Global Affairs Live

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The Black Sea Region And Transatlantic Security May 01, 2017

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The Black Sea region serves as an important nexus between Europe and Central Asia. Yet myriad threats to stability in this region could have a significant impact on transatlantic security. In recent years, countries bordering the Black Sea have experienced incursions on their territorial integrity, significant inflows of migrants and refugees, and threats from terrorist groups and organized crime. What role can Romania, NATO, and the European Union be expected to play in ensuring security in this region in the coming years? How may potential flashpoints in this region have broader consequences for transatlantic security? What impact will domestic politics and protests in several countries in the area have on regional stability?

The Global LGBTQ Rights Movement Apr 27, 2017

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The historic 2015 US Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage put the US on par with over 20 other nations in advancing the LGBTQ movement. However, countries like Uganda have done the opposite, passing laws that criminalize homosexuality. Despite an overall increase of enactments protecting LGBTQ rights, global prejudice continues to deter the movement. Currently homosexuality is punishable in 10 countries across Africa and the Middle East, and events like Uganda’s Pride festival—where activists were imprisoned, and the Orlando gay nightclub shooting, a response to the rise in hate crimes across the US—highlight the level of backlash against sexual minorities. Join the Council on Global Affairs, Frank Mugisha, one of Uganda's most prominent LGBTQ campaigners, and Chicago based activist Jane Saks, for a discussion on how we can overcome discrimination and injustices towards sexual minorities in Uganda and globally.

The Economic And Fiscal Consequences Of Immigration Apr 27, 2017

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The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation host a special briefing with two of the researchers behind the National Academy of Sciences' report, The Economic and Fiscal Consequences of Immigration.

Beyond The Book, Education For The Next Generation Apr 25, 2017

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The number of American passport holders has doubled in the last decade as globalization has impacted our businesses, homes, and increasingly – our classrooms. Students today are exposed to more global ideas than any of the proceeding generations, be it through social media, art, or their classmates. How do we provide the next generation with the understanding of interconnectedness to thrive in an economically and digitally linked world? The inaugural class of Koldyke Global Teachers traveled to Thailand, Australia, and throughout Europe to deepen their knowledge of global education models and bring cross-cultural experiences back to their classrooms. The Koldyke Global Teachers Program was generously established by Patricia Blunt and Martin J. Koldyke in 2016 and invests in the professional development of Chicago-area high school teachers. Join the teachers as they share stories and best practices for guiding future global citizens here in Chicago.

Coitus Conflictus. Sex, America, And The Constituion Apr 24, 2017

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Days after the inauguration, the Trump administration announced that American aid money would stop flowing to foreign nonprofits working on abortion. This action illustrates America's long-standing moral and legal tensions related to sex. Throughout American history, conflicts over such issues as the legal regulation of contraception, abortion, homosexuality, and pornography have divided our nation and led to fundamental debates about the meaning of our Constitution. How did sex become so intertwined with religion and law when the Founding Fathers embraced Enlightenment attitudes grounded in reason, individual freedom, the pursuit of happiness, and the separation of church and state? What can the epic story of sex and the Constitution teach us about how to navigate these controversial issues both in our own nation and in our approach to such questions globally?

The New Urban Agenda Apr 20, 2017

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With more than half of the world’s populations now living in cities, and urbanization occurring at unprecedented rates, there is opportunity to rethink how cities are designed. For government leaders and urban practitioners, the United Nations’ New Urban Agenda offers a compelling vision for the future of cities as resilient, sustainable, equitable, and inclusive. The agenda argues cities should be people-centered and provide access to critical amenities that enable residents to live fulfilling, self-determined lives. Join us for a discussion on the implementation of this agenda as well as a special viewing of the short documentary, “The Moment to Get Cities Right: Inside Habitat lll, The Urbanization Summit of a Generation."

The Chessboard And The Web Apr 19, 2017

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Geopolitics has long been portrayed as a chessboard of competing nations. The metaphor still holds true for high-level statecraft but does not capture the full complexity of the modern world, argues Anne-Marie Slaughter. Today a vast web of global connections, including trade and finance flows, terrorist networks, and social media, overlay the chessboard, exerting their own powerful influence over events. But while the moves on a chessboard are well understood, no strategies exist to guide policymakers in a world of fluid networks and connections. How should governments navigate the world of the web? Can citizens, NGOs, and cities design and customize networks to find solutions to global challenges?

The Ideas Industry Apr 14, 2017

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Influencing the marketplace of ideas used to be reserved for an elite class of public intellectuals with broad expertise and academic cache. Today’s thought leaders don't need doctorates or fellowships to reach large audiences of people hungry for new thinking. Rather, TED talks, social media, and online mediums can be used to create positions of expertise. Drezner argues that political polarization, heightened inequality, and eroding trust in authority have converged to create a new intellectual class. Join the Council and Drezner as he explains how the marketplace of ideas has changed in the 21st century.

The Cubs' Catharsis With Scott Simon Apr 13, 2017

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The Chicago Cubs broke the curse of the Billy Goat when they lifted the Commissioner’s Trophy on November 2, 2016. In a wider sense their dramatic, never-say-die World Series victory also helped to lift a mood of sporting cynicism. In an era when our athletic heroes and teams seem to be mired in scandal as often as they are covered in glory, the Chicago Cubs’ success at the 108th attempt resonated with jaded sports fans across the world. What qualities enabled the young Cubs team of 2016 to triumph where their predecessors had so consistently faltered? Could this epic home town victory inspire change beyond the world of sport, and across Chicago’s communities?

Deterring Revisionist Powers With Admiral Harry Harris Apr 12, 2017

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Please join Harry B. Harris, Jr., the commander of US Pacific Command, for a public program at the Council in which he will share his insights on how the United States military can deter threats and ensure security in the Asia Pacific region.

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