlights ten pivotal trends likely to shape the year, focusing on global shifts and emerging opportunities. Key themes include geopolitical realignments as nations reassess alliances, heightened expectations for newly elected leaders to deliver on promises, and the challenges posed by economic pressures like deficits, tariffs, and protectionism. Standage underscores the importance of preparing for surprises—whether from wild-card events like solar storms or the discovery of ancient texts—making adaptability crucial in navigating the complexities of the year ahead.
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Tuesday, February 4th
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET
Join us for our speaker series “Russia: In Search of a New Paradigm — Conversations With Yevgenia Albats” to hear Peter Pomerantsev and Nina L. Khrushcheva discuss the effects of Putin’s propaganda machine.
Nina Khrushcheva, a professor with the Julien J. Studley Graduate Programs in International Affairs at The New School, New York, spent the last seven months in Moscow, traveling extensively around the European part of Russia, and will talk about the everyday life of Russians under dictatorship and the state of war. Journalist Peter Pomerantsev, author of How to Win the Information War (2024) and expert on the Russian propaganda machine, will explain the success and failures of the Kremlin’s information war.
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Manshel Lecture / American Foreign Policy in the Trump Era with Ben Rhodes
Thursday, February 6th
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET
Join the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University as they host Ben Rhodes, American writer, political commentator, and a former deputy national security advisor for strategic communications and speechwriting under President Barack Obama, for a lecture on the future of American foreign policy during the Trump administration.
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Toward Gender Parity in Japan: Who Supports Gender Quotas and Why?
Thursday, February 6th
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM ET
Gender equality continues to pose a significant challenge in Japan, particularly within the political sphere. The enactment of the Gender Parity Law in 2018, which encourages political parties to aim for gender parity in candidate nominations, marked an important milestone in addressing this imbalance. However, its effectiveness remains a subject of debate. Join the Pardee Center of Global Studies: Center For The Study of Asia, as they host Mari Miura, Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Law at Sophia University and a Visiting Scholar at Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies, Harvard University, to discuss this topic.
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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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