Great Decisions Topic Material

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2015 DVD Publication Date: January 02, 2015 Price: $40.00 Item #: FPA31640

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Narrated by Academy Award nominated actor David Strathairn, Great Decisions in Foreign Policy brings you eight half-hour documentaries, each tackling a different challenge facing America today.  The 2015 series features nearly 100 of the most important figures in international affairs and U.S. foreign policy.  

                 

 
2015 Lineup

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE: RUSSIA'S FOREIGN POLICY

Synopsis:

Putin’s pushback against European expansionism has the West wondering: If Putin’s Russia isn’t afraid to take an aggressive stance against Ukraine’s pivot to the West, what does that mean for the rest of Russia’s neighbors?

 

Guests:

• Ian Bremmer, President and Founder, Eurasia Group
• Stephen Cohen, Professor of Russian Studies, NYU & Princeton
• Amb. Chas. Freeman, Retired from U.S. Foreign Service
• Julia Ioffe, Contributing Writer, The New York Times Magazine
• Garry Kasparov, Former World Chess Champion
• David Kramer, Senior Director, McCain Institute
• Colum Lynch, Senior Diplomatic Reporter, Foreign Policy
• Jeffrey Mankoff, Deputy Director of Russian/Eurasian programs, CSIS
• Erica Marat, National Defense University
• Amb. Thomas Pickering, Former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs
• Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Former Secretary-General, NATO
• Carla Robbins, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
• David Satter, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
• Anne-Marie Slaughter, President and CEO, New America

 

THE TRADEOFF: PRIVACY IN A DIGITAL WORLD

Synopsis:

The idea of “privacy” has undergone significant changes in the digital age, as has the idea of privacy “harm.” Concerns about what some see as a U.S. “dragnet” and unwarranted privacy intrusions have compelled other countries to revamp their own privacy protections. Legislation, both at home and abroad, hasn’t kept pace with technological developments, leaving some wondering if privacy as we know it is long dead.

 

Guests:

• Mieke Eoyang, Director of National Security Program, Third Way
• Barton Gellman, The Century Foundation
• Carla Robbins, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
• Peter Singer, New America
• Alex Sinha, Fellow, Human Rights Watch & ACLU
• John Tye, Legal Director, AVAAZ
• Amb. James Woolsey, Former Director of the CIA
• Sen. Ron Wyden, Senator from Oregon

 

THE GREAT DIVIDE: SUNNI vs SHIA

Synopsis:

From the crisis in Iraq and Syria to the tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the struggle between Sunni and Shi‘i groups for dominance is tearing apart the region and shows no signs of abating. How does sectarianism fit into a larger narrative of the Middle East? How have governments manipulated sectarian differences? And finally, what is the U.S. doing about it?

 

Guests:

• Geneive Abdo, Fellow, Stimson Center
• Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
• Deborah Amos, International Correspondent, NPA
• Mohamad Bazzi, Associate Professor of Journalism, NYU
• Amb. Barbara Bodine, Former U.S. Ambassador to Yemen
• Kai Bird, Author, The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames
• Amb. Robert Ford, Former U.S. Ambassador to Syria
• Amb. Chas. Freeman, Retired from U.S. Foreign Service
• Shadi Hamid, Author, Temptations of Power
• Amb. John Hirsch, Adjunct Professor, Columbia University ,SIPA
• Frederic Hof, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
• William Luers, The Iran Project
• Fen Osler-Hampson, Director of Global Security Research Prgroam, CIGI
• Amb. Thomas Pickering, Former Under Secretary of State, Political Affairs
• Carla Robbins, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
• Amb. Frank Wisner, Former U.S. Ambassador to India

 

INDIA RISING

Synopsis:

Inspired by its “top-down” model for growth, the world’s largest democracy has started taking its cues from China, one of America’s economic rivals. It’s a mindset that led to Modi’s election in 2014, and has signaled the developing economy’s desire for real change. Now, it’s up to the U.S. to determine how to best secure its interests as India asserts itself on the world stage.

Guests:

• Alyssa Ayres, Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan & S. Asia, Council on Foreign Relations
• Kai Bird, Author, The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames
• Jonah Blank, RAND Corporation 
• Wendy Chamberlin, President, Middle East Institute
• Barbara Crossette, Former The New York Times correspondent
• Dr. S. Jaishankar, Foreign Minister of India
• Tanvi Madan, Director of India Project, Brookings Institution
• Shashi Tharoor, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Indian Parliament
• Amb. Frank Wisner, Former U.S. Ambassador to India

 

THE PROMISE OF AFRICA

Synopsis:

Africa is in the midst of an unprecedented transformation. The continent is home to some of the fastest growing economies in the world, and it’s become a draw for foreign investors from across the globe. After the “Obamamania” of 2008 died down, though, the realization that Obama wasn’t going to overturn, or even prioritize, U.S. Africa policy kicked in. How can U.S. policy live up to its promise and values while securing its interests in the region?

