Global Affairs Live

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Facing Extremism Through Sport in Pakistan Oct 14, 2016

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Maria Toorpakai Wazir is ranked among the top female squash players in the world. Growing up in a Taliban stronghold in Northern Pakistan, where girls are not expected to play sports or even attend school, Toorpakai Wazir became one of Pakistan’s top female athletes. Her international presence has brought awareness to gender inequality in tribal areas of Pakistan and helped to increase female participation in sports. Join the Chicago Council and Maria Toorpakai Wazir to hear how she overcame threats from the Taliban and is empowering younger generations to build stronger communities in her native country.

Terrorism and Propaganda in the Digital Age Oct 14, 2016

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In an era where nearly any data point is at our fingertips, it’s increasingly difficult to separate fact from fiction. Terror groups like ISIL and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula are well known for their sophisticated use of social media tools. Journalists, governments and the billions of people posting and snapping ideas everyday have created an overcrowded information space primed for a hostile takeover. The battlefield has gone digital—and we are all part of it now. Understanding it is of paramount national security. How does ISIS recruit online? How far does Putin’s media machine reach? How will China grapple with Twitter? Join under secretary Richard Stengel and journalist James Warren for a look at the latest on propaganda in the digital age.

Peru at a Crossroads Oct 13, 2016

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Carolina Trivelli, a Peruvian economist, will visit the Chicago Council on Global Affairs to deliver the Annual Gus Hart Lecture as the Council’s 2016 Gus Hart Visiting Fellow. This fellowship has been endowed by the Hart family to honor former Chicago Council board member, Gus Hart, distinguished cofounder of the Inter-American Foundation, whose lifelong interest in the Latin American and Caribbean region and long service to the Chicago Council served as an inspiration for many in Chicago. Gus Hart Visiting Fellows are selected annually to spend one week in Chicago interacting with business, civic, academic, and media professionals in a program tailored to the Fellow’s interests and experience.

The US Presidential Election & China's Leadership Transition Oct 12, 2016

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With the US presidential election less than 100 days away, US-China relations face yet another critical turning point, with both major party candidates emphasizing different trajectories for the relationship. Next year, China faces its own leadership transition at its 19th Party Congress, which likely will result in the largest turnover on the Central Committee in the past four decades. According to the 2015 Chicago Council Survey, there is a trust deficit in US-China relations: just 34% of Americans express confidence in China to deal responsibly with world problems, and only 46% of Chinese say the same about the United States. What are the most important issues and policy implications in both of these upcoming leadership transitions? Please join the Council on Global Affairs and Cheng Li for a discussion on the future of US-China relations.

Immigration and National Security: Balancing Interests Oct 07, 2016

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Immigration policy and its implications for national security have dominated the 2016 presidential election debates. How should policymakers balance their concerns for threats with pragmatic solutions? What are the future risks—and benefits--of possible reforms?

The Nuclear Age: Command and Control Oct 06, 2016

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There are over 15,000 nuclear weapons in existence today – down from over 70,000 in 1986. Though the threat of a nation using one of these catastrophic weapons has lowered, chances of an accident are still considerable. Eric Schlosser spent six years investigating the current US nuclear arsenal – and its command and control system – to get a deeper sense of how nuclear risks in the post-Cold War era are mitigated. What did we learn from the near disasters of the past? Have the risks of an accident been lessened or just forgotten?

Ayatollahs and Presidents: Leadership Transitions in Iran and the United States Sep 29, 2016

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Iran’s politics are in flux. At home, moderates gained ground over more conservative candidates during this year’s parliamentary elections. Yet tensions remain high among the different factions—in advance of the presidential election next May. Abroad, Iran continues to play a significant and increasingly complex role in the geopolitics of the wider region. Moreover, the lifting of Western sanctions has the potential to further change the country’s political and social landscape, as well as regional dynamics. What does the future hold for Iran’s domestic politics and what are the implications for its foreign policy? And with the US election around the corner, how will a new US presidency impact Iran, its role in the region, and bilateral relations?

How Nations Survive and Thrive: Lessons for the Next President Sep 27, 2016

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During the heated 2016 presidential campaign―with America’s global leadership increasingly challenged and its domestic politics gridlocked―voters may have the impression that the country faces almost insurmountable crises. But governments across the world have developed effective and proven solutions to similar, pervasive challenges, argues Jonathan Tepperman. Projects like Brazil’s Bolsa Familia program and Indonesia’s campaign against extremism demonstrate that constructive change is possible even in the most fraught of circumstances. How can America’s next president apply other nations’ policy “fixes” to enhance the nation’s security and prosperity?

Albania and the Western Balkans: A European Future? Sep 27, 2016

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Sept. 27, 2016 - Albania and the Western Balkans: A European Future? by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Global Migration and Its Implications Sep 26, 2016

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Sept. 26, 2016 - Global Migration and Its Implications by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs