All  are invited to join the Great Decisions 2023 Program sponsored by the League. There will be nine meetings at 7:00 p.m. starting on January 24, 2023 held via Zoom, and continuing for the remaining 8 months on the 4th Tuesday each month.

  Participants who RSVP will receive the Zoom link by email.  Click to reserve your place!

This year LWV Washington County has decided to offer the Great Decisions program FREE to its members.

In 2023 we will once again ask participants to purchase their own study materials. They have been released in electronic form for readers (like Kindle or Nook, etc.) at a big cost savings ($35.00 plus shipping for paper vs. $24.99 for Kindle). 

• The links below for E-book versions of the briefing book will be provided soon! Click to follow the link to download from these providers: 
  Amazon/Kindle
  Apple Books
  Nook (Barnes and Noble)
  Rakuten Kobo
  Scribd
  Vivlio (EU); or
  
• To purchase a paper copy now.

GREAT DECISIONS 2023 TOPICS:

• Energy Geopolitics
• War Crimes
• China and the U.S.
• Economic Warfare
• Politics in Latin America
• Global Famine
• Iran at a Crossroads and
• Climate Migration

• Energy Geopolitics

  Access to oil and gas has long held an influence over the politics of individual nations and their relations with others. But as more countries move toward sustainable energy, and supply chain shortages affect the availability of oil and gas, how will this change the way in which the United States interacts with the outside world? By Carolyn Kissane

• War Crimes

  Russia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in widespread charges of war crimes and calls for justice. But what exactly are war crimes? Opinions of what constitutes a war crime have evolved, as have ways to identify and punish the perpetrators. How will the war crimes committed in Ukraine be dealt with? By Francine Hirsch

• China and the U.S.

  For the past ten years, the United States and China have been locked in a competition for who has the greatest global influence. One major point of contention is the status of Taiwanese sovereignty, which has become even more relevant recently with the possibility that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may prompt China to take similar action regarding Taiwan. How will the United States engage a China which is increasingly seeking to expand its sphere of influence? By David Lampton

• Economic Warfare

  Waging economic warfare consists of a variety of measures from implementing sanctions to fomenting labor strikes. Such tools are utilized by states to hinder their enemies, and in the case of the United States have been used as far back as the early 19^th century. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, economic warfare has been the main means for the west to challenge Russia. How effective will these sanctions be at convincing Russia to cease its war? By Jonathan Chanis

• Politics in Latin America

  Electoral results in Latin America over the past four years have led many observers of the regional/political scene to discern a left-wing surge in the hemisphere, reminiscent of the so-called “Pink Tide” that swept the area some 20 years ago. But how much do these politicians actually have in common? What implication does their ascendency have for the region? By Jorge Castañeda

• Global Famine

  Fears of global food shortages have followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has disrupted grain shipments from the major grain producer. But what about countries and regions that were suffering before this impending shortage? How is famine defined, and how is it different from simple food shortages? What if any remedies are there? By Daniel Maxwell

• Iran at a Crossroads

  By the fall of 2022, Iran was in a state of turmoil due to widespread protests against government-enforced wearing of the hijab, a failing economy, an ineffective new president, and the looming succession of the country’s leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Abroad, renewal of the Iran nuclear deal seemed doubtful and tensions remain high between Iran, Israel, and Arab states. Many Iranians have lost hope of a better future, and the country seems at a crossroads. How should the United States deal with it? By Lawrence Potter

• Climate Migration

  As climate change accelerates and drought and rising sea levels become more common, millions of people in affected regions must uproot themselves and seek safety elsewhere. Who are these affected individuals, and how might the United States aid them, and be affected by the migration? By Karen Jacobsen

Check out the Great Decisions web site at http://www.fpa.org/great_decisions/