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Great Decisions

2023-05-30 10:30:00 2023-05-30 12:30:00 America/Chicago Great Decisions Join our library’s Great Decisions' group to discuss current foreign policy issues. Downers Grove Public Library - Virtual Meeting Room Both, Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Tuesday, May 30
10:30am - 12:30pm

Add to Calendar 2023-05-30 10:30:00 2023-05-30 12:30:00 America/Chicago Great Decisions Join our library’s Great Decisions' group to discuss current foreign policy issues. Downers Grove Public Library - Virtual Meeting Room Both, Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Downers Grove Public Library

Virtual Meeting Room Both, Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Join our library’s Great Decisions' group to discuss current foreign policy issues.

Great Decisions is America's largest discussion program on world affairs, created by the Foreign Policy Association. Each year, eight topics are chosen by a panel of experts. See the Foreign Policy Association for more information about the program.

This is the current discussion schedule. If a topic changes for a given day, it will be updated here:

February 7: 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

February 21: 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

March 7: 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
 
March 14: 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 19th 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
 
April 4: 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 

April 18: 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

May 2: 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
 
May 16: 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

May 30: Artificial Intelligence: Promise or Peril

The late Edwin O. Wilson, one of the great scientists of our time, anticipated AI's potential challenges when he wrote: The real problem of humanity is the following: We have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions and godlike technology. And it is terrifically dangerous."

Contact the Ask Us Desk at askus@dglibrary.org with questions.

Downers Grove Public Library

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Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

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Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

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Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room
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Downers Grove Public Library - Training Room
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Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)
This event is full

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Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Sat, Oct 07, 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Conference Room B (Max Capacity 10)

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Downers Grove Public Library - First Floor Lobby

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Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

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Downers Grove Public Library - Teen Central

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Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

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Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

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Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Tue, Oct 10, All day
Downers Grove Public Library

Tue, Oct 10, 9:30am - 10:00am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Tue, Oct 10, 10:30am - 11:00am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Tue, Oct 10, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Conference Room A (Max Capacity 16),Training Room (Virtual)

Tue, Oct 10, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Training Room

Tue, Oct 10, 4:00pm - 4:30pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room
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Wed, Oct 11, All day
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Wed, Oct 11, 9:30am - 10:00am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Wed, Oct 11, 10:30am - 11:00am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Wed, Oct 11, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Wed, Oct 11, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Thu, Oct 12, All day
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Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

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Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Thu, Oct 12, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Thu, Oct 12, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Fri, Oct 13, All day
Downers Grove Public Library

Fri, Oct 13, 9:30am - 12:30pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Conference Room A (Max Capacity 16)

Fri, Oct 13, 10:00am - 10:30am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Sat, Oct 14, 9:30am - 11:30am
Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Sat, Oct 14, 10:00am - 10:30am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Sat, Oct 14, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Sun, Oct 15, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Sun, Oct 15, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Mon, Oct 16, 9:30am - 10:00am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Mon, Oct 16, 10:30am - 11:00am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Mon, Oct 16, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Tue, Oct 17, All day
Downers Grove Public Library

Tue, Oct 17, 9:30am - 11:00am
Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100),Virtual Meeting Room Both

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Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Tue, Oct 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

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Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room
Registration opens Tuesday, October 3 2023 at 9:00am

Wed, Oct 18, All day
Downers Grove Public Library

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Downers Grove Public Library

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Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

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Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

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Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room
Registration opens Wednesday, October 4 2023 at 9:00am

Wed, Oct 18, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Conference Room A (Max Capacity 16)
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Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Thu, Oct 19, 9:30am - 10:00am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Thu, Oct 19, 10:00am - 11:00am
Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

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Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Thu, Oct 19, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Conference Room B (Max Capacity 10)

Fri, Oct 20, 9:30am - 12:30pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Fri, Oct 20, 10:00am - 10:30am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

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Downers Grove Public Library - Training Room

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Downers Grove Public Library - First Floor Lobby

Sat, Oct 21, 10:00am - 10:30am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Sat, Oct 21, 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Conference Room B (Max Capacity 10)

Sat, Oct 21, 4:45pm - 7:45pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Sun, Oct 22, All day
Downers Grove Public Library - First Floor Lobby

Sun, Oct 22, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Sun, Oct 22, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library

Mon, Oct 23, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

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Downers Grove Public Library - Training Room

Tue, Oct 24, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Conference Room A (Max Capacity 16),Training Room (Virtual)

Tue, Oct 24, 10:30am - 11:00am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room
Registration opens Tuesday, October 10 2023 at 9:00am

Wed, Oct 25, 9:30am - 10:00am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room
Registration opens Wednesday, October 11 2023 at 9:00am

Wed, Oct 25, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Wed, Oct 25, 4:00pm - 4:30pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room
Registration opens Wednesday, October 11 2023 at 9:00am

Wed, Oct 25, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Conference Room A (Max Capacity 16),Virtual Meeting Room Both

Rescheduled
Wed, Oct 25, 7:30pm - 9:00pm
New date Wednesday, October 18, 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library

Thu, Oct 26, 9:30am - 11:00am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Thu, Oct 26, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Fri, Oct 27, 9:30am - 12:30pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Fri, Oct 27, 9:30am - 10:00am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room
Registration opens Friday, October 13 2023 at 9:00am

Fri, Oct 27, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Training Room

Sat, Oct 28, 9:30am - 11:00am
Downers Grove Public Library - Training Room

Sat, Oct 28, 10:00am - 10:30am
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Sat, Oct 28, 10:30am - 11:30am
Downers Grove Public Library - First Floor Lobby

Mon, Oct 30, 10:00am - 10:40am
Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Mon, Oct 30, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Mon, Oct 30, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Training Room

Tue, Oct 31, 9:30am - 10:10am
Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100)

Tue, Oct 31, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room

Wed, Nov 01, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Alter Brewing Company
Registration opens Wednesday, October 4 2023 at 9:00am