Tom Hanson from the Minnesota International Center (MIC) will discuss the current and recent changes to President Obama's current foreign policy. President Barack Obama begins the second year of his Administration; please join us for an insightful presentation by former Career Foreign Service Officer Tom Hanson. In this annual "State of U.S. Foreign Policy" address, Mr. Hanson will explore and explain current foreign policy development, trends and challenges for the United States in the year ahead.
Tom will also discuss briefly the 8 topics that the Great Decisions Discussion Groups will be exploring this year. Great Decisions 2010 will be starting in January and the first discussion will be Global Financial Crisis on January 27, 2010 12-1:30 pm at the Grand Rapids Area Library.
A Great Decisions Discussion Group is composed of interested individuals who want an opportunity to learn and participate in the foreign policy decision-making process. Participants consider discussion groups a "safe" environment because they provide everyone with the opportunity to speak. Each participant's point of view carries equal weight and everyone is encouraged to share opinions and ideas. Consensus is not a goal. Discussion Group participants do not attempt to "convert" participants, because there is a mutual respect for each member's experiences, value systems and beliefs. The true focus of the Discussion Group is the critical examination of all issues and opinions, each recognized as equally valid. Any individual with an interest in expanding his/her knowledge of international relations as well as engaging in active discussion of crucial global issues is welcome to join. Great Decisions is used by a wide range of people, from high school students to retirees, and participation is not limited to those with an expert knowledge of foreign affairs. Great Decisions discussion groups are centered on the Great Decisions briefing book. This well researched annual publication provides eight timely global topics to be read by group participants. Participants should read the briefing book articles prior to group meetings, in order to guarantee that all discussion group members come together from the same point of reference, with the same facts and basic understanding of the issues to be discussed. Everyone is encouraged to share his or her thoughts and each participant's point of view carries equal weight.
The 8 topics will be discussed at Grand Rapids Area Library on Wednesdays, each month from 12-1:30 pm. This program is FREE and open to anyone that would like to participate. We only ask that you register for the series online at www.getlearning.org., this series is under Grand Rapids Adults, Area Adult Opportunities, Great Decisions 2010, or you can register through ISD 318 Community Education 327-5730.
The topics are as follows:
Global Financial Crisis – Jan. 27, 2010
Russia and its Neighbors – 2/17/2010
China Security Relations – 3/17/2010
Global Crime – 4/21/2010
Peace Building and Conflict Resolution – May 19, 2010
Special Envoys – June 16, 2010
Persian Gulf Now More than Ever – Oct. 20, 2010
Kenya and R2P Post-Election – Nov. 18, 2010
Thomas Hanson is a former career Foreign Service Officer. While with the U.S. Department of State his foreign postings included East Germany, France, Norway, the Soviet Union, Sweden, and Georgia. He also assisted in opening new embassies in Mongolia and Estonia.
Mr. Hanson has also worked on the Foreign Relations Committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Most recently, he was Director for NATO and European Affairs at the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington, D.C. Currently he serves as Program Secretary of the St. Paul-Minneapolis Committee on Foreign Relations and as a lecturer/consultant for the Great Decisions program at the Minnesota International Center. He is also on the board of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights (U.S. Foundation) and Diplomat in Residence at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He is an occasional foreign affairs commentator in local and regional media.
Mr. Hanson graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in International Relations. He holds graduate degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University; the Geneva Institute of Advanced International Studies in Switzerland; and the National School of Administration (ENA) in Paris, France.
