HOW CIVIL WARS START: Professor Barbara Walter in conversation with Megan Torrey of the World Affairs Council of CT
2022-02-08 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
The Mark Twain House & Museum and the World Affairs Council of CT welcome professor and political scientist Barbara Walter joined in conversation by CTWAC’s CEO Megan Torrey for a discussion of Professor Walter’s new book HOW CIVIL WARS START AND HOW TO STOP THEM.
Over the last two decades, the number of active civil wars around the world has almost doubled. Drawing on the latest international research and lessons from over twenty countries, Walter identifies the crucial risk factors and reveals the warning signs – where wars tend to start, who initiate them, and what triggers them.
A civil war today won’t look like America in the 1860s, Spain in the 1930s, or Russia in the 1920s. It will begin with sporadic acts of violence and terror, accelerated by social media. It will sneak up on us and leave us wondering how we could have been so blind.
HOW CIVIL WARS START Redefines civil war for a new age, providing the framework we need to confront the danger we now face–and the knowledge to stop it before it’s too late.
FREE virtual event, although donations are gratefully accepted. Donations will be split evenly between The Mark Twain House & Museum and CTWAC.

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About the Author:
Barbara F. Walter, Ph.D., is the Rohr Professor of International Affairs at the School of Global Policy & Strategy at the University of California, San Diego and one of the world’s leading experts on civil wars, political violence, and terrorism. Her books include the award-winning Committing to Peace: Why Negotiations fail, Reputation and Civil War, and Civil Wars, Insecurity, and Intervention.
Walter is a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a frequent live guest on CNN, and an active consultant for the World Bank, the United Nations, and the Departments of Defense and State. She occasionally writes for the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times.

International Women's Day: Combatting Violence Against Women
2022-03-02 17:30 - 19:15
Register now to save the date for the 2022 International Women’s Day.
Join us for this program in recognition of International Women’s Day to learn more about combatting violence against women. This important event represents an ongoing collaboration between the Women’s Leadership Center at the University of Saint Joseph and the World Affairs Council of Connecticut. Stay tuned for updates on times, places, etc.

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The War in Ukraine: Community Q&A
2022-03-09 18:00 - 19:00
Join us for a community event next week with CTWAC Executive Committee Member Arthur House, Former National Security and Intelligence Officer. He will discuss his expertise in cybersecurity and his past work in Ukraine, and answer your biggest questions about the conflict.
RSVP now. You won’t want to miss this.

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Arthur House Bio:
Arthur House is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Connecticut and former Cybersecurity Policy Advisor to Connecticut’s Secretary of the State.
He became Chief Cybersecurity Risk Officer for the State of Connecticut in October 2016 after four years as Chairman of Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.
House has a background in national security, having served as Director of Communications in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and as Chief of the Communications Group for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, a combat support agency of the U.S. Department of Defense. As a White House Fellow he served as Special Projects Officer on the staff of the National Security Council.
He worked in Asia and Africa as an economist and loan officer for the World Bank and was a Congressional Adviser to the United States Mission to the United Nations. In the private sector, House was Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at Webster Bank and also held senior executive positions at Cigna, Aetna, and Tenneco.
His career has also included three positions in the United States Senate as Chief of Staff to former Connecticut Senator Abraham Ribicoff, Staff Director of the Democratic Policy Committee for former Senate Majority Leader Robert Byrd, and Legislative Assistant to Senator Chris Dodd.

The Global Economy
2022-04-13 12:00 - 13:00
Please join us for the upcoming conversation with Paul Donovan, Chief Economist of UBS Wealth Management on Wednesday, April 13 at 12:00pm ET as we discuss the state of the global economy, the future and more!
A suggested donation of $25 to join the discussion is greatly appreciated by the World Affairs Council of CT.

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Paul Donovan’s Bio:
Paul Donovan is Chief Economist of UBS Global Wealth Management. He joined UBS back in 1992 as an intern economist working in the investment bank. As Chief Economist he sits on the Global Investment Committee and is a UBS Opinion Leader and a member of UBS Pride and the UBS Art Board. Paul has been actively involved in the UBS Nobel Perspectives program and a supporter of the UBS Women in Economics program.
Paul has an MA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University and an MSc in Financial Economics from the University of London. He is also an Honorary Fellow of St Anne’s College, Oxford and sits on their investment committee and development board. He is a member of the research advisory board of Open for Business, and a member of the World Economic Forum’s Chief Economists’ Community.

An Evening with Lech Wałęsa, Former President of Poland
2022-05-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Infinity Hall Hartford and Virtual
Join us in conversation with President Lech Wałęsa, former president of Poland, Nobel Peace Prize-winning leader, and founder of the Lech Wałęsa Institute.

We’ll explore how President Wałęsa pulled Poland into the democratic fold, what Russia’s invasion of Ukraine means for the region, and how we can help Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis.

All ticket proceeds from this event will go to the Lech Wałęsa Institute in aid of Ukrainian refugees.

Tickets

General Admission | $30
VIP (Includes meet & greet and photo) | $90
Virtual livestream (Zoom) | $10

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About President Lech Wałęsa

Lech Wałęsa is the legendary leader of the “Solidarity” movement and the author of its victory in 1989 over the communist regime in Poland. His life in inseparably connected with the Polish history and Poland’s way to freedom.

His believe in the idea of solidarity and commitment to freedom was recognised by the global community in 1983 when he was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize. On 22 December 1990 Wałęsa was elected the president of free Poland. During his presidency and after it he remained actively engaged in the public life, being the advocate of Poland around the world.
Today Lech Wałęsa continues his mission of promoting the idea of solidarity. Traveling around the world, he speaks about Poland’s bloodless transition towards peace and democracy as a role model for different nations. Through lectures and dialogue he calls for a world based on universal values. Being a supporter of globalisation and seeing the great potential of modern technologies and global development, he promotes ways of peaceful cooperation between the nations in the 21st century.

Andrew Young: The World in Context
2022-05-14 08:00 - 17:00 | Goodwin University, 1 Riverside Dr, East Hartford, CT, 06118, United States
The World Affairs Council, in partnership with Goodwin University, is live and in-person for a conversation with politician, diplomat, and activist Ambassador Andrew Young (Ret.) about the future of the United Nations — and democracy — and how current global crises might impact the world order as we know it.
Moderated by Jeffrey Ogba, Professor of History and the founding Director of the Center for the Study of Popular Music at UCONN. Sign up now.
This is an in-person event.

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The Diplomat 2022
2022-06-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT, 06103, United States
Be in the room for Connecticut’s premier global event.
In its third year, The Diplomat will be bigger than ever. Still hosted within the stunning backdrop of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, we look forward to celebrating Connecticut as an important global partner.
Join us in welcoming diplomats from around the world to our state. Network, make exclusive business contacts, and meet a new global connection.

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U.S.-China Relations: Foreign Trade Policy and Business Update
2022-06-28 08:30 - 09:30 | Zoom
What are the current U.S.-China relations under the Biden administration and how has it impacted trade? And how have China’s closed borders impacted U.S. businesses and their supply chains?
Join us as we speak with Ambassador Paul W. Speltz (Ret.), Chairman and CEO of Global Strategic Associates, LLC., and Jeffrey Goldstein, Owner of Onward Global, about the way forward for U.S.-China trade relations and business.
This event is in partnership with the Connecticut China Council, Inc.

About the speakers
Jeffrey Goldstein, Owner of Onward Global
Jeffrey Goldstein is owner of Onward Global, an independent contracting practice providing international start-ups, brands and retailers leadership support scaling and managing their sourcing, manufacturing and ethical compliance in Asia.
China based 12+ years, Jeffrey has helped companies build strategic partnerships, maximize profitability, and mitigate operational risks across their supply-chains in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Myanmar and India. This has included the identification and training of 300+ factories, overseeing hundreds of millions of dollars in procurement, and developing dozens of innovative consumer and industrial goods successfully launched at retail.
Prior to starting Onward Global in 2017, Jeffrey directed global operations for a leading lifestyle goods company servicing customers such as Columbia Sportswear, Target, Walmart and Dell.
Jeffrey received an MBA from Tongji University in Shanghai (’16) and studied Chinese Politics & Diplomacy at Fudan University in Shanghai (’08) and Peking University in Beijing (’06). He received a BA in International Studies from the University of Denver (’08).

Ambassador Paul W. Speltz, Chairman and CEO, Global Strategic Associates, LLC
Ambassador Paul W. Speltz is the Chairman and CEO of Global Strategic Associates, LLC. For over 40 years, Paul has lived and worked in Asian business and finance, both in the private and public sectors.
Immediately before launching GSA, Paul served as the President of Kissinger Associates, Inc. Prior to that, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to and Executive Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. In this role, Paul represented the United States extensively throughout Northern, Southern and Central Asia to expand regional trade, promote financial cooperation, and increase private sector lending and financing activity. In 2004, United States Secretary of the Treasury John W. Snow designated Paul the Financial and Economic Emissary to The People’s Republic of China, in which capacity Paul spearheaded the U.S. government’s economic and financial cooperative initiatives with China.
Prior to serving as Ambassador, Paul spent 20 years as a prominent member of the international business community. He served as Managing Director of Global Operations for New York-based Bluestone Capital and as a Senior Director and Advisor on Asian geopolitical activities for United Technologies Corporation (UTC). In 1972, Paul started his own business in China and Asia, which over the years first merged with ATC International and, in 1981, sold to Citicorp. Following the sale, Paul stayed with Citicorp in China and Asia as Vice President.

Welcome Meet and Mingle with UCONN LLMs
2022-09-13 17:30 - 19:30 | Parkville Market – West Hartford, 1400 Park St, Hartford, CT, 06106, United States
Join the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and UCONN Law as we welcome a new class of international LLM — Master of Law — students from at least 15 countries around the world to our community for a networking reception.
You won’t want to miss this. RSVP now.
The Details:
Light bites and first drink provided (*Cash bar available, but we encourage you to stay for dinner an explore the many global options the market has to offer)
When: Tuesday, Sept. 14 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Where: The Brick Room at Parkville Market
Tickets: Free | RSVP required | Space is limited
Parking available onsite

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Thank you to our sponsor:

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Kleptocapture
2022-09-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Webinar
From mega-yachts to bank accounts to possible Fabergé eggs – how the US is capturing ill-gotten gains of oligarchs to hurt Putin’s warchest.
What does it take to enforce sanctions against Russia? Featuring the Director of the DOJ’s Kleptocapture Task Force, Andrew Adams, learn about how the US-coordinated seizure of Russian oligarchs’ mega-yachts and other assets protects the international order.
The Details:
When: Wednesday, Sept. 14 | 12:00 PM
Where: Zoom Webinar
Tickets: Free | RSVP required
TICKETS

About the Speaker | Andrew Adams
Director, DOJ Kleptocapture Task Force
Andrew Adams joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in 2013, where he worked as a junior AUSA in the Office’s Asset Forfeiture and Violent and Organized Crime Units. Andrew has investigated, charged, and tried cases with an emphasis on the integrity of financial institutions; transnational organized crime; sophisticated money laundering operations through both traditional and “crypto” platforms; and cases involving looted antiquities and frauds involving the sale of cultural property. In March of this year, Andrew was asked to lead the Department of Justice’s sanctions response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Global Security Forum 2022
2022-09-22 - 2022-09-23 | Goodwin University, 1 Riverside Dr, East Hartford, CT, 06118, United States
The Global Security Forum brings the world’s top leadership directly to the citizenry. Generals, experts, policymakers, and foreign leaders convene in Connecticut, a center for national defense, to address the most critical global security issues of today and the opportunities of tomorrow.
The Global Security Forum has featured speakers including current Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, General Daniel Hokanson, 29th Chief, National Guard Bureau, General David Petraeus, U.S. Army (Ret.), Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, nominee, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, Dr. Richard Haass, President, Council on Foreign Relations, and more.
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Luncheon with the Ambassador of Singapore
2022-10-06 12:00 - 13:30 | CT Public Broadcasting, Lobby, 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105, US
Be in the room for an exclusive conversation with H.E. Ashok Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore to the U.S. over lunch. The Ambassador is highly respected around the world and a trusted source in international affairs.
Singapore is Connecticut’s 8th largest trading partner, with over $1 billion in goods exchanged each year.
Exclusive for CTWAC Members
The Details:
When: Oct. 6th at 12:00 PM
Where: CTWAC Office, Studio A | Connecticut Public building, 1049 Asylum Ave, Hartford
What: Lunch and roundtable conversations for CTWAC Members
Tickets: $45 | RSVP here

Not sure if you’re a member?
To renew your membership or become a member, consider the member levels on our website. Join now so you don’t miss out on exclusive events like this.
If you want to check your membership status, email Nicole at nstruth@ctwac.org or log in on the membership site.

About the Ambassador
H.E. Ashok Mirpuri | Ambassador of Singapore to the U.S.
Mr. Ashok Kumar Mirpuri took up his appointment as Singapore’s Ambassador to the United States of America (USA) in July 2012. Prior to his current appointment, he served as Ambassador to Indonesia from 2006 to 2012, High Commissioner to Malaysia from 2002 to 2006 and High Commissioner to Australia from 2000 to 2002.
A career diplomat, Mr Mirpuri joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in 1984. In 1994, he was appointed Director of MFA’s Policy Planning & Analysis Directorate I (Southeast Asia). In 1997, Mr Mirpuri was seconded to Shell International Ltd in the United Kingdom as Corporate Advisor (Asia Pacific). He was subsequently assigned to the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta in 1998 as Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission, having previously served in Jakarta as First Secretary (Political).
Mr Mirpuri graduated with an honours degree from the National University of Singapore. He received his MA at the University of London’s School of Oriental & African Studies under a Raffles Scholarship. He attended the Programme for Executive Development at the Institute for Management Development, Switzerland, and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, USA.

Thank you to our sponsor:

Abraham Accords
2022-10-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Webinar
The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020 between the U.S., Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, aimed to normalize relations between the countries and outline regional security concerns.
Our expert panel will discuss the pivotal role the Accords will play in the future of the region.
The Details:
When: Thursday, October 13th | 7:00 PM
Where: Zoom Webinar (link provided with ticket)
Tickets: Free | RSVP required

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In partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and its Jewish Community Relations Council | UCONN Global
Speakers:
H.E. Ambassador Meron Reuben | Consul General of Israel to New England
H.E. Ambassador Amna Binzaal Almheiri | Consul General of the United Arab Emirates to New York
Joseph Lieberman | Former US Senator – CT
Mr. Lieberman was born and raised in Stamford, CT. Now Senior Counsel at the law firm of Kasowitz, Benson, Torres LLP in New York, Joseph I. Lieberman was for 24 years a member of the U.S. Senate from Connecticut. At the end of his service in January 2013, he was Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and a senior member of the Armed Services Committee. Through both Committee positions, he became a leader in protecting the security of the American people and supporting American international leadership. Senator Lieberman is known as a national leader who works across party lines to get things done and who speaks his conscience regardless of the political consequences. Before his election to the Senate in 1988, Senator Lieberman served 10 years in the Connecticut State Senate and 6 years as Connecticut’s Attorney General. In 2000 he was the Democratic candidate for Vice President of the United States. Senator Lieberman also serves on the board of several nonprofit organizations including the McCain Institute.
Senator Lieberman is married to Hadassah Freilich Lieberman. Together they have four children and 12 grandchildren.
Robert Greenway | President and Executive Director, Abraham Accords Peace Institute
Robert Greenway has more than 30 years’ experience in public service culminating as the senior U.S. government official responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing U.S. government policy for all of the Middle East and North Africa on the National Security Council. Prior to service on the NSC he served as a Senior Intelligence Officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency, and a combat veteran of the United States Army Special Forces.
Read Mr. Greenway’s full bio here.

Model United Nations 2022
2022-12-02 - 2022-12-03
CTWAC Model United Nations brings together over 1,000 students from around Connecticut to interact with each other through debate and diplomacy, preparing to become future global leaders in the process.
The Council’s MUN program is exclusively student-run, offering students opportunities to take leadership positions and negotiate with peers. At MUN, students experience the inner workings of international policy-making as they tackle global issues and controversies, navigate crisis scenarios, debate solutions and draft resolutions.
Through the MUN program, students can to travel to New York to tour the United Nations, meet diplomats from the countries they are representing, and discuss timely global issues with the policy makers who are currently working to solve them.
Save the date.

Partner Event | The World Ahead: 2023
2022-12-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Featuring Tom Standage, Deputy Editor at The Economist
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 14, Standage rejoins the Council to discuss his publication’s analysis for 2023.
“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.
The Details:
When: Wednesday, December 14, 2022 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Time Zone: America/Chicago
Eastern Time: Wednesday, December 14, 2022 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Where: Virtual Event
Tickets: Free | RSVP Required
Register

About the Speaker:
Tom Standage is deputy editor of The Economist and editor of its future-gazing annual, “The World Ahead.” Standage directs the newspaper’s digital strategy and the development of new digital products and is the author of seven history books, including “Writing on the Wall” (2013), “The Victorian Internet” (1998) and “A History of the World in 6 Glasses” (2005). He studied engineering and computing at Oxford University and has written for other publications including the New York Times, Daily Telegraph, The Guardian and Wired.
About the Moderator:
Jim Falk, president emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, retired in March 2021 after serving as the organization’s president since 2001. Now residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico he is member of the Board of Global Santa Fe where he chairs the program committee. Additionally, Jim co-hosts The McCuistion Program, a public affairs program, that airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and honorary consul of Morocco.

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A Discussion with the Swiss Ambassador
2023-01-24 11:00 - 12:00 | Bushnell Theater, 166 Capitol Ave, Hartford, 06106, United States
Join the World Affairs Council of Connecticut in partnership with Robinson + Cole on January 24th for a member-exclusive conversation with the Ambassador of Switzerland to the U.S., H.E. Jacques Pitteloud. Read more about the Ambassador here.
Exclusive for CTWAC Members only
The Details:
When: January. 24th at 11:00 AM
Where: Seaverns Room at the Bushnell Performing Arts Center | 166 Capitol Ave, Hartford
Tickets: Free | RSVP required | Availability is extremely limited
TICKETS

Not sure if you’re a member?
To renew your membership or become a member, consider the member levels on our website. Join now so you don’t miss out on exclusive events like this.
If you want to check your membership status, email Abby at anoyes@ctwac.org or log in on the membership site.

Host Committee

Hinge Points: An Inside Look at North Korea's Nuclear Program | Book Talk
2023-02-09 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Join us for an exclusive discussion featuring Siegfried Hecker, author of Hinge Points, on his firsthand account from inside North Korea’s nuclear program, and moderated by Global Santa Fe’s Program Chair, Jim Falk.
Hosted by the Collected Works Bookstore & Coffeehouse in Santa Fe, NM and Global Santa Fe
This will be an in-store presentation, live-streamed on Zoom.

The Book

Hinge Points brings readers literally inside the North Korean nuclear program, joining Siegfried Hecker to see what he saw and hear what he heard in his visits to North Korea from 2004 to 2010. Hecker goes beyond the technical details―described in plain English from his on-the-ground experience at the North’s nuclear center at Yongbyon―to put the nuclear program exactly where it belongs, in the context of decades of fateful foreign policy decisions in Pyongyang and Washington.
Describing these decisions as “hinge points,” he traces the consequences of opportunities missed by both sides. The result has been that successive U.S. administrations have been unable to prevent the North, with the weakest of hands, from becoming one of only three countries in the world that might target the United States with nuclear weapons. Hecker’s unique ability to marry the technical with the diplomatic is well informed by his interactions with North Korean and U.S. officials over many years, while his years of working with Russian, Chinese, Indian, and Pakistani nuclear officials have given him an unmatched breadth of experience from which to view and interpret the thinking and perspective of the North Koreans.
Purchase Hinge Points online here or call the store to order.

The Author
Siegfried Hecker was at the Los Alamos National Laboratory for 34 years, including 12 years as director. He was at Stanford University for 17 years, including 6 years as co-director of the Center for International Security and Cooperation. He is now part-time professor of practice at Texas A&M University and at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Hecker has worked on nuclear matters for most of his career, including having visited all countries with declared nuclear weapons programs, including North Korea.

What: Livestreamed discussion and Q&A on author Siegfried Hecker’s book, detailing his visits inside North Korea’s nuclear centers.
When: Thursday, February 9th | 6:00PM MST | 4:00PM EST
Where: Zoom and in-person at the Collected Works Bookstore
Tickets: Zoom registration | RSVP required

Hosts

Stay Globally Involved
As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events, low ticket prices, and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
To become a member, consider the member levels on our website.
If you are a member – thank you! Make sure you stay involved by renewing your membership or inviting others to join you. To check your membership status, email Abby at anoyes@ctwac.org or log in on the membership site.

Global Changemakers | International Women's Day 2023
2023-03-08 17:15 - 19:00 | Zoom Webinar
Global Changemakers: Women & the Fight for Freedom
Join us on Wednesday, March 8 at 5:15PM ET for this virtual program in recognition of International Women’s Day. We’re highlighting Global Changemakers leading the global fight for freedom, democracy, and women’s rights. These three remarkable women will discuss the current state of the fight for freedom in Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Iran; and their role as a changemaker. Moderated by Council CEO Megan Torrey.
This important event represents an ongoing collaboration between the Women’s Leadership Center at the University of Saint Joseph and the World Affairs Council of Connecticut.

Featuring:
H.E. Oksana Markarova | Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States
Since before the war in Ukraine began, Ambassador Markarova has been a remarkable advocate for her country to the U.S. government, garnering nationwide and bipartisan support for Ukraine in its fight for freedom and democracy.
H.E. Adela Raz | Former Ambassador of Afghanistan to the United Nations
Ambassador Raz was Afghanistan’s first female Ambassador to the UN and the last Ambassador of the former Afghan government to the United States. She unofficially maintained her role for six months after the government she represented ceased to exist to offer help to displaced Afghans: unpaid and unaffiliated with the Taliban. She has since been an advocate for women’s rights in Afghanistan and is the Director of Princeton University’s Afghan Policy Lab.
Roya Hakakian, an Iranian-American Jewish journalist and former refugee, will return to the Council to talk about the state of women’s rights in Iran.

The Details
When: Wednesday, March 8th | 5:15 PM
Where: Zoom Livestream
Tickets: Free | RSVP Required | Register here

The Speakers
H.E. Oksana Markarova
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States
Oksana Markarova was appointed the Ukraine’s Ambassador to the USA and arrived in DC on Apr 20, 2021. She served in Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance in 2015-2020 as First deputy Minister and Government commissioner on investments and then since 2018 as a Minister of Finance. During her time at the Ministry she was a co-author of Ukraine’s macroeconomic revival program, has conducted unprecedented fiscal consolidation leading to deficit to GDP of 2% and debt to GDP reduction to below 50%, introduced midterm budgeting, gender oriented budgeting as well as negotiated, structured and coordinated successfully two IMF programs and other IFI cooperation programs.
During her tenure she and her team has also created UkraineInvest government promotion agency, Ukrainian Startup fund and an eData ecosystem of government public finance portals including spending.gov.ua, openbudget.gov.ua and analytical instrument BOOST, which opened the majority of the public finance data to the public and increased Ukraine in all major international data transparency ratings.
Prior to career in public service Mrs. Markarova spent 17 years working in private equity and financial advisory having leadership roles in ITT investment group, Western NIS Enterprise Fund, Chemonics and and World bank, as well as founded Archidata startup electronic archive company in between service positions in 2020.
Oksana Markarova serves at the Boards of UkraineHouse DC foundation in Washington DC, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Ukrainian Development Foundation and supports Ukrainian Catholic University and Ukrainian Press Museum-Archive.
She holds BS and MS degrees in Environmental Science from Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine and MPA in public finance from Indiana University with academic excellency and best international student awards.
Markarova is married with four children and grandson.

H.E. Adela Raz
Former Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations; former Ambassador of Afghanistan to the U.S.
Twitter: @AdelaRaz
Ambassador Adela Raz served as the last Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United States. Prior to that Amb. Raz served as the first female Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations. At the U.N., Amb. Raz was the Vice President of the 75th session of the General Assembly, and was also appointed by the President of U.N’s General Assembly to serve as the co-coordinator on COVID-19-related initiatives.
Before her arrival at the U.N. Amb. Raz was the Deputy Foreign Minister in Afghanistan. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA,) she managed the regional and economic cooperation portfolios and led the two major platforms: the Regional Economic Cooperation Conferences on Afghanistan and the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process. On behalf of MFA, she helped to manage and coordinate the Brussels (2016) and Geneva (2018) Donor Conferences on Afghanistan and led the negotiations on the outcome documents.
In 2013, she served as the first female Deputy Spokesperson and Director of Communications for President Hamid Karzai.
She began her career with the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and continued to work in a variety of positions at various international development organizations in the U.S. and Afghanistan.
Amb. Raz holds a Master of Arts degree in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and a Bachelor of Arts, with honors, with triple majors on International Relations, Political Science, and Economics from Simmons University in Boston. She also earned a certificate in International Development from the Fletcher School at Tufts University.

