World Affairs Conversations

Charleston World Affairs Council member George Pope discusses the Kurds, the largest ethnic group in the Middle East, and perhaps the world, who don't have a country. Pope discusses Kurdish history and why the Kurds are always, seemingly, the odd man out in the Middle East.

Jarrett Blanc, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington D.C. discusses Afghanistan: After 18 years, could there be hope on the horizon on ending the 'Endless War' in Afghanistan? The Reality: Anything but Easy!  

The India Consul General from Atlanta, Dr. Swati V. Kulkarni, joins representatives from Indian companies, Novelis and Sundararm Clayton to discuss relationships between India and the Lowcountry of South Carolina. 

Mark Sloan of DTB Associates, a Washington based consulting firm specializing in agricultural and pharmaceutical issues, discusses the current status of the US-Mexico Trade Agreement and the US-Canada Trade Agreement--what's in these agreements for all sides, upcoming Congressional consideration, and what happens if Congress doesn't approve these agreements.

Charleston World Affairs Council member George Pope takes on the daunting task of explaining tariffs. What is a tariff? Who really pays the tariff? Do tariffs really work? What's going on with China and tariffs? Listen and learn! Become insufferable to friends and neighbors as you explain tariffs.  Enjoy!

Polly Nayak, a leading expert and author on the fragile India-Pakistan relationship, discusses the seventy-plus years of fraught relations between India and Pakistan which alternate between fragile peace and high tensions, and explains why 'trust' between the two countries has never existed. 

Climate change! Contentious upcoming elections! A China connection! As a matter fact, Mozambique, approximately twice the size of California located the southeast coast of Africa shares many issues and concerns with the Uniter States. Dr. Cary Manning of Georgia State University joins Dr. Brian Norris of the World Affairs Council of Charleston to discuss Mozambique.  

Dr. Bluford Putnam, Managing Director and Chief Economist of the CME Group of Chicago brings over 35 years of experience in identifying and evaluating global financial and trade issues to the vexing issue of Brexit. In this presentation, Dr. Putnam discusses Brexit backstory, current status, defining issues, conflicting personalities and their political calculations to explain what might happen ne...

David Hyde, from the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), Gene Massamillo of KMA Zuckert, and Robbie Cowart of Gulfstream provide an overview on supersonic travel and other innovations in aviation which have changed and will change how we travel and experience the world. 

Jonathan Hillman, Senior Fellow of the Simon Chair in Political Economy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Director of CSIS Reconnecting Asia Project, discusses China's $1 trillion Belt and Road Initiative. What is it? What are China's goals and objectives? What is the outlook? What are Implications for 'receipient' countries, and for the U.S?   

Dr. Brian Ganaway of the College of Charleston, discusses how the collapse of the Russian, Austro-Hungarian, and Ottoman empires over a hundred years ago impact our world today.

Charleston World Affairs Council member Al Thibault discusses the current U.S.-Saudi crisis. Over the past seventy-five years, few countries have been as central to U.S. foreign policy interests as Saudi Arabia. Despite ups and downs, few issues have been as threatening to this relationship as the fall-out from the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Repercussions, still unfolding, include the global price...

Dr. Brian Gangway explains how World War I still shapes our world a hundred years after the guns fell silent. 

Ambassador Deborah McCarthy, currently with the Academy of Diplomacy, discusses career options in Foreign Affairs.

 Dr. Larry Diamond, Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, and Professor of Political Science at Stanford University, discusses the state of world democracy with Dr. Brian Norris, Professor of Political Science at the Citadel.

War in Georgia, Civil war in Ukraine, Crimea annexed, Military intervention in Syria, and cyber-hacking in the U.S. are all tied to Putin's Russia confronting U.S. policy and institutions. Wayne Merry, Senior Fellow for Europe and and Eurasia at the American Foreign Policy Council discusses these issues in his presentation to the world Affairs Council of Charleston.