Global I.q. Minute With Jim Falk

“America’s secret weapon is a blue note in a minor key,” proclaimed the New York Times. In the late 1950’s, President Eisenhower looked to fight the Cold War using the cool weapon of jazz. The State Department hoped that showcasing popular American music around the globe would not only introduce audiences to American culture, but also win them over as ideological allies in the cold war. Jazz, structured around improvisation within a set of commonly agreed-upon boundaries, was a perfect metaphor for America in the eyes of the State Department. Renowned artists such as Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie and Dave Brubeck toured the globe promoting United States’ culture. Brubeck’s father would famously announce before the crowds, “No dictatorship can tolerate jazz, it is the first sign of a return to freedom.” Join us to explore how the U.S. State Department contracted jazz performers to fight the Cold War in the form of Jazz Diplomacy. ABOUT THE PANELISTS Dr. W. Marvin Dulaney is an adjunct professor at UNT Dal

War is catastrophic for nations and can bring businesses to a complete halt. When Russia attacked Ukraine, U.S. companies such as McDonald’s and Starbucks closed their stores. Millions of dollars of Ukraine’s infrastructure has been destroyed. War’s cost can be simplified into three parts: the opportunity cost of resources, the destruction of physical and human capital, and the reduction of GDP. However, war can also stimulate the economy – World War II pulled the U.S. out of the Great Depression. So what is the global economic toll of war? Join the Council’s virtual discussion on war economics with world-renowned economics professor, bestselling author, and innovative educator Jeffery Sachs. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Jeffery Sachs serves as the director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, where he holds the rank of University Professor, the university’s highest academic rank. Sachs served as director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University from 2002 to 2016. He is president of

Part of the Dialogues for Democracy Series Forty countries will hold major elections in 2024, including Taiwan, Russia, Mexico, and the U.S. As technology “improves” and cyber-attacks become more difficult to predict, elections have become more susceptible to meddling. At the same time, social media has transformed our news consumption – and it’s harder than ever to decipher what is real and trustworthy. Join us on Thursday, February 15 to hear American political advisor, reform advocate, media columnist, and television producer Mark McKinnon discuss the “Pulse on Politics.” ABOUT THE SPEAKER Mark McKinnon is a multifaceted figure known for his roles as a political advisor, reform advocate, media columnist, and television producer. He is the creator and co-host of Showtime’s acclaimed documentary series The Circus and has worked with President George W. Bush, Senator John McCain, and Bono. Committed to bipartisanship, McKinnon co-founded No Labels and is a board member of Take Back Our Republic, which advo

Even though globalization has become a negative concept for some, the reality is that there is no going back. While the politics of globalization are debated, Professor Małgorzata Zachara-Szymańska says, “All social organizations have ‘gone global’ within the last several decades; they are more interconnected and more dependent on global processes, so the question of effective leadership strategies matching these new realities is highly necessary…” Join us to learn about global power games, leadership crises, and how our world is shifting in the 21stcentury. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Małgorzata Zachara-Szymańska is an associate professor at the Faculty of International and Political Relations, Jagiellonian University in Poland and a lecturer in leadership, global change, and international relations. She has accumulated several years academic experience lecturing and conducting research at different European universities. Her articles on global public goods, global leadership and diplomacy have been published in Lea

ABOUT THE SPEAKER General David Petraeus, U.S. Army (Ret.) served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2011-2012 and as commander of U.S. Central Command from 2008-2010. His highly decorated 37-year military career included combat commanderships of the Surge in Iraq and the U.S./Coalition Forces in Afghanistan. He established the KKR Global Institute in 2013 and is a partner with the global investment firm KKR. Petraeus graduated with distinction from the U.S. Military Academy and earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University. ABOUT THE MODERATOR Meredith M. Walker is Principal and Global Economist at MMW Research, a leading business consultancy, is a renowned speaker, author, and media commentator specializing in strategic insights on the economy, geopolitics, and technology. A member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and the National Association for Business Economics, she focuses her research on cross-sector solutions to global challenges in security and sustainability. Walker

ABOUT THE PANELISTS: Sam Brownback currently serves as co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Summit, is a senior fellow at Global Christian Relief, and is chairman of the National Committee for Religious Freedom. While serving as ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom under the Trump Administration from 2018 until 2021, Brownback focused on highlighting cases of religious discrimination in various countries such as China and Iran and worked with organizations and coalitions promoting international competence. He began his career in Kansas in 1986 and became the youngest Secretary of Agriculture in that state’s history. Brownback won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1995 and was elected to the U.S. Senate a year later, where he continued to work on international relations concerning religion while involved in the Senate Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Brownback was elected governor of Kansas in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014. Rabbi David Saperstein

