Several members of the department’s faculty participated in the 2017 Great Decisions lecture series (presented by the Foreign Policy Association) sponsored by the University of North Georgia and the Forsyth County Public Library.

Dr. Greathouse

On February 2, 2017, Dr. Craig Greathouse, associate department head, presented : “The Future of Europe.” He explained: “The outcome of the United Kingdom referendum on EU membership sent shockwaves across the globe. It even caught British voters by surprise. The European Union has helped secure peace in Europe for the past 70 years. Now it faces an uncertain future. Amid a refugee crisis, lingering financial recession, and the constant specter of terrorism, unity seems more imperative than ever. But the Brexit vote underscores the complexities of integrating an extremely diverse continent. What will post-Brexit Europe look like, and how can U. S. foreign policy adapt?”

 

Dr. Miner

On March 2, 2017, Dr. Jonathan Miner, associate professor, presented: “U. S. Foreign Policy and Petroleum.” He explained: “What is the effect of U. S. petroleum security on foreign policy? For 45 years, the country has alternated between periods of energy security and insecurity, sometimes able to wield petroleum as a useful instrument of foreign policy, sometimes not. Despite the so-called ‘energy revolution,’ the United States today is by no means disentangled from foreign dependence and global trends. In order to be successful, policymakers must recognize both petroleum security circumstances and patterns in the relationship between petroleum and foreign policy.”

Dr. Seyed Serri

On March 30, 2017, Dr. Seyed Hamid Serri, assistant professor, presented: “Nuclear Security.” He explained: “Nuclear nonproliferation was a top priority for the Obama administration. While the Iran Deal was a diplomatic victory toward this end, major threats persist from both state and non-state actors. Countries like North Korea, Russia, and India and Pakistan continue to challenge nonproliferation efforts. The possibility that terrorists will carry out an attack using a ‘dirty bomb,’ made from captured nuclear materials, looks increasingly real. In a fractious world, which way forward for U. S. nuclear security policy?”