Experts To Discuss Global Politics At The Cumming Library

CUMMING, GA — With recent U.S. military action in Iran, interest in global politics is heightened and experts in a number of geopolitical topics will gather later this month at the Cumming Library to lead Great Decisions, a popular annual series developed by the Foreign Policy Association and presented locally by Forsyth County Public Library and the University of North Georgia.

Admission to each discussion is free and open to the public. Advance registration is not required.

“Great Decisions is a national program developed by the Foreign Policy Association to help local communities better understand global politics, government, and foreign issues that affect the United States and its citizens,” said Forsyth County Public Library Programming Manager Tracy Walker.

“We are fortunate to have experts on these issues at the University of North Georgia who are willing to provide information and direct our patrons to further resources, so they can educate themselves about these important topics. We always learn something new through discussion between our patrons and the speakers at Great Decisions events."

• The first discussion in this year’s series is “Climate Change and the Global Order,” presented by Jamie Mitchem and Melissa Hopkinson, at 7 p.m. on Jan. 29. Climate change has become one of the defining issues of our time. Mitchem and Hopkinson will explain what the rest of the world is doing to combat climate change and discuss the impact the effects of climate change may have on global geopolitics.
• On Feb. 5, Bibek Chand will present “India and Pakistan” and explain how India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi rode a wave of Hindu nationalism to a historic reelection in 2019. Modi’s first order of business was to revoke the special status granted to the Kashmir region, inflaming the rivalry between India and Pakistan. Chand will discuss how the Kashmir situation affects the region, both economically and politically.
• Victoria Hightower presents “Red Sea Security” on Feb. 12 and explains how the Red Sea has remained vital for global trade since the time of Ancient Egypt. Once home to the spice trade, the Red Sea now sees millions of barrels of oil a day transported across its waters. With major nations like China, France, Italy, and the U.S. building large ports and bases in the region, Hightower describes what the future of the region might look like in terms of global security and cooperation.
• On Feb. 19, Carly Redding presents “Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.” Almost every nation has enacted laws criminalizing human trafficking, and billions of dollars have been allocated to a variety of projects to curb trafficking and slavery. Redding will describe the experiences of those being trafficked and explain international efforts to combat slavery and trafficking.
• Cristian Harris will present “U.S. Relations with the Northern Triangle” on Feb. 26 and explain why the Northern Triangle of Central America, made up of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, has such a large flow of migrants from Latin America to the U.S.
• On March 4, George Danns will present “China's Road into Latin America” and discuss ways that China may fill the void left on the world stage as the Trump administration continues to withdraw. Danns will explain how Latin America fits into China’s “One Belt, One Road” plan, how such a relationship with China might affect the region, and whether the U.S. should be concerned about China’s growing influence.
• Christopher Jespersen will present “The Philippines and the U.S.” on March 11 and detail the special relationship the Philippines has enjoyed with the United States since the islands were ceded by Spain to the United States after the Spanish-American War at the end of the 19th century. However, since the election of Rodrigo Duterte, the country has pivoted more toward China, and away from the U.S. Duterte has also launched a large-scale war on drugs that many criticize for its brutality. Jespersen discusses the future of U.S. relations with the Philippines.
• On March 18, Ash Mady and Bethany Niese will present “Artificial Intelligence and Data.” Policymakers in many countries are developing plans and funding research in artificial intelligence. Global growth is slowing, and not surprisingly, many policymakers hope that artificial intelligence will provide a magic solution. The EU, Brazil, and other Western countries have adopted regulations that grant users greater control over their data and require that firms using artificial intelligence be transparent about how they use it. Mady and Niese will discuss current trends and predictions about U.S. regulation of artificial intelligence and data use.

For more information on Great Decisions 2020 events, visit www.forsythpl.org.