The World Affairs Council offers programs throughout the year featuring speakers who discuss issues of national and international significance. You can expect to hear from authors, government leaders, journalists, business leaders, professors and other experts.

Lessons Learned from the Worldwide Financial Crisis Charles I. Plosser President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Wednesday, February 17— Luncheon — PLEASE NOTE THE DATE CHANGE FOR THIS PROGRAM Due to the forecasted inclement weather on Wednesday, February 10th, this program has been rescheduled to WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2010. All other details — venue, time — remain the same. We apologize for the inconvenience. The recent financial crisis, which has greatly affected the economies of countries all over the world, has provided valuable lessons for policymakers, legislators, investors, and private citizens. What lessons have central bankers and bank regulators learned from this recent financial crisis? Did we take the lessons learned from past financial crises and apply them to this crisis? Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank President Charles I. Plosser will explore the lessons learned from past financial crises — both here and abroad — and discuss the vital role banks have in conducting monetary policy and ensuring financial stability. Location: The Union League of Philadelphia, 140 S. Broad St. (Business attire is required. For your convenience, please enter from Sansom Street.) Schedule: 11:30 a.m. Registration and reception 12 p.m. Luncheon 12:45 p.m. Program 1:45 p.m. Adjournment Event options: Members Luncheon and program: $60 Program only: $25 or lecture pass Full-time students with valid ID: $10 Non-members Luncheon and program: $70 Program only: $35 Students (full-time students with valid ID — limited availability) [ Back to Top ]

Great Decisions 2010 A national discussion on global issues developed by the Foreign Policy Association Monday, February 1 — Monday, March 1 (Luncheons) Join us for Great Decisions, a national discussion on global issues developed by the Foreign Policy Association. An excellent briefing book accompanies the series and provides a comprehensive overview of each topic. Following discussion of the topics, participants complete opinion ballots that are collected and tabulated for FPA's report, which is presented to the White House, the departments of State and Defense, members of Congress and the national media. Register now for the World Affairs Council's 2010 Great Decisions series, featuring expert speakers on four of this year's topics. Sign up for the entire four-part series, including a copy of the Great Decisions briefing book. Monday, February 1 Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution/ Special Envoys Warren R. Haffar, Associate Dean for Internationalization; Director, International Peace and Conflict Resolution MA Program, Arcadia University U.S. campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown that military force alone cannot ensure peace in all conflicts. How can the U.S. successfully integrate the tools of peacebuilding into its statecraft? At what point do poverty, disease and climate change threaten national security? What role can non-governmental actors play in supporting government led efforts? Special envoys can help bring attention and diplomatic muscle to resolve conflicts and global challenges but they also bring with them their own "special" problems. Will the Obama administration's reliance on special envoys increase the ability of the U.S. to deal with major international issues or complicate our diplomatic options? < Watch the Foreign Policy Association's PBS video on this topic **Wednesday, February 10 Global Financial Crisis Charles I. Plosser, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia The global financial crisis that began in late 2007 revealed major deficiencies in the regulation of markets and institutions – all of which came perilously close to collapse. Emergency measures to prevent a full collapse of the global financial system have led to mixed results. How will governments and the world community respond to this challenge? < Watch the Foreign Policy Association's PBS video on this topic Monday, February 22 Globalized Crime Aaron Fichtelberg, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware From the booming sex trade in Eastern Europe, to online fraud syndicates in Africa and the drug cartels of Asia and Central America, crime is becoming increasingly organized and globalized. How can countries better protect citizens seeking the benefits of a globalized world from being exploited? What international actors can effectively fight global organized crime? < Watch the Foreign Policy Association's PBS video on this topic Monday, March 1 Persian Gulf Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet, Associate Professor of History; Director, Middle East Center, University of Pennsylvania Now more than ever, the Persian Gulf region offers many difficult challenges to U.S. policymakers. How will Obama's direct appeal to Arabs and Muslims impact U.S. foreign policy in the region? What will the fallout of withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq be? Can the U.S. and its allies prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons? < Watch the Foreign Policy Association's PBS video on this topic **The lecture with Charles Plosser will be offered in lieu of a Great Decisions program at World Affairs Council offices. All registrants for the Great Decisions full series are invited to this lecture at no extra charge. Lunch is available at an additional cost of $45. With the exception of the program featuring Charles Plosser, which will be held at the Union League, all Great Decisions programs will be hosted at the World Affairs Council. Location: The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, One South Broad St., Suite 2M Schedule: 12 p.m. Lunch 12:30 p.m. Program 1:30 p.m. Adjournment Event options: Full four-part series, including briefing book ($23 value): $65 Single program (excluding February 10): $15 or lecture pass Full-time students with valid ID: $10 An optional bagged lunch — sandwich, chips and fruit — is available for $7. (Lunch reservations must be noted on reservation form or phoned in by Thursday of the preceding week.) Students (full-time students with valid ID — limited availability) [ Back to Top ]

A special 60th anniversary appearance — please note important change in program time

Due to a change in General David H. Petraeus' schedule, we have been asked to reschedule this program to a LUNCHEON. Please note that only the time —not the date or location — has changed. A LUNCHEON program exclusively for members of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia and their guests. Join today! General David H. Petraeus Commander, U.S. Central Command Friday, February 12 — LUNCHEON General David H. Petraeus assumed command of the United States Central Command in October 2008, after serving for over 19 months as the Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq. Prior to his tour as MNF-I Commander, he commanded the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth. Additional reading: U.S. Speeding Up Missile Defenses in Persian Gulf, David Sanger and Eric Schmitt, The New York Times, January 30, 2010 General Petraeus Gives A War Briefing, Col. Jack Jacobs, Parade Magazine, November 29, 2009 Location: The Crystal Tea Room at the Wanamaker Building, 100 East Penn Square, Philadelphia Schedule: 12:30 p.m. Registration 1 p.m. Luncheon 1:30 p.m. Program 2:30 p.m. Champagne Reception with General Petraeus Event options: Breakfast reception with General Petraeus and program with preferred seating: $150 Breakfast and program: $60 [ Back to Top ]

Mark Zandi Chief Economist and co-founder of Moody's Economy.com Assessing the Obama Administration's Response to the Great Recession Monday, March 15 — Evening The policy response to the financial panic and Great Recession has been unprecedented. Just how successful were the actions taken by the Federal Reserve, Congress and the Administration? What more do policymakers need to do, and will they be able to gracefully exit from their massive intervention in the financial system and economy? Additional reading: The Hardest-working Man in the Recession, Don Steinberg, Philadelphia Magazine, February 2010 Location: The Union League of Philadelphia, 140 S. Broad St. (Business attire is required. For your convenience, please enter from Sansom Street.) Schedule: 5 p.m. Registration 5:15 p.m. Program 6:15 p.m. Adjournment Event options: Members Program: $25 or lecture pass Non-members Program: $35 Full-time students with valid ID: $10 Students (full-time students with valid ID — limited availability) [ Back to Top ]

Mitt Romney Governor of Massachusetts (2003-2007) Republican Turnaround? Tuesday, April 6 — Evening The former Governor of Massachusetts, successful business leader and likely future GOP presidential candidate details his plan to strengthen the economy and restore our sole superpower status. Featured Book: No Apology: The Case for American Greatness by Mitt Romney Location: Loews Philadelphia Hotel — Regency Ballroom, 1200 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA Schedule: 5:45 p.m. Registration, cocktail and hors d'oeuvre photo reception, and cash bar reception 6:15 p.m. Program 7:15 p.m. Adjournment Event options: Members Members only cocktail and hors d'oeuvre photo reception, program, preferred seating and signed copy of No Apology: $175 Program and copy of No Apology: $35 NO LECTURE PASSES Non-members Program and copy of No Apology: $50 Full-time students with valid ID: $20 (no book included) Students (full-time students with valid ID — limited availability) [ Back to Top ]

Hold the date! Security, Intelligence and Extremism...Connecting the Dots Thursday, May 6 — Evening America's top intelligence officials recently predicted that Al Qaeda and its affiliates are planning to launch another large-scale attack on American soil within the next six months. This announcement comes on the heels of recent attacks at Ft. Hood, Texas, the CIA post in Khost, Afghanistan, and the attempted terrorist attack on a Christmas Day flight bound for Detroit. National security and the specter of international extremism have once again assumed center stage in the hearts and minds of the American public. And the question remains: can our intelligence and military institutions keep us safe from violent extremism emanating from within and outside our borders? Back by popular demand, following their extremely well-received discussion on Combating Violent Extremism at our fall conference are: Ambassador Marc Grossman, Vice Chairman, The Cohen Group; Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs (2001-2005); U.S. Ambassador to Turkey (1994-1997) and Edward A. Turzanski, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute; national security analyst, La Salle University. They are joined for this discussion by Stephen P. Cohen, Senior Fellow in foreign policy studies, 21st Century Defense Initiative, The Brookings Institution. Moderated by Mark Bowden, national correspondent for The Atlantic; columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer; and author of Guests of The Ayatollah and Black Hawk Down. This program is part of series on South Asia. Details forthcoming. [ Back to Top ]

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