Passport to the World

The Passport to the World series includes two sessions:

Foreign Relations — Thursdays

Foreign Relations — Fridays

PASSPORT TO THE WORLD
FOREIGN RELATIONS – THURSDAY
Examine the fast-paced changes in global politics.
Passport students are encouraged to check the Emeritus Web site for any schedule or class changes.
Lectures meet on Thursdays, 1-2:30 pm, Room P103-P104.
HUM S53-40, OC/SK, 10 Thu., 9/8-12/8, 1-2:30 pm, $70 series, in-district residents age 60 and above, CRN 61311
HUM S53-41, OC/SK, 10 Thu., 9/8-12/8, 1-2:30 pm, $85 series, out-of-district residents or those under age 60, CRN 61312 

Thursday, September 8
Haiti: Walking in Broken Shoes
Join Sue Magnuson Walsh, MS, CPNP, author of Walking in Broken Shoes, as she examines Haiti’s political and social history. How resilient is this country–and its people? How can it effectively integrate empathy and compassion (for example, aid work) with profit and development? Can the for-profit sector help Haiti? Or is it a “failed state?”

Thursday, September 15
How Wealth Disparities Imperil Global Social Order
Probe the role of growing wealth disparities in undermining social stability around the world, and how citizens are responding. James Thindwa, Chicago union organizer, will examine recent upheaval in the Middle East and North Africa as it reflects global restiveness about declining social conditions. Will these events have a lasting impact? Will they serve as a template for challenging authority and beating back global corporate dominance and military adventurism?

Thursday, September 22 and 29 - No Passport

Thursday, October 6
Turkey and the European Union
Turkey first applied for European Union membership in 1987, but only started formal membership negotiations in 2005. While the country has instituted significant domestic political reforms, these negotiations have produced few tangible results. Martyn de Bruyn, assistant professor of political science at Northeastern Illinois University, will explore the reasons behind this lack of progress and compare Turkey to other countries that have applied for EU membership, such as Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Iceland.

Thursday, October 13
After the Election: A New Egypt?
Half of the Egyptians in January’s protests this year were women. Yet the only woman victor in Egypt’s March election was one who served under Hosni Mubarak. Does that portend sorely under-represented minorities in the new Egypt? Join Jaleh Sherbini, Oakton adjunct faculty, in a search for answers.

Thursday, October 20
Germany and Israel: Story of Guilt and an Unlikely Friendship
For six decades Israel and Germany have been connected by the Holocaust and its aftermath. What might seem to be an unlikely relationship has evolved into a blossoming friendship and successful economic bond as Germany has faced its Nazi legacy. Join Anette Isaacs, German historian, and explore how Germany has attempted to cope with its collective guilt, and how this process has heralded a new era in German-Israeli relations.

Thursday, October 27
Mexico: Analysis and Reflections
More than 34,000 people have been killed in Mexico since President Felipe Calderon launched a drug war four years ago, including suspected drug gang members, armed forces, and innocent bystanders. This explosion of violence is caused by approximately seven Mexican drug cartels battling the army and each other. Many members of the police, the army, and high level politicians protect the drug dealers. American gun shops supply almost all the arms in this conflict and American banks launder billions of cartel dollars. Is Calderon’s strategy working? Is Mexico becoming a “failed state?” How serious is this threat to the United States, and to what extent does it bear moral responsibility for its involvement? Carlos Briones, Oakton professor of philosophy and humanities, will address these questions and more.

Thursday, November 3
The Arab Awakening and American Foreign Policy
What do the popular revolutions sweeping through the Middle East this year portend for America’s leadership position in the world? How should the United States respond to this systemic political earthquake? Join George Lungu, Oakton associate professor of political science, for an in-depth analysis of these events and their consequences for American foreign policy.

Thursday, November 10 - No Passport

Thursday, November 17
Education, R&D, and Economic Development in China
In a recent test run by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Shanghai’s 15-year-olds topped the global league tables in reading, science, and math—one of many signs that China is making extensive efforts to invest in education and science. Join Dali Yang, political science professor, University of Chicago, and faculty director of the University’s Center in Beijing and the Confucius Institute, for a discussion about what China has done to promote education and technology, and the implications for the United States.

Thursday, November 24 (Thanksgiving) - No Passport

Thursday, December 1
The Bombing of Auschwitz
In the 20th century, there is no more vexing question than whether the United States and its allies should have bombed Auschwitz, a target less than five miles from other targets bombed in summer 1944. Professor Robert Pape, University of Chicago, will review the large historical debate and offer his own assessment, based on his extensive background analyzing air campaigns.