Roya Hakakian
Roya Hakakian is an Iranian American Jewish journalist, lecturer, and writer. Born in Iran, she came to the United States as a refugee and is now a naturalized citizen. She is the author of several books, including an acclaimed memoir in English called Journey From the Land of No, Assassins of The Turqoise Palace, and A Beginner’s Guide to America: For the Immigrant and the Curious.
Her opinion columns, essays and book reviews appear in English language publications like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and NPR’s All Things Considered, among many others. She has collaborated on over a dozen hours of programming for leading journalism units in network television, including CBS 60 Minutes. She currently serves as an editorial board member of World Affairs. An active thinker of foreign relations, Roya is a founding member of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. She has been featured in the Washington Post and the US News and World Report, among other publications. In the book, Political Awakenings by University of California at Berkeley’s Professor Harry Kreisler, she has been highlighted “among the most important activists, academics, and journalists of her generation.” Roya is the author of two collections of poetry in Persian, and is listed among the leading new voices in Persian poetry in the Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World. Her poetry has appeared in numerous anthologies around the world, including La Regle Du Jeu, Strange Times My Dear: The Pen Anthology of Contemporary Iranian Literature.

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Stay Globally Involved
As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events, low ticket prices, and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
To become a member, consider the member levels on our website.
If you are a member – thank you! Make sure you stay involved by renewing your membership or inviting others to join you. To check your membership status, email Abby at anoyes@ctwac.org or log in on the membership site.

American Journalists Covering China
2023-03-21 12:00 - 13:30 | The Student Prince, 8 Fort Street, Springfield, MA, 01103, United States
Hear Mike Chinoy, former Beijing Bureau Chief for CNN, address the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts at a luncheon in Springfield on his new book: Assignment China: An Oral History of American Journalists in the People’s Republic.
The Details
When: Tuesday, March 21 | 12:00PM
Where: The Student Prince | 8 Fort Street, Springfield, MA
Tickets: $45 – includes lunch | RSVP required by March 14, 2023 | Tickets
*For dietary restrictions please call 413-733-0110 or email Cyd Melcher at cmelcher@wacwestma.org
About the Speaker
Mike Chinoy is a nonresident senior fellow at the U.S.-China Institute at the University of Southern California. He spent twenty-four years as a foreign correspondent for CNN, serving as the network’s first Beijing bureau chief and senior Asia correspondent. Before joining CNN, Chinoy worked for CBS News and NBC News. He won Emmy, Dupont, and Peabody awards for his coverage of China.
Reporting on China has long been one of the most challenging and crucial of journalistic assignments. Foreign correspondents have confronted war, revolution, isolation, internal upheaval, and onerous government restrictions as well as barriers of language, culture, and politics. Nonetheless, American media coverage of China has profoundly influenced U.S. government policy and shaped public opinion domestically and around the world. Assignment China tells the story of how American journalists have covered China—from the civil war of the 1940s through the COVID-19 pandemic—in their own words.

Hosted by

Stay Globally Involved
As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events, low ticket prices, and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
To become a member, consider the member levels on our website.
If you are a member – thank you! Make sure you stay involved by renewing your membership or inviting others to join you. To check your membership status, email Abby at anoyes@ctwac.org or log in on the membership site.

Hinge Points: Inside North Korea's Nuclear Program
2023-03-27 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Webinar
Join us for an exclusive book talk with Dr. Siegfried Hecker – author of Hinge Points and Director Emeritus of the Los Alamos National Laboratory – as he describes what he saw and heard during his seven visits to North Korea’s nuclear centers from 2004 to 2010. Moderated by Global Santa Fe’s Program Chair, Jim Falk.
Hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and Global Santa Fe in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville and World Affairs of Northern California

The Details
When: Monday, March 27th | 7:00PM EDT
Where: Zoom Webinar
Tickets: Free | RSVP required

The Book

Hinge Points brings readers literally inside the North Korean nuclear program, explains how the “Hermit Kingdom,” with the weakest of hands became one of only three countries in the world that might target the United States with nuclear weapons. Hecker goes beyond the technical details―described in plain English from his on-the-ground experience at the North’s nuclear center at Yongbyon―to put the nuclear program exactly where it belongs, in the context of decades of fateful foreign policy decisions in Pyongyang and Washington.
Describing these decisions as “hinge points,” he traces the consequences of opportunities missed by both sides. Hecker’s unique ability to marry the technical with the diplomatic is well informed by his interactions with North Korean and U.S. officials over many years, while his years of working with Russian, Chinese, Indian, and Pakistani nuclear officials have given him an unmatched breadth of experience from which to view and interpret the thinking and perspective of the North Koreans.
Purchase Hinge Points online here.

The Author
Siegfried Hecker was at the Los Alamos National Laboratory for 34 years, including 12 years as director. He was at Stanford University for 17 years, including 6 years as co-director of the Center for International Security and Cooperation. He is now part-time professor of practice at Texas A&M University and at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Hecker has worked on nuclear matters for most of his career, including having visited all countries with declared nuclear weapons programs, including North Korea.

The Moderator
Jim Falk, president emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, retired in March 2021 after serving as the organization’s president since 2001. Now residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico he is member of the Board of Global Santa Fe where he chairs the program committee. Jim co-hosts Perspectives Matter, a McCuistion Program, that airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and honorary consul of Morocco.

Hosts & Partners

Stay Globally Involved
As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events, low ticket prices, and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
To become a member, consider the member levels on our website.
If you are a member – thank you! Make sure you stay involved by renewing your membership or inviting others to join you. To check your membership status, email Abby at anoyes@ctwac.org or log in on the membership site.

The Diplomat 2023
2023-05-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT, 06103, United States
Be in the room for Connecticut’s premier global event.
The Diplomat 2023 will be bigger than ever before, bringing the Diplomatic Corps that serve Connecticut directly to Hartford. Still hosted within the stunning backdrop of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, we look forward to celebrating Connecticut as an important global partner.
Join us in welcoming diplomats from around the world to our state. Network, make exclusive business contacts, and meet a new global connection.

The Details
When: Tuesday, May 16, 2023 | 6:00PM – 8:00PM
Where: Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT
Tickets: $85-$250 | Limited availability

With representations from:

Argentina
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Brazil
China
Colombia
El Salvador
Ethiopia
Germany
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Jamaica
Japan
Kazakhstan
Madagascar
Malaysia
Mexico
Morocco
Nepal
Nigeria
Pakistan
Peru
Republic of Korea
Romania
Switzerland
Trinidad & Tobago
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom

*with additional confirmations ongoing

With generous support from

Webster Financial Corporation

Stay globally involved
As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events, low ticket prices, and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
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A Celebration of Peruvian Cuisine
2023-05-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Coracora Restaurant, West Hartford, 162 Shield St, West Hartford, CT, 06110
**This event is sold out. To join the waitlist, please call us at (860) 241-6118 or email us at info@ctwac.org.