 

Guests:

• Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
• Deborah Amos, International Correspondent, NPR
• Semhar Araia, Founder and Executive Director, DAWN
• Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director, U.N. World Food Programme
• Mark Dybul, Executive Director, The Global Fund
• William Easterly, Author, The Tyranny of Experts
• Michael Froman, United States Trade Representative
• Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of Iceland
• Amb. John Hirsch, Adjunct Professor, Columbia University, SIPA
• Mo Ibrahim, Philanthropist, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
• Cindy McCain, Founding Member, Eastern Congo Initiative
• John Prendergast, Founding Director, Enough Project
• Gayle Smith, Senior Director, National Security Council
• Jason Stearns, Senior Fellow, NYU
• Linda Thoms-Greenfield, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. State Department

 

SYRIA: THE WORLD'S LARGEST REFUGEE CRISIS

Synopsis:

Syrians have for a century welcomed over a million refugees from Armenia, Palestine, Iraq and other countries around the region. Now, thanks to a multiyear civil war, they are on track to become the source of the world’s largest refugee population in a matter of months. As Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and other neighbors strive to accommodate the millions of Syrians, the risk of allowing Syrians to become dependent on emergency aid and forming a “lost generation” remains. 
 

 

Guests:

• Geneive Abdo, Fellow, Stimson Center
• Deborah Amos, International Correspondent, NPR
• Mohamad Bazzi, Associate Profressor of Journalism, NYU
• Joseph Chamie, Former Director, U.N. Population Division
• Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director, U.N. World Food Programme
• Rochelle Davis, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Georgetown University
• Amb. Robert Ford, Former U.S. Ambassador to Syria
• Antonio Guterres, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees
• Shadi Hamid, Author, Temptations of Power
• Frederic Hof, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
• William Luers, The Iran Project
• David Miliband, President and CEO, International Rescue Committee
• Fen Osler-Hampson, Director of Global Security Research Program, CIGI
• Elias Bou Saab, Minister of Education, Lebanon
• Anne-Marie Slaughter, President and CEO, New America
• Amb. Frank Wisner, Former U.S. Ambassador to India
• Amb. James Woolsey, Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency

 

MODERN DAY SLAVERY

Synopsis:

Human trafficking represents over $30 billion in international trade per annum and continues to be one of the fastest growing criminal industries. The U.S. and the international community have adopted various treaties and laws to prevent trafficking, but to truly understand and combat the issue, they must find the root causes enabling smugglers to commit millions into slavery.

 

Guests:

• Luis Cdebaca, Ambassador, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
• Joseph Chamie, Former Director, U.N. Population Division
• Antonio Guterres, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees
• Gary Haugen, President, International Justice Mission
• Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times Columnist and Co-Author, Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity 
• Cindy McCain, Founding Member, Eastern Congo Initiative
• Maurice Middleberg, Executive Director, Free the Slaves
• David Miliband, President and CEO, IRC
• Brad Myles, CEO, Polaris Project
• Carol Pier, Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs, Department of Labor
• Louise Shelley, Professor at George Mason University, Director at TraCCC
• Sarah Stillman, Staff Writer, The New Yorker
• Shandra Woworuntu, Founder, Survivor Economic Empowerment
• Sheryl WuDunn, Co-Author, Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity

 

BUILDING BRAZIL

Synopsis:

Brazil — it’s the “B” in the acronym BRICS, five emerging economies once seen as soon-to-be superpowers. After economic troubles in the 1990s, Brazil has risen to new global prominence — it’s drawing in more investment, working on global issues ranging from climate change to peacekeeping, and even hosting the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. But some of Brazil’s trickiest problems — staggering income inequality, weak civic institutions, poor regional leadership — have held it back.

 

Guests:

• Ian Bremmer, President and Founder, Eurasia Group
• Mieke Eoyang, Director of National Security Program, Third Way
• Barton Gellman, The Century Foundation
• Eric Hershberg, Director for the Center for Latin American & Latin Studies, American University
• Mark Langevin, BrazilWorks
• Shannon K. O'Neil, Council on Foreign Relations
• Susan Segal, President and CEO, Americas Society, Council of the Americas
• Paulo Sotero, Wilson Center
• Barbara Weinstein, Professor of History, NYU

Episode one screener

Sphere of Influence: Russia's Foreign Policy (Great Decisions 2015 Ep. 1 screener) from Foreign Policy Association on Vimeo.

 

 

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