Thursday, December 8
The Liberal Tradition in American Foreign Policy
Most Americans believe that U.S. foreign policy is guided in large part by liberal values and not by the logic of realpolitik. This is certainly what their leaders tell them. Professor John Mearsheimer, University of Chicago, will challenge this conventional wisdom. He argues that Washington’s actions around the world often violate liberal precepts, but that U.S. leaders have mastered the art of using idealist rhetoric to describe almost everything they do on the foreign policy front.

PASSPORT TO THE WORLD
FOREIGN RELATIONS – FRIDAYS
Examine the fast-moving changes in global politics.
Passport students are encouraged to check the Emeritus Web site for any schedule or class changes.
Lectures meet on Fridays, 11 am-12:30 pm, Room A145/152. Seating is limited.
HUM S53-49, OC/SK, 10 Fri., 9/9-12/9, 11 am-12:30 pm, $70 series, in-district residents age 60 and above, CRN 61319
HUM S53-50, OC/SK, 10 Fri., 9/9-12/9, 11 am-12:30 pm, $85 series, out-of-district residents or those under age 60, CRN 61320

Friday, September 9
Haiti: Walking in Broken Shoes
Join Sue Magnuson Walsh, MS, CPNP, author of Walking in Broken Shoes, as she examines Haiti’s political and social history. How resilient is this country–and its people? How can it effectively integrate empathy and compassion (for example, aid work) with profit and development? Can the for-profit sector help Haiti? Or is it a “failed state?”

Friday, September 16
How Wealth Disparities Imperil Global Social Order
Probe the role of growing wealth disparities in undermining social stability around the world, and how citizens are responding. James Thindwa, Chicago union organizer, will examine recent upheaval in the Middle East and North Africa as it reflects global restiveness about declining social conditions. Will these events have a lasting impact? Will they serve as a template for challenging authority and beating back global corporate dominance and military adventurism?

Friday, September 23 and 30 - No Passport

Friday, October 7
Turkey and the European Union
Turkey first applied for European Union membership in 1987, but only started formal membership negotiations in 2005. While the country has instituted significant domestic political reforms, these negotiations have produced few tangible results. Martyn de Bruyn, assistant professor of political science at Northeastern Illinois University, will explore the reasons behind this lack of progress and compare Turkey to other countries that have applied for EU membership, such as Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Iceland.

Friday, October 14
After the Election: A New Egypt?
Half of the Egyptians in January’s protests this year were women. Yet the only woman victor in Egypt’s March election was one who served under Hosni Mubarak. Does that portend sorely under-represented minorities in the new Egypt? Join Jaleh Sherbini, Oakton adjunct faculty, in a search for answers.

Friday, October 21
Germany and Israel: Story of Guilt and an Unlikely Friendship
For six decades Israel and Germany have been connected by the Holocaust and its aftermath. What might seem to be an unlikely relationship has evolved into a blossoming friendship and successful economic bond as Germany has faced its Nazi legacy. Join Anette Isaacs, German historian, and explore how Germany has attempted to cope with its collective guilt, and how this process has heralded a new era in German-Israeli relations.

Friday, October 28
Mexico: Analysis and Reflections
More than 34,000 people have been killed in Mexico since President Felipe Calderon launched a drug war four years ago, including suspected drug gang members, armed forces, and innocent bystanders. This explosion of violence is caused by approximately seven Mexican drug cartels battling the army and each other. Many members of the police, the army, and high level politicians protect the drug dealers. American gun shops supply almost all the arms in this conflict and American banks launder billions of cartel dollars. Is Calderon’s strategy working? Is Mexico becoming a “failed state?” How serious is this threat to the United States, and to what extent does it bear moral responsibility for its involvement? Carlos Briones, Oakton professor of philosophy and humanities, will address these questions and more.

Friday, November 4
The Arab Awakening and American Foreign Policy
What do the popular revolutions sweeping through the Middle East this year portend for America’s leadership position in the world? How should the United States respond to this systemic political earthquake? Join George Lungu, Oakton associate professor of political science, for an in-depth analysis of these events and their consequences for American foreign policy.

Friday, November 11 - No Passport

Friday, November 18
Education, R&D, and Economic Development in China
In a recent test run by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Shanghai’s 15-year-olds topped the global league tables in reading, science, and math—one of many signs that China is making extensive efforts to invest in education and science. Join Dali Yang, political science professor, University of Chicago, and faculty director of the University’s Center in Beijing and the Confucius Institute, for a discussion about what China has done to promote education and technology, and the implications for the United States.