The World Affairs Council of Connecticut has teamed up with the Consulate General of Peru in Hartford to celebrate the culinary excellence of Peru at the James Beard-nominated Coracora restaurant.
Join us for dinner with the Consul General of Peru in Hartford, Elvis Tuesta, and engage in culinary diplomacy with members of our community over an exquisite selection of traditional Peruvian dishes.
The evening includes a welcome by Consul General Elvis Tuesta, followed by remarks from Deputy Consul General Gonzalo Rivera on Peru’s culinary excellence.

The Details:
When: Wednesday, May 24th at 6:00 PM
Where: Coracora Restaurant | 162 Shield St. West Hartford
Tickets: $70 | Required | Availability is extremely limited
Tickets available here

The Restaurant

Coracora is a family-owned restaurant, with its owners and head chef hailing from Coracora, Peru.
The restaurant is a nominee and finalist for the James Beard Foundation award for “Outstanding Restaurant,” one of only five in the country.
Chef Macarena Ludena and owner Grecia Ludena have prepared an exclusive menu for our members, showcasing the best dishes of their acclaimed cuisine.

Coracora in the news
Coracora restaurant in West Hartford celebrates James Beard nomination – CT Public
Coracora restaurant in West Hartford named ‘gastronomy ambassador’ by Peruvian consul – Record Journal
Governor, State and Local Officials Celebrate Coracora, the West Hartford Restaurant Named a James Beard Finalist – Weha.com

The culinary excellence of Peru
Peruvian food recently emerged as one of the most acclaimed cuisines in the world, with its diverse global influences and creative use of local ingredients.
Lima, Peru is considered by many the gastronomic capital of the Americas, with many of its restaurants recognized in the World’s 50 Best in the last decade.
Read more about Peruvian Cuisine here.

Stay globally involved
As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events, low ticket prices, and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
To renew your membership or become a member, consider the member levels on our website. Join now so you don’t miss out on exclusive events like this.
If you want to check your membership status, email Abby at anoyes@ctwac.org or log in on the membership site.

An Evening with the Ambassador of Pakistan
2023-09-12 18:00 - 19:30 | Connecticut Public Broadcasting Building, 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
Spend an evening with H.E. Masood Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to the U.S. and Asma Farid for an exclusive conversation on U.S.-Pakistan relations, the impact of the Pakistani-American community, and economic opportunities between our state and Pakistan.
Tickets available here.
__________________________________________________________________________
The Details:
When: Tuesday, Sept. 12 | 6:00 PM | Doors open at 5:45 PM
Where: CTWAC Office, 4th Floor| Connecticut Public building, 1049 Asylum Ave, Hartford
Tickets: $25 |Only a few spots left
For available sponsorship opportunities, contact Megan Torrey.

About the Ambassador
H.E. Masood Khan | Ambassador of Pakistan to the U.S.
Ambassador Masood Khan is currently serving as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States. He was the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir from August 2016 to August 2021. Immediately before becoming the President he was the Director General of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, one of the top think tanks in Pakistan. Ambassador Masood Khan had a distinguished diplomatic career. Most notably, he served as:

Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2005;
Pakistan’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, from 2005 to 2008;
Pakistan’s Ambassador to China from 2008 to 2012; and
Pakistan’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Headquarters, New York, from 2012 to 2015.

In his earlier diplomatic career, he held important diplomatic positions in China, The Netherlands, United Nations (New York) and the USA (Washington D.C. from 1997 to 2002).
Ambassador Masood Khan also remained Pakistan’s Chief Negotiator (Sherpa) for the US-led Nuclear Security Summits, from 2009 to 2015.
Read Ambassador Khan’s full bio here.

About the Moderator
Asma Farid
Asma is the Vice-President and Managing Partner of Edible brands, LLC., the parent company of the international franchise company Edible Arrangements among other technology, supply chain and real estate brands.
Asma Farid was born and raised in Pakistan before moving to Connecticut in 2005. She currently serves on the board for the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and World Affairs Council of Atlanta.
Additionally, she serves on the board of New American Pathways, which is an Atlanta based nonprofit with the mission to help refugees become welcomed members of Georgia communities. She has previously served on the board of Connecticut’s Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS). She was honored in 2019 on Connecticut Immigrant Day for her contributions and dedication to the state.
In 2013, Asma and her husband Tariq founded The Tariq & Asma Farid Foundation, a philanthropic non-profit that works to provide the basic needs of food and healthcare as well as improve lives through the support of education and skill development opportunities. The foundation currently operates a free hospital in Pakistan that treats about 100 patients a day, hosts free eye clinics and distributes food ration packets to the needy every month.
In honor of their philanthropic efforts, Asma and Tariq were recipients of the 2017 Anti-Defamation League Greater New Haven Torch of Liberty Award.
In 2019, Asma and Tariq moved their family from North Haven, Connecticut to Atlanta, Georgia. Asma looks forward to not only continuing to give back to the state of Connecticut, but to also get more involved with philanthropy in her new home state of Georgia. The foundation supports many organizations around the globe in areas of medicine, food, and education.

Stay globally involved
As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events, low ticket prices, and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
To renew your membership or become a member, consider the member levels on our website. Join now so you don’t miss out on exclusive events like this.
If you want to check your membership status, email Abby at anoyes@ctwac.org or log in on the membership site.

Premiere: State of the Ukrainian Counteroffensive
2023-09-15 16:00 - 17:00
﻿Watch the full conversation here.
The war in Ukraine is arguably at its most critical tipping point.
Having won their survival by resisting Russian advances at the beginning of the war, the Ukranian people are now engaged in a hard-fought counteroffensive to liberate the rest of their territory and citizens.
Our Fellow Jonah Gosnay sat down with Dr. Fred Kagan to discuss the current state of the counteroffensive and our role in setting up Ukraine for success.
Premiering: Friday, September 15 | 4:00 PM | Live on our Youtube channel
Click here to be notified for the premiere.

This conversation was recorded as part of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut’s 2023 Global Security Forum: Tipping Points & Tripwires. Register and learn more at www.gsf2023.com. Join us on September 21 and 22.

