GREAT DECISIONS AND TOPICS IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS (24) SUNY ADK, 696 Route 9, Gansevoort, NY 12831., Second floor.
Tuesdays, 11:30am-1:00pm, October 6, 13, 20, 27, November 3, 10
International relations seem to be in turmoil, and it often feels difficult to find actual accurate information about the significant issues around the world. ALL has been offering the Foreign Policy Association's Great Decisions program for many years as one antidote to the confusion. However, the 2026 Great Decisions materials were created for publication almost a year ago. Because so much has happened in the last year, we have chosen to add topics and materials from additional expert sources (such as the Council on Foreign Affairs among others) to the discussion for this session.
Through selected readings and videos, we try to offer both background information that rarely comes from daily news feeds and analysis of the issues from vetted experts as a basis for the inquiry into the selected topic. The group discussions are lively, meaningful, full of insights--and participants frequently state that they truly appreciate the opportunity to learn and share in such a respectful community. Come join us!
Sign up early as the class often fills fast.
1. US-China Relations in this New Era
2. The Future of Human Rights and International Law in a Divided World
3. Developments in the Middle East
4. The Future of Foreign Trade: Economic Growth vs Security and changing Global Trade Rules
5. Environmental Issues and International Politics
6. Europe, NATO, Ukraine, and Russia
Text: Great Decisions 2026 Briefing Book. Available in both hard copy and digital forms from Foreign Policy Association Bookstore. (https://fpa.org/bookstore/) Note: If you took the spring session, this is the same briefing book we used then.
Leaders: Carol Forman-Pemberton, Ellen Sullivan, and Bill Robeson have been facilitating this course for a number of years. They are each retired educators who each bring long experience in different disciplines and have conducted considerable research in foreign policy.