Great Decisions

Course Description

The Global Village Residential Learning Community and the Global and Regional Studies Program will be offering a “Great Decisions” global affairs education seminar during the Spring 2013 semester.

Great Decisions is a national, civic-education program created by the Foreign Policy Association. It encourages participants to learn about U.S. foreign policy and global issues, discuss multiple viewpoints in a group setting, and take part in a national opinion ballot survey on policy issues. This seminar will include a combination of readings, guest speakers, films and other strategies that will be designed to engage students in lively discussions on contemporary global issues.

Readings will feature impartial, thought-provoking analysis on eight issues of concern to U.S. policymakers today. Topics for the Spring 2013 semester will include: 

• Middle East realignment: the Arab upheaval

• Promoting democracy: foreign policy imperative

• Mexico: transborder crime and governance

• Cybersecurity: the new frontier

• Exit from Afghanistan & Iraq: right time, right pace?

• State of the oceans: waves of change

• Indonesia: prospects for prosperity 

• Energy geopolitics: quandries intensify

The seminar will be facilitated by John L. Sama (Director of the Living/Learning Center and Residential Learning Communities at UVM).

Enrollment is limited to 20 students and instructor permission is required to register. To request permission to register, please contact the instructor:  John.Sama@uvm.edu

Click here to download more information about the Great Decisions course in PDF format.