The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Summit just a few weeks ago revealed the ever-growing presence of nonwestern nations arraying themselves against NATO and the West. The BRICS nations share one common concern: U.S. sanctions on global trade and investment. New alliances and old enemies make understanding U.S. foreign policy a requirement rather than an elective. The world is smaller and faster in this communications age. Not only do relations with China, the Middle East, climate change, terrorism, and global health matter, but understanding how the world views our exporting of our own ethics and values through foreign policy is an important reason to engage in your future and our country’s future. Join postdoctoral fellows Augusta Dell’Omo, Ashlyn Hand, and Jonathan Ng in the 2023 Gail Koppman History Lecture to gain a deeper insight into the forces that are shaping our world and the current state of U.S. foreign policy. Moderated by Jeff Engel. About the Lecture: Gail Koppman was a

ABOUT THE AMBASSADOR His Excellency, Jean-Arthur Regibeau, Belgian Ambassador to the United States The Ambassador represents His Majesty The King of the Belgians and Belgium’s federal government in the United States of America and in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. He is responsible for the direction and work of the Embassy and its Consulates, including bilateral political and economic relations, visa and consular services. ABOUT THE MODERATOR Tara M. Lause serves as the Director for Global Pursuits Northern Europe at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. In this role, she acts as the senior company advisor for the Northern European Command (EUCOM) region, overseeing key customer relationships for Aeronautics products, including the F-35, F-16, and C-130. Lause, with over 20 years of experience at Lockheed Martin, has previously worked as a Capture Manager for the UK, Denmark, and Ireland, identifying new business opportunities. She began her career with Lockheed Martin in 2002 as a software engineer on the F-35 p

. . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

Kevin Cassidy is currently the director and representative to the Bretton Woods and Multilateral Organizations for the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for the U.S. Prior to his appointment, Cassidy served as the senior communications and economic and social affairs officer for 11 years in the ILO office for the United Nations with additional responsibility for partnerships in North America. Cassidy worked with member states to organize heads of state/government and ministerial level events highlighting decent work as well as introducing policy language on key development issues into the resolutions and outcomes documents of the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee and the Commissions of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Before his assignments in New York, Cassidy was Chief Technical Adviser for the ILO’s Global Campaign on Promoting Fundamental Rights at Work. Prior to joining the ILO, he worked for the Aga Khan Foundation in London as the operations, communications, and partnership di

Each year, The Economist publishes “The World Ahead” series: an informed prediction of the major themes that will dominate the coming year. Spanning topics from politics to technology to sociology and more, this series edited by Tom Standage is as ambitious as it is awe-inspiring. On December 8, Standage rejoins the Council to discuss his publication’s analysis for 2024. “The World Ahead” is one of the most prestigious launches in The Economist’s annual publishing calendar. This future-gazing publication prepares audiences for the year to come with mind-stretching insights and expert-level analysis. Written by The Economist correspondents and editors alongside globally recognized public figures, it is regarded as essential reading by individuals, professionals, and policymakers alike. It circulates in more than 90 countries, in 24 languages, to a world audience in excess of 2.8 million people. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Tom Standage is deputy editor of The Economist and editor of its future-gazing annual, “The Worl

Boston College Professor of History Heather Cox Richardson supplies her 1.2 million Substack subscribers with her interpretation of history and current events in her daily newsletter called Letters from an American. In her new book Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, Richardson argues that “America is at a crossroads. A country that once stood as the global symbol of democracy has been teetering on the brink of authoritarianism.” Still, Richardson remains optimistic about the country’s future. Kirkus Reviews said the book “show(s) her readers how history and the present are in constant conversation.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Heather Cox Richardson is a professor of history at Boston College. She has written about the Civil War, reconstruction, the Gilded Age, and the American west in award-winning books whose subjects stretch from the European settlement of the North American continent to the history of the Republican Party through the Trump administration. Her work has appeared in the Washington Po

Soft power – the ability to shape the preferences and behaviors of others through attraction and persuasion, rather than coercion, holds a significant place in today’s global landscape. Through a seemingly innocuous sport, the U.S. and China were able to thaw icy relations in the 1970s - “ping-pong diplomacy” - showcasing how cultural exchanges can bridge political divides. Korea has captured international attention through the global phenomenon of K-pop groups BTS and BlackPink, to Netflix’s most streamed show Squid Game, to the adaptation of Korean skincare. These show that soft power fosters understanding and appreciation and facilitates dialogue that can shape global perception in our interconnected world. About the Speakers: Jenna Gibson is a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago, specializing in International Relations. Her research interests include diplomatic rhetoric, public and cultural diplomacy, soft power, South Korean politics and social issues, and U.