Featuring:
Dr. Fred Kagan | Director of the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute
Frederick W. Kagan, author of the 2007 report Choosing Victory: A Plan for Success in Iraq, is one of the intellectual architects of the successful “surge” strategy in Iraq. He is the director of AEI’s Critical Threats Project and a former professor of military history at the US Military Academy at West Point. His books range from Lessons for a Long War (AEI Press, 2010), coauthored with Thomas Donnelly, to the End of the Old Order: Napoleon and Europe, 1801-1805 (Da Capo, 2006).

About the 2023 Global Security Forum
From the disruptive potential of AI to Russian threats of nuclear war, Global Security Forum 2023 will focus on areas that will be critical tipping points for global security in the coming decade. How can we identify these tipping points and prepare for an uncertain future? Learn more at gsf2023.com.

Stay globally involved
As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events, low ticket prices, and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
To renew your membership or become a member, consider the member levels on our website. Join now so you don’t miss out on exclusive events like this.
If you want to check your membership status, email Abby at anoyes@ctwac.org or log in on the membership site.

Global Security Forum 2023
2023-09-22 08:00 - 15:00
Global Security Forum 2023: Tipping Points & Tripwires
Visit the official GSF 2023 website
The Global Security Forum will bring you the world’s biggest names in global security ever seen on our stage. Generals, experts, policymakers, and foreign leaders convene in Connecticut to address the most critical global security issues of today and the opportunities of tomorrow.
Stay in the know about exciting speaker announcements and updates.
Join the World Affairs Council of CT, the Charter Oak Chapter of the Military Officers Association, Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security (WCAPS), and World Affairs Councils across the region for an all-day seminar featuring experts from top military and civilian institutions. This event is not to be missed.

The Details
When: Thursday, September 21 – Friday, September 22, 2023
Where: Locations across Hartford
Tickets: $25-$250 | Required | In-person, virtual, & bundle options
View the full lineup and purchase tickets

The Global Security Forum has hosted Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin; Admiral Michael Gilday, 32nd Chief of Naval Operations; Admiral (U.S. Navy, Ret.) Michelle Howard; Gen. (U.S. Army, Ret.) Wesley Clark; Admiral (U.S. Navy, Ret.) Dennis Blair, former Director of National Intelligence; Gen. (U.S. Army, Ret.) David Petraeus; Gen. (U.S. Air Force, Ret.) Lori Robinson, former Commander, USNORTHCOM & NORAD; Lt. Gen. (U.S. Army, Ret.) Mark Hertling; Ambassador (Ret.) Bonnie Jenkins; Dr. Richard Haass; and many more distinguished security leaders.

Sponsors & Supporters
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Presenting Partners

Stay globally involved
As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events, low ticket prices, and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
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If you want to check your membership status, email Abby at anoyes@ctwac.org or log in on the membership site.

The Lumumba Plot: The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination
2023-10-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Webinar
Stuart A. Reid, author of The Lumumba Plot: The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination, joins us to discuss his upcoming book uncovering the truth behind the U.S.-sanctioned assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the democratically elected leader of a newly independent Congo.
The Lumumba Plot is a page-turning spy thriller and a deeply researched historical account of a now-forgotten Cold War moment and a low point in U.S. foreign policy.
Moderated by Jim Falk, Global Santa Fe’s Program Chair.
In partnership with Global Santa Fe, the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville, the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations, the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, and the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council.

The Details:
When: Wednesday, October 11th | 7:00 PM
Where: Zoom Webinar
Registration: Free, required | RSVP here

The Book
The Lumumba Plot: The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination
A spellbinding work of history that reads like a Cold War spy thriller—about the U.S.-sanctioned plot to assassinate the democratically elected leader of the newly independent Congo.

It was supposed to be a moment of great optimism, a cause for jubilation. Congo was at last being set free from Belgium—one of seventeen countries to gain independence in 1960 from ruling European powers. Just days after the handover, however, Congo’s new army mutinied, Belgian forces intervened, and its leader Patrice Lumumba turned to the United Nations for help in saving his newborn nation from what the press was already calling “the Congo Crisis.” Dag Hammarskjöld, the tidy Swede who was serving as UN secretary-general, quickly arranged the organization’s biggest peacekeeping mission to date. But chaos was still spreading. Frustrated with the fecklessness of the UN, Lumumba then approached the Soviets for help—an appeal that set off alarm bells at the CIA. To forestall the spread of communism in Africa, the U.S. sent word to the CIA station chief in Leopoldville, Larry Devlin: Lumumba had to go.
Within a year, everything would unravel. The CIA plot to murder Lumumba would fizzle, but he would be deposed in a CIA-backed coup and shot dead by Congolese assassins. Hammarskjöld, too, would die, in a mysterious plane crash, en route to negotiate a ceasefire with Congo’s rebellious southeast. And a young, ambitious military officer named Joseph Mobutu, who had once sworn fealty to Lumumba, would seize power in Congo with U.S. help and misrule the country for more than three decades. For the Congolese people, the events of 1960–61 represented the opening chapter of a long horror story. For the U.S. government, however, they provided a playbook for future interventions.
Preorder The Lumumba Plot online here.

About the Author
Stuart A. Reid is an executive editor of Foreign Affairs. He has written for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg Businessweek, Politico Magazine, Slate, and other publications. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and daughter.

About the Moderator
Jim Falk, President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, retired in March 2021 after serving as the organization’s president since 2001. Now residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico he is member of the Board of Global Santa Fe where he chairs the program committee. Jim co-hosts Perspectives Matter, a McCuistion Program, that airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and honorary consul of Morocco.

Hosts & Partners

Stay Globally Involved
As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. Join now to access exclusive events and discounted pricing.
If you want to check your membership status, email Abby at anoyes@ctwac.org or log in on the membership site.

The Sister: The Most Dangerous Woman in the World
2023-11-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Webinar
Join us on November 15th as author Sung-Yoon Lee introduces us to Kim Yo Jong, the sister and named successor of North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and “the most dangerous woman in the world.”
Lee’s book takes us inside the inner circle of North Korea’s mysterious family dynasty, and tells the story of the regime’s top policymaker and chief propagandist who ruthlessly insulted foreign leaders and threatened a nuclear weapons strike.
Moderated by Jim Falk.

The details:
When: Wednesday, Nov. 15 | 7:00PM ET
Where: Zoom Webinar
Tickets: Free, required | RSVP here

About the author:
Sung-Yoon Lee
Sung-Yoon Lee is a Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Previously, he taught Korean history at Tufts University. He has written on the politics of the Korean peninsula for numerous publications including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. He has testified as an expert witness at the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee hearings on North Korea policy and has advised senior leaders, including the President of the United States.

