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The Changing World Order: New Alignments, New Paradigms? Oct 16, 2018

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Ambassador Chan Heng Chee, a leading strategic thinker, diplomat, and commentator on international issues, will visit the Chicago Council on Global Affairs as its third . The fellowship was established by the Council’s board of directors to honor Marshall M. Bouton, who served as president of the Council from 2001 to 2013 and is a recognized expert on Asia. Each year a prominent scholar, former senior policymaker, or public intellectual known for contributions to Asia’s economic and political development and/or international relations speaks at the Council on Global Affairs.

Presidents of War Oct 15, 2018

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There is no more serious task a president can undertake than to lead a nation into war. Those presidents who held the office during wartime have sometimes needed to shelve their domestic policy ambitions. In addition, presidents of war have also had to contend with challenges from the Constitution’s War Powers Clause, Congress, the media, anti-war protestors and even their closest advisors during conflict. How have presidents coped with the pressures of war? And how has the scope of Presidential power evolved over the course of America’s conflicts?

China's Economy and China's Consumers: The Long-Term Outlook Oct 10, 2018

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The burgeoning US-China trade war promises to dominate headlines this year for a good time to come. But the larger story of China’s economy is just as intriguing. A structural transition from a manufacturing-led economy to a services- and consumer-based one is proceeding apace. This economic shift will intersect with large-scale demographic changes as the population ages. Though that may have its own impact on the labor force, it will also create the largest middle class the country has ever seen. Together, these concomitant transitions have serious implications for international investors and multinationals seeking to do business in China. What industries have successful multinationals tapped into? What should they know as the new consumer class rises—and flashes its wealth?

Russia, China, and Iran: Reshaping the International Order Oct 05, 2018

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The most significant challenge to the post-Cold War international order is the growing power of ambitious states opposed to the West. Iran, China, and Russia stand poised to take advantage of the US withdrawal from the world stage and reshape the world order. Iran’s relations with Russia and China have helped it form a bulwark against Western efforts to isolate it. From political exchanges and international trade agreements to military cooperation, closer cooperation among the “triple axis” on these issues would have critical implications for US interests and the Western liberal order it has championed for decades. Will these relationships prevent the US from fully isolating Iran once again? Where are relations between Iran and Russia and Iran and China heading, and how could the US react?

America Engaged: Attitudes Toward US Global Leadership Oct 02, 2018

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Strong global leadership has been a pillar of US foreign policy for more than half a century, but some believe the Trump administration’s America First agenda strays from the country’s enduring tradition of international engagement. But disengagement in the Middle East and an empty “pivot to Asia” in the Obama administration also signaled a similar drift from internationalism. For years, public support of the nation’s visible role in the world was a given, but is there a more fundamental shift in American thinking?

The Collapse of ISIS and Its Aftermath Oct 01, 2018

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The so called ISIS caliphate may have lost swaths of territory, but thousands of its surviving members and the broader jihadist movement continue to exist. The tensions and drivers that provided a breeding ground for ISIS and al-Qaeda to operate from within and beyond the Middle East are still present. Foreign influences, regional sectarian tensions, and economic instability help drive radicalization and instability. In what ways will the caliphate’s demise strengthen or weaken the overall jihadist network? What are the prospects for ISIS to resurge in the region given the inability to fully destroy its fighting force thus far? And how should America direct its foreign policy and military presence in the region?

The Financial Crisis, Ten Years Later: What Have We Learned? Sep 27, 2018

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As two of the nation’s top policymakers and regulators, Sheila Bair and Hank Paulson were at the frontlines fighting to contain the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Ten years later, the country’s economic situation could not be more different: the unemployment rate is at historic lows, corporations are flush with cash, and there has been consistent economic expansion. Further, banks are better capitalized and the financial sector more regulated. Yet US debt is surging, the Trump administration is moving to defang the Dodd-Frank Act, and subprime loans are making a comeback. How confident are policymakers in the lessons they’ve learned and the regulations they’ve implemented since 2008? Is our economy truly safer today—and will it be ready when the next crisis hits?

Communicating Climate Change: The Power of Visual Storytelling Sep 24, 2018

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Climate change has commanded global attention for decades – but critical solutions at scale have yet to be implemented. While policy and protest continue to dominate the dialogue, photographers and documentarians have witnessed the extraordinary effects of climate change on the front lines. From narratives on climate aggregators in the world’s largest cities, to sweeping aerial shots of storm ravaged towns, visual storytelling has a profound ability to affect the way we view climate change. Can visual arts cut through the politics and rhetoric to engage the public and galvanize action on one of the most complex and pressing issues of our time?

Democracy, Security, and the Cyber Battlefield Sep 12, 2018

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The theft of emails from Democratic National Committee servers prior to the 2016 presidential election may have changed the course of American democracy. But election meddling is only one facet of a broad and pervasive cyber threat to the United States, argues David Sanger, with government servers, military networks, and critical infrastructure all infiltrated by foreign powers. In doing so these nations are following in the footsteps of the United States, which became the first nation to deploy a cyber weapon with its 2006 attack on Iran’s nuclear program. Having created this “perfect weapon” why was the United States so unprepared to guard against it? What does the age of cyber warfare mean for US democracy and security?

From Waste to Resources: New Energy for Rotterdam Sep 11, 2018

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The largest port city in Europe, the City of Rotterdam, has a culture of embracing novel ideas from around the world. As the city continues to reinvent itself with a focus on relevance and resilience, it has become a hub for innovation in the drive towards environmental sustainability and economic growth. Through the promotion of a circular economy and energy transition, Mayor Aboutaleb has set an ambitious goal to significantly reduce waste and energy consumption in Rotterdam by 2022. How can innovations like blockchain technology and urban design be used to accelerate a sustainable city? What can global cities learn from Rotterdam’s plan as the world pursues shared goals of economic prosperity and clean energy?

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