Friday, November 26 - No Passport

Friday, December 2
The Bombing of Auschwitz
In the 20th century, there is no more vexing question than whether the United States and its allies should have bombed Auschwitz, a target less than five miles from other targets bombed in summer 1944. Professor Robert Pape, University of Chicago, will review the large historical debate and offer his own assessment, based on his extensive background analyzing air campaigns.

Friday, December 8
The Liberal Tradition in American Foreign Policy
Most Americans believe that U.S. foreign policy is guided in large part by liberal values and not by the logic of realpolitik. This is certainly what their leaders tell them. Professor John Mearsheimer, University of Chicago, will challenge this conventional wisdom. He argues that Washington’s actions around the world often violate liberal precepts, but that U.S. leaders have mastered the art of using idealist rhetoric to describe almost everything they do on the foreign policy front.

SPRING 2012

When Washington leaders voted to raise the debt ceiling last fall, Republican Senator Tom Coburn allegedly said, “This is a win for the politicians and a loss for the country.” How will the ongoing gridlock on Capitol Hill affect the United States’ position around the globe? What impact will the European Union members’ precarious economies have on international relations? Our Passport speakers will address these issues and many more.
Passport students can check the Emeritus Web site for up-to-date changes.

THURSDAY SERIES
Lectures meet on Thursdays, 1-2:30 pm, Room P103-P104. Seating is limited. Registration is by series only.
HUM S53-40, OC/SK, 9 Thu., 3/15-5/10, 1-2:30 pm, $63 series, in-district residents age 60 and above. CRN 40629
HUM S53-41, OC/SK, 9 Thu., 3/15-5/10, 1-2:30 pm, $78 series, out-of-district residents or under age 60. CRN 40630
  
Thursday, March 15
Macroeconomics: A Greater Picture of Debts, Deficits, and Jobs
Ed Stuart, Ph.D., economics, contends that the debt ceiling crisis took attention away from the real problems facing the American economy. In this class, he’ll examine what policymakers, the Federal Reserve, Congress, and the President can and should be doing to improve job prospects and economic opportunity for all Americans.

Thursday, March 22
China on the World Stage
After 30 years of rapid economic development, China has re-emerged as a political, economic, and military world power. Z.J. Tong, president of Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute, explores the implications. How will this impact China’s foreign relations policy? How is such policy formed? How does the Internet impact government decisions? Should Western countries consider China a partner and stake-holder—or a competitor and enemy? Topics will include human rights, nuclear proliferation, environment protection, North Korea, South China Sea, and Tibet.

Thursday, March 29
What Caused The Implosion of The Israeli Kibbutzes? 
Take a closer look at this unique Israeli institution. Ted Cohen, who holds two M.A.s in classical Arabic literature from the University of Chicago, lived in a kibbutz for almost two years and a few summers. Join him as he delves into this experiment in communism—with a particular emphasis on kibbutzim run by the Mapam political party, formed in 1948.

Thursday, April 5
The Democratization of Arabs?
Democracy could bring momentous change to the Middle East, a part of the world traditionally dominated by dictatorships and monarchies. Toufic El Rassi, author and Columbia College faculty member, will review recent events in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya in light of the United States’ relationship with many of the recently-deposed regimes. Learn what impact recent revolutions and unrest may have on the United States and its allies.

Thursday, April 12
An Eleven-Month Assessment of Chicago’s New Mayor, Rahm Emanuel  
Over the last three decades, Chicago has experienced two major mayoral transitions: Harold Washington’s administration during the mid-1980s and Richard M. Daley’s long tenure from 1989 to 2011. Will Rahm Emanuel’s new city government usher in a similarly significant change of course? Larry Bennett, DePaul University professor and author of The Third City: Chicago

Thursday, April 19
The New Geopolitical Middle East
The “Arab Awakening” has changed the geopolitical architecture of the Middle East and the consequences will be felt worldwide. George Lungu, associate professor of political science at Oakton, discusses this historic phenomenon.

Thursday, April 26
Did Marx Foretell Today’s Economic Crisis?
As the world economy struggles with increasing debt, growing inequality, and massive environmental destruction, Karl Marx is making a comeback. Recent articles in The Financial Times of London and The Economist have contended that no one captured the dynamics of the present predicament facing the world economy better than this 19th-century socialist philosopher. Peter Hudis, Ph.D., who recently completed dissertation on Marx, examines thinker’s work, which takes on new importance in light of the global crisis of capital.

