Great Decisions, the award-winning PBS television series on international affairs, is recorded on the campus of the University of Delaware in association with the Foreign Policy Association.
Host Ralph Begleiter is the University’s Distinguished Journalist in Residence and Rosenberg Professor of Communication and previously was CNN’s World Affairs Correspondent from 1981-99.
The longest running television series devoted exclusively to international affairs and foreign policy, Great Decisions is broadcast over many Public Broadcasting System stations nationwide. and is distributed to schools, organizations and individuals in digital format. It was produced in association with the University of Delaware’s Department of Media Services/Iinformation Technologies.
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Great Decisions 2009 features impartial, thought-provoking analyses on eight issues of concern to U.S. policymakers today representing our foreign policy challenges of tomorrow. Click on a topic below to learn more about each episode.
- Great Decisions: Introduction
- Topic 1: Rising Giants
- Topic 2: Border Patrol
- Topic 3: Off the Grid
- Topic 4: Race for The Arctic
- Topic 5: Egypt in the 21st Century
- Topic 6: Running Out
- Topic 7: Cuba after Castro
- Topic 8: Human Rights
- UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE EXPERTS
- REGIONAL RESOURCES
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Great Decisions:Introduciton
Now in its 24th season, the Great Decisions Television Series is the longest running television program devoted solely to international affairs and foreign policy, now airing in high-definition. The Great Decisions Television Series is broadcast each year on PBS stations nationwide. Each show offers a wide variety of expert analysis and opinion in order to examine all sides of a foreign policy issue. The 2009 series is hosted by Ralph Begleiter, University of Delaware Distinguished Journalist in Residence & Rosenberg Professor of Communication and former world affairs correspondent for CNN.
University of Delaware Distinguished Journalist in Residence & Rosenberg Professor of Communication
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Rising Giants:The World's Fastest Growing Countries
Since the end of the cold war, the U.S. has emerged as the world's predominant power. However, in the 21st century some rapidly developing countries have become increasingly influential. Who are these “rising powers?” Will their emergence change the global balance of power? How will the U.S. react? Guests include:
Kishore Mahbubani —- Author, The New Asian Hemisphere;
Michael Schiffer —- Program Officer, The Stanley Foundation;
Susan Segal —- President and CEO, Council of the Americas;
Michael Schiffer —- Abdullah Gül, President, Republic of Turkey;
Department of Political Science & International Relations
Latin American Studies/Cuba
Department of Political Science & International Relations
Environmental Politics
Department of Political Science & International Relations
International Politics
Department of Political Science & International Relations
Afghanistan/Pakistan, Rising Powers, Middle East
Department of Political Science & International Relations
Human Rights
Department of Political Science & International Relations
Terrorism, Migration, National Security Policy
Border Patrol:Pakistan and Afghanistan
Newfound hopes for stability in Iraq have shifted the U.S. military focus back to Afghanistan and Pakistan, one of the most volatile border regions in the world. What impact will this renewed interest have on the two states as well as on U.S. defense strategy? Guests include:
Christiane Amanpour —- Chief International Correspondent, CNN
Richard Boucher —- Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of State
Ashraf Ghani —- former Finance Minister, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Pamela Constable —- Deputy Foreign Editor, Washington Post
Peter Bergen —- Author, The Osama bin Laden I Know
Marco Vicenzino —- Fellow, Foreign Policy Association
Daniel Markey —- Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan and South Asia
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Off the Grid: Energy & the U.S. Economy
Rising energy prices, driven by instability in key producing regions such as the Middle East and increasing demand from developing countries, are affecting the global economy. What are the potential consequences of huge wealth transfers to oil-exporting states? Are there any realistic alternative energy scenarios on the horizon? Guests include:
Senator Lisa Murkowski —- Republican from Alaska
Vijay Vaitheeswara —- Correspondent, The Economist
Daniel Esty —- Center for Business and the Environment, Yale University
Nathanael Greene —- Director of Renewable Energy Policy,
Natural Resources Defense Council
Nat Keohane —- Director of Economic Policy and Analysis, Environmental Defense Fund
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Race for The Arctic
Rising global temperatures have created new opportunities in the Arctic for resource extraction and inter-continental transport. How will sovereignty disputes among the five countries that border the Arctic affect its potential development? What impact will this race for the Arctic have on an environment already in serious flux? Guests include:
David Kirchman —- Professor of Marine Biosciences, University of Delaware
Senator Lisa Murkowski —- Republican from Alaska
Jean Charest —- Premier, Quebec
Scott Borgerson —- International Affairs Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
Ed Struzik —- Reporter and Author, The Big Thaw
Caitlyn Antrim —- President, Rule of Law Committee for the Oceans
Claudia McMurray —- Asst. Sec. State for Oceans, Environment and Science
Egypt in the 21st Century
Egypt has long played an important role in the Arab world while maintaining a strategic relationship with the U.S. With elections scheduled for 2009, how will Egypt deal with serious domestic issues, ranging from Islamic radicalism to food shortages? What factors will influence the path of this regional heavyweight? Guests include:
Ambassador Francis Ricciardone, Jr., —-
former U.S. Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt
Ahmet Abul Gheit —- Foreign Minister, Arab Republic of Egypt
Abdel Said Aly —- Director,
Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies
Nabil Fahmy —- Former Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S.
