Informed Citizens Make Great Decisions

Great Decisions is an annual lecture series hosted by the Tyler Public Library, League of Women Voters, and American Association of University Women. The topics are provided by the Foreign Policy Association each year.

Information on the topics below is from the Foreign Policy Association website. If you would like to purchase a Great Decisions 2022 booklet, you can do so here at the Foreign Policy’s online Bookstore.

Great Decisions 2022 Topics

For this year, our lectures and speakers will be announced on social media the week of. Below are some of the topics we will cover from the Foreign Policy Association’s website.

Energy Geopolitics

How will changes in the energy industries impact relations between countries?Access to oil and gas has long held an influence over the politicsof individual nations and their relations with others. But as more countries move toward sustainable energy, and supply chain shortages affect the availability of oil and gas, how will this change the way in which the United States interacts with the out-side world? By Carolyn Kissane

China’s Foreign Policy and the U.S.

How will the United States respond to China’s growing global presence?
For the past ten years, the United States and China have been locked in a competition for who has the greatest global influence. One major point of contention is the status of Taiwanese sovereignty, which has become even more relevant recently with the possibility that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may prompt China to take similar action regarding Taiwan. How will the United States engage a China which is increasingly seeking to expand its sphere of influence? By David Lampton

War Crimes

What is a war crime? How does this definition apply to recent events in Ukraine? Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in widespread charges of war crimes and calls for justice. But what exactly are war crimes? Opinions of what constitutes a war crime have evolved, as have ways to identify and punish the perpetrators. How will the war crimes committed in Ukraine be dealt with? By Francine Hirsch

Economic Warfare

What comprises economic warfare? How have these measures been used recently against Russia? Waging economic warfare consists of a variety of measures from implementing sanctions to fomenting labor strikes. Such tools are utilized by states to hinder their enemies, and in the case of the United States have been used as far back as the early 19th century. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, economic warfare has been the main means for the west to challenge Russia. How effective will these sanctions be at convincing Russia to cease its war? By Jonathan Chanis

Politics in Latin America

Politics in Latin America

What does the emergence of various left wing governments mean for countries in Latin America? Electoral results in Latin America over the past
four years have led many observers of the regional/political scene to discern a left-wing surge in the hemisphere, reminiscent of the so-called “Pink Tide” that swept the area some 20 years ago. But how much do these politicians actually have in common? What implication does their ascendency have for the region? By Jorge Castañeda

Global Famine

What causes famine? How can it be prevented in the future? Fears of global food shortages have followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has disrupted grain shipments from the major grain producer. But what about countries and regions that were suffering before this impending shortage? How is famine defined, and how is it different from simple food shortages? What if any remedies are there? By Daniel Maxwell

Iran at a Crossroads

What is the future for relations between Iran and the U.S.?
By the fall of 2022, Iran was in a state of turmoil due to widespread protests against government-enforced wearing of the hijab, a failing economy, an ineffective new president, and the looming succession of the country’s leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Abroad, renewal of the Iran nuclear deal seemed doubtful and tensions remain high between Iran, Israel, and Arab states. Many Iranians have lost hope of a better future, and the country seems at a crossroads. How should the United States deal with it? By Law-
rence Potter

Climate Migration
How is climate change impacting human migration? As climate change accelerates and drought and rising sea levels become more common, millions of people in affected regions must uproot themselves and seek safety elsewhere. Who are these affected individuals, and how might the United States aid them, and be affected by the migration? By Karen Jacobsen