“To deeply know and understand others is a way of life,” observes New York Times bestselling author David Brooks in his upcoming book, How to Know a Person. Drawing on insights from psychology, neuroscience, theater, philosophy, history, and education, Brooks presents a comprehensive approach to fostering meaningful human connections that prioritize empathy and understanding. USA Today said, “Original and eye-opening… Brooks is a normative version of Malcolm Gladwell, culling from a wide array of scientists and thinkers to weave an idea bigger than the sum of its parts.” The Council welcomes Brooks to Fort Worth for a discussion moderated by Talmage Boston. David Brooks is one of the nation’s leading writers and commentators. He is an op-ed columnist for the New York Times, a writer for The Atlantic, and appears regularly on PBS Newshour. He is the bestselling author of The Second Mountain, The Road to Character, The Social Animal, Bobos in Paradise, and On Paradise Drive. ABOUT THE MODERATOR Talmage Bo

Congressman Colin Allred is currently serving his third term as the U.S. Representative for Texas’ 32nd Congressional District. Allred was born and raised in North Dallas where he was class president of Hillcrest High School and earned a full-ride football scholarship to Baylor University. He deferred his acceptance to law school to play in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans, where he was a linebacker for five seasons before sustaining a career-ending injury. This opened the door for him to become a civil rights attorney. He served in the General Counsel’s office and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development before returning to Dallas. His congressional priorities include lowering health care costs, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and creating an economy that works for all Americans. About the Moderator: Christopher Connelly is a reporter covering issues related to financial instability and poverty for KERA’s One Crisis Away series. In 2015, he joined KERA to report on Fort Worth and Tarra

In 2018 word broke out that Alphabet Inc’s Google, reacting to employee outrage, would not renew its contract with the Pentagon for Project Maven. Project Maven involved AI analysis of aerial drone imagery and Google employees claimed this association with warfare violated their “do no harm” principle. Autonomous weapons expert Paul Scharre reports on the struggle to control AI in his new book Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, and says that Big Data and the U.S. government must find ways to work together if the U.S. is to retain its superpower status in the fierce competition to develop and implement these game-changing technologies. About the author/speaker: Paul Scharre is the Vice President & Director of studies at CNAS. Scharre previously worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He led the Department of Defense working group that drafted the DoD Directive 3000.09, which established the department’s policies on autonomy in weapon systems. While at the DoD he led ef

Every year the U.S. Department of State International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award recognizes women from across the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage while advocating for everything from world peace to human rights. They bring great empowerment to women and girls, but often with personal risks and sacrifices. While the names of the awardees are kept confidential until just before the awards ceremony in Washington, DC with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Dr. Jill Biden, the Council and its International Visitor Programs will host three of the IWOC Awardees the week of March 11-15 in DFW. Join us to be a part of a powerful and uplifting conversation about the strength and resilience of these women sharing their stories and what it means to be a woman of courage. About the speakers: Meaza Mohammed is a veteran Ethiopian journalist and is the founder of Roha TV, an independent YouTube-based news and information channel. Mohammed has been a strong voice advocating for investigation of and a

President & CEO of the Council on Foreign Relations Richard Haass joins the Council to discuss his latest publication The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens. Haass argues that good citizenship is not only a right, but also a duty, and that individuals must actively participate in the democratic process in order to maintain a healthy and functioning democracy. Join us for this thought-provoking discussion on the role of the individual in shaping the future of our society and the world. About the speaker: Richard Haass is the President & CEO of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is a veteran diplomat and prominent voice on American Foreign Policy, serving the Council on Foreign Relations for 20 years. Dr. Haas has extensive government experience, serving as special assistant to President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993 and senior director of Near East and South Asian affairs on the staff of the National Security Council. Prior to this, he served in the Department of State from 1981-198

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson argues in her best-seller Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents that race in America can be compared to the caste systems of India and Nazi Germany. The New York Times called the book “an instant American classic.” Her 2010 best-seller, The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration, was based on more than a thousand interviews documenting the northern and western migration of African Americans in 20th century America. President Barack Obama awarded her the National Humanities Medal in 2016 for “championing the stories of an unsung history.” Join us online on March 1 to discuss social stratification with this distinguished American writer. About the Author: Isabel Wilkerson is the first Black woman in to win the Pulitzer Prize in Journalism, honored in 1994 for her feature writing at the New York Times. Howard University graduate Wilkerson has become a leading figure in narrative nonfiction, and has devoted fifteen years to journalism

The Honorable Mike Pompeo is the 70th Secretary of State (2018-2021). Previously, he served as the Director of the CIA from 2017-2018. Pompeo graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1986, and after leaving active duty received a law degree from Harvard Law school. He began his legal career in 1998, and later turned to entrepreneurship in aerospace and oil, funding Thayer Aerospace, where he served as CEO for over 10 years. Pompeo began his political career in 2011 when he was elected to the House of Representatives for Kansas’ 4th congressional district, where he served for four terms before joining the Trump administration.Mike Pompeo Book Cover Having been the only person to have served both as Secretary of State and Director of the CIA, Pompeo details his interactions with world leaders and analysis of geopolitics in his new book Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love. The Honorable Mike Pompeo will talk about his experience working for the Trump administration with Council Presi