Amin Abaza —- Minister of Agriculture, Arab Republic of Egypt
Shibley Telhami —- Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development,
University of Maryland
Amre Moussa —- Secretary-General, Arab League
Wael Abbas —- Egyptian Blogger
Mona Eltahawy —- Egyptian Reporter
Maha Azzazm —- Associate Fellow, Chatham House
Jimmy Carter —- 39th President of the United States of America
Christiane Amanpour —- Chief International Correspondent, CNN
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Running Out: The Global Food Crisis
Global prices for food staples have risen dramatically, resulting in protests and unrest around the world. What factors are driving prices up, and can they be tamed? What will the political fallout be for governments that fail to act, and what role can global institutions play? Guests include:
Henrietta Fore —- Administrator, USAID
Nancy Birdsall —- President, Center for Global Development
Lester Brown —- President, Earth Policy Institute
Joachim Von Braun —- Director General,
International Food Policy Research Institute
Josette Sheeran —- Executive Director, World Food Program
Drew Barrymore —- Ambassador Against Hunger, World Food Program
David Novack —- CEO and Chairman of the Board, YUM Brands, INC
Peter Brabeck —- Chairman, Nestle S.A.
Cuba after Castro
Since Fidel Castro handed over the presidency of Cuba to his brother, Raúl in early 2008, signs of greater economic openness have led to much speculation. Will Raúl seek to reopen ties with the U.S.? What role will Cuba's American exiles play in shaping a post-Castro Cuba? Guests include:
Julia Sweig —- Director, Latin American Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Sarah Stephens —- Director, Center for Democracy in the Americas
Peter DeShazo —- Director, Americas Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Susan Segal —- President and CEO, Council of the Americas
Mauricio Claver-Carone —- U.S.-Cuba Democracy PAC
Human Rights: 'Never Again,' Again and Again
As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrates its 60th anniversary, events in the Balkans, Sudan and Myanmar continue to challenge its idealism, while raising new questions about the prospects for humanitarian interventions. Do human rights transcend national borders and customs? Is the definition of human rights changing? Guests include:
Jimmy Carter —- 39th President of the United States of America
David Kramer —- Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State
Kenneth Roth —- President, Human Rights Watch
Brett Schaefer —- International Regulatory Affairs, Heritage Foundation
Karin Ryan —- Director, Human Rights Initiatives, Carter Center
Hurst Hannum —- Professor of International Law, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE EXPERTS
Julio Carrion: Latin American studies/CubaJanet Johnson: Environmenal PoliticsStuart Kaufman: International PoliticsMuqtedar Khan: Afghanistan/Pakistan, Rising Powers, Middle EastWilliam Meyer: Human RightsMark Miller: Terrorism, migration, national security policy
Adam Marsh: Arctic
John Byrne: Energy
REGIONAL RESOURCES
The World Affair Council of Wilmington provides a forum for thought leaders and intellectually curious citizens to learn about world affairs from foreign and domestic leaders. The council is a cosponsor of the University of Delaware’s Global Agenda lecture series.
The World Trade Center Delaware is a nonprofit organization that assists small- and medium-sized companies in expanding their markets overseas.