Thursday, May 3
The Rise of the Era of Off-Shore Balancing 
Take a closer look at the concepts behind President Obama’s grand strategy for the United States. Robert Pape, Ph. D., University of Chicago, and author of Dying to Win: the Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorists, examines their advantages and disadvantages—and outlines possible solutions.

Thursday, May 10
Is NATO An Anachronism?
Established in 1949 to help “contain” the Soviet threat in Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has struggled to define its mission and justify itself since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. In recent years, NATO has served as America’s sidekick in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, which has not been a success.  John Mearsheimer, Ph.D., University of Chicago and author, discusses whether NATO is in its death throes.

FRIDAY SERIES
Lectures meet on Fridays, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Room A145/152. Seating is limited. Registration is by series only.
HUM S53-49, OC/SK, 9 Fri., 3/16-5/11, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $63 series, in-district residents age 60 and above. CRN 40631
HUM S53-50, OC/SK, 9 Fri., 3/16-5/11, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $78 series, out-of-district residents or under age 60. CRN 40632

Friday, March 16
Macroeconomics: A Greater Picture of Debts, Deficits, and Jobs
Ed Stuart, Ph.D., economics, contends that the debt ceiling crisis took attention away from the real problems facing the American economy. In this class, he’ll examine what policymakers, the Federal Reserve, Congress, and the President can and should be doing to improve job prospects and economic opportunity for all Americans.

Friday, March 23
China on the World Stage
After 30 years of rapid economic development, China has re-emerged as a political, economic, and military world power. Z.J. Tong, president of Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute, explores the implications. How will this impact China’s foreign relations policy? How is such policy formed? How does the Internet impact government decisions? Should Western countries consider China a partner and stake-holder—or a competitor and enemy? Topics will include human rights, nuclear proliferation, environment protection, North Korea, South China Sea, and Tibet.

Friday, March 30
What Caused The Implosion of The Israeli Kibbutzim? 
Take a closer look at this unique Israeli institution. Ted Cohen, who holds two M.A.s in classical Arabic literature from the University of Chicago, lived in a kibbutz for almost two years and a few summers. Join him as he delves into this experiment in communism—with a particular emphasis on kibbutzim run by the Mapam political party, formed in 1948.

Friday, April 6
The Democratization of Arabs?
Democracy could bring momentous change to the Middle East, a part of the world traditionally dominated by dictatorships and monarchies. Toufic El Rassi, author and Columbia College faculty member, will review recent events in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya in light of the United States’ relationship with many of the recently-deposed regimes. Learn what impact recent revolutions and unrest may have on the United States and its allies.

Friday, April 13
An Eleven-Month Assessment of Chicago’s New Mayor, Rahm Emanuel  
Over the last three decades, Chicago has experienced two major mayoral transitions: Harold Washington’s administration during the mid-1980s and Richard M. Daley’s long tenure from 1989 to 2011. Will Rahm Emanuel’s new city government usher in a similarly significant change of course? Larry Bennett, DePaul University professor and author of The Third City: Chicago and American Urbanism, will discuss Chicago’s recent mayoral history and identify what’s new—and not so new—in the first year of Emanuel’s administration.

Friday, April 20
The New Geopolitical Middle East
The “Arab Awakening” has changed the geopolitical architecture of the Middle East and the consequences will be felt worldwide. George Lungu, associate professor of political science at Oakton, discusses this historic phenomenon.

Friday, April 27
Did Marx Foretell Today’s Economic Crisis?
As the world economy struggles with increasing debt, growing inequality, and massive environmental destruction, Karl Marx is making a comeback. Recent articles in The Financial Times of London and The Economist have contended that no one captured the dynamics of the present predicament facing the world economy better than this 19th-century socialist philosopher. Peter Hudis, Ph.D., who recently completed dissertation on Marx, examines thinker’s work, which takes on new importance in light of the global crisis of capital.

Friday, May 4
The Rise of the Era of Off-Shore Balancing 
Take a closer look at the concepts behind President Obama’s grand strategy for the United States. Robert Pape, Ph.D., University of Chicago, and author of Dying to Win: the Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorists, examines their advantages and disadvantages—and outlines possible solutions.

Friday, May 11
Is NATO An Anachronism?
Established in 1949 to help “contain” the Soviet threat in Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has struggled to define its mission and justify itself since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. In recent years, NATO has served as America’s sidekick in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, which has not been a success. John Mearsheimer, Ph.D., University of Chicago and author, discusses whether NATO is in its death throes.

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