About the moderator:
Jim Falk
Jim Falk, President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, retired in March 2021 after serving as the organization’s president since 2001. Now residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico he is member of the Board of Global Santa Fe where he chairs the program committee. Jim co-hosts Perspectives Matter, a McCuistion Program, that airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and honorary consul of Morocco.

About the book
The Sister: North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong, the Most Dangerous Woman in the World by Sung-Yoon Lee
This first book on Kim Jong Un’s increasingly powerful sister, tapped to be his successor, offers jaw-dropping insights into the latest generation of North Korea’s secretive and murderous dynasty.
The first woman ever to issue the threat of a nuclear weapons strike is not even officially a head of state. Kim Yo Jong is the sister of North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and, as their murderous regime’s chief propagandist, internal administrator, and foreign policymaker, she is the most powerful woman in North Korean history. Cruel but charming, she threatens and insults foreign leaders with sardonic wit, issuing proclamations and denunciations in her own name, a first for any woman in the Korean royal family. She memorably called the South Korean Defense Minister “a senseless and scum-like guy” before going on to promise South Korea “a miserable fate little short of total destruction and ruin”. A princess by birth with great expectations for her macabre kingdom, she was brought up to believe it is her mission to reunite North Korea with the South or die trying. She’s ruthless and incredibly dangerous.
The Sister, written by Sung-Yoon Lee, a scholar of Korean and East Asian studies and a specialist on North Korea, is a fascinating, authoritative account of the mysterious world of North Korea and its ruling dynasty—a family whose lust for power entails the brutal repression of civilians, a missile program that can reach the continental US, and the constant threat of global havoc.
Order The Sister here.

Hosts & Partners

Stay Globally Involved
As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. Join now to access exclusive events and discounted pricing.
If you want to check your membership status, email Abby at anoyes@ctwac.org or log in on the membership site.

Model United Nations 2023
2023-12-01 - 2023-12-02 | University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford, CT, 06117, US
CTWAC Model United Nations brings together over 1,000 students from across Connecticut to engage with each other through debate and diplomacy, preparing them to become future global leaders.
The Council’s MUN program is exclusively student-run, offering students opportunities to take leadership positions and negotiate with peers. At #CTWACMUN, students experience the inner workings of international policymaking as they tackle global issues and controversies, navigate crisis scenarios, debate solutions, and draft resolutions.
Through the MUN program, students have the opportunity to travel to New York to tour the United Nations Headquarters, meet diplomats from the countries they are representing, and discuss timely global issues with the policymakers who are currently working to solve them.

Learn more about the World Affairs Council of Connecticut’s Model UN program and how to get involved here.
Support the 2023 Model United Nations

A French Culinary Experience at Le Mazet
2023-12-13 18:00
SOLD OUT
Join us for an unforgettable culinary experience at Le Mazet in West Hartford. Celebrate the holiday season with good company and French cuisine at Connecticut’s newest and most acclaimed restaurant.
Le Mazet’s head chef will curate a special tasting menu designed exclusively for guests of the World Affairs Council that will be paired with carefully chosen wines or mocktails.
Indulge with us this holiday season with the best French culinary experience Connecticut has to offer. Reserve your seat now.

About the evening
When: Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023 | 6:00PM
Where: Le Mazet | 975 Farmington Ave, West Hartford CT
Tickets: $175 | SOLD OUT
Dinner ticket includes:

Exclusive multi-course menu to bring you on a tour of French cuisine, only available to our guests
Your choice of accompanying wine or mocktail pairings

About the Restaurant

Le Mazet brings French countryside cuisine directly to West Hartford, offering 100 carefully selected French wines artfully paired with the best French recipes you can find in Connecticut.
Le Mazet was opened in September by West Hartford’s Jacob Cohen, former partner of the Mill Restaurant Group’s Republic restaurants; and Jacob Studenroth, the owner of the Wise Old Dog.

Stay Globally Involved
As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. Join now to access exclusive events and discounted pricing.
If you want to check your membership status, email Abby at anoyes@ctwac.org or log in on the membership site.

The Global Refugee Crisis with Chris George
2024-01-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Studio A at CT Public, 1049 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
Conflicts in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria and around the world have created a global refugee crisis. Join Chris George for his final appearance as part of IRIS to discuss the future of refugee resettlement – and his role in transforming refugee resettlement nationally.

Chris has been Executive Director of IRIS – Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services – for 18 years. He spearheaded the organization’s growth to help resettle 1,000 per year in Connecticut in 2023 from 150 a year in 2005. Throughout his tenure, he has made CT a model for refugee resettlement in the U.S. Join us as we celebrate the work of IRIS and bid Chris farewell in his next adventures.

The Details
When: Wednesday, January 24th at 6:00PM | Doors open 5:45PM
Where: Studio A at CT Public | 1049 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT 06105
Tickets: $20 donation | RSVP here
Please consider adding your support for this program with a $20 donation when registering

About the Speaker
Chris George served as the executive director of Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) for 18 years. In his leadership role, Chris helped IRIS become a national Welcome Corps PSO and Connecticut’s largest refugee resettlement agency, working with community groups nationwide to welcome thousands of refugees and immigrants to their new homes. Chris played a central role in IRIS’ commitment of piloting sponsorship models in the U.S. Chris’ passion for serving others started in 1977 when he became a Peace Corps Volunteer in Muscat, Oman. Over the course of his 12 years of experience in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, he held leadership roles at Save the Children, American Friends Service Committee, and in 1989 he made headlines as the first American abducted and held hostage in Gaza. Since then, he has only grown more devoted to helping those in need. In addition to this, Chris negotiated the terms of the first fact-finding missions to Syria and Iran as Executive Director of Human Rights Watch – Middle East. Chris is a driven and compassionate leader whose work has positively impacted countless lives. His commitment to helping others has made him an invaluable asset to the IRIS team and the communities they serve.

About IRIS
Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) is a non-profit agency whose mission is to help refugees and other displaced people establish new lives, strengthen hope, and contribute to the vitality of Connecticut’s communities. Welcoming persecuted people from other countries is America’s most noble tradition. IRIS helps newcomers on the road to self-sufficiency by providing lifesaving support during their transition to life in the United States.

Stay Globally Involved

As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. Join now to access exclusive events and discounted pricing.
