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 — Thursdays

Many in the U.S. may be happy to see the first decade of the century come to an end—but what about the rest of the world? The Passport lectures for Spring 2010 will examine where the U.S. and other nations stand at the brink of this new decade. Join Chicago area teachers and thinkers for analysis of our world today.

Lectures meet on Thursdays, 1–2:30 p.m., Room A145-A152.

HUM S53-40, OC/SK, 11 Thu., 3/4–5/13, 1–2:30 p.m., $66 series, in-district residents age 60 and above. CRN 40738

HUM S53-41, OC/SK, 11 Thu., 3/4–5/13, 1–2:30 p.m., $81 series, out-of-district residents or under age 60. CRN 40739

Registration is by series only. Half-price discounts do not apply.

A $7 processing fee will be charged once a semester.

Thursday, March, 4

THE CONSTITUTION: WHAT’S RACE OR GENDER GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Those who have experienced discrimination on the basis of race or gender would reach better conclusions in judging discrimination cases than those who have not had this experience. This statement seems far less threatening in language that is depersonalized, colorblind, and neutered. We’ll look at the U.S. justice system and discuss the justness (or unjustness) of changes in language and their impact on questions facing the Supreme Court. Loretta Capeheart, Ph.D., is the granddaughter of a Mexican immigrant who was raised in South Texas along with two brothers by her widowed, working-class mother. She currently teaches justice studies at Northeastern Illinois University.

Thursday, March 11

LEBANON 

Even after recent elections that returned to power a pro-Western coalition led by Saad Hariri, Lebanon’s future remains uncertain. Having just returned from Lebanon, Toufic El Rassi examines the country’s recent civil war as well as its possible next steps. Topics also include the influence of Hezbollah and tensions with the state of Israel.

Thursday, March 18

SRI LANKA: AFTER THE TIGERS

Join Swarna Wickremeratne, MLS, a native of St. Louis, to explore the history and culture of Sri Lanka, as well as recent developments that have led to terrorist attacks against the country. Topics include Sri Lanka’s contemporary scene and a prognosis of what lies ahead. 

Thursday, March 25

ANOTHER VIEW OF IRAN

In November 2008, our presenters joined an interfaith peace delegation to Iran, the largest Jewish delegation to visit that country in recent history. Rabbi Brant Rosen is the spiritual leader of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston; Sallie Gratch is a social worker and peace activist; Alan Gratch is a lawyer, law professor, and community activist. They will share their views of this experience.

Thursday, April 1

TUMULT IN TEHRAN 

Join Keki Bhote, Ph.D., as he looks at Iran’s post-election uprising of 2009 from the perspective of a person with family living in the country. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei quashed the chance for a democratic government. Anointed instead were the revolutionary guard and its armed militia, the Basij, with President Ahmadinejad at the top. Can the military dictatorship last? History suggests otherwise.

Thursday, April 8

MEXICO AT A CROSSROADS

Peter Hudis, a member of Oakton’s philosophy faculty, looks at how Mexican society and politics are being impacted by the global economy. We’ll focus on changing migration patterns and how that might affect relations between the U.S. and Mexico.

Thursday, April 15

A NEW ‘GREAT GAME?’ POWER STRUGGLE IN CENTRAL ASIA

“Now I shall go far and far into the North, playing the Great Game ... ” (Rudyard Kipling, Kim, 1901). Throughout much of the 19th century, Britain and Russia competed for spheres of influence in Central Asia. Now, at the dawn of the 21st century, virtually all the world’s great powers are engaged in a new “Great Game” that may well define the region’s future. Join George Lungu, associate professor of political science at Oakton, for an in-depth look at the changing geopolitical landscape of Central Asia.

Thursday, April 22

CHINA: DOMESTIC TRANSFORMATIONS AND GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

Dali Yang, Ph.D., a member of the political science faculty at the University of Chicago, examines how China has weathered the global economic crisis. He also will look at the implications of China’s continuing transformations on global governance.

Thursday, April 29

FREEDOM’S FRONTIER IN KOREA: WAR 1950 TO CRISIS 2010

Michael Zimmerman provides the background: a strategic sketch of events leading up to and including the Korean War; some lessons well learned and others misapplied to the Vietnam War; and of course, North Korea’s recent development of nuclear power and missile capability. We’ll discuss what America has done and might do going forward.

Thursday, May 6

THE STATE OF OUR WORLD

Join John Mearsheimer, Ph.D., professor of political science and co-director of the Program in International Security Policy at the University of Chicago, for comments about the state of world affairs. Mearsheimer is the author of The Tragedy of World Politics, which attempts to validate the political theory of “offensive realism,” under which each state must ensure its own survival by maximizing its share of world power.

Thursday, May 13

MYTHS OF POWER

Every state strives for power to improve its national security. Robert Pape, Ph.D., a faculty member at the University of Chicago and author of Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorists, will examine the resources each national state has at its disposal to achieve its aims. Come prepared for a thought-provoking examination.

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Passport to the World 
Foreign Relations — Fridays

Many in the U.S. may be happy to see the first decade of the century come to an end—but what about the rest of the world? The Passport lectures for Spring 2010 will examine where the U.S. and other nations stand at the brink of this new decade. Join Chicago area teachers and thinkers for analysis of our world today.

Lectures meet on Fridays, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Room A145/152. Seating is limited.

HUM S53-49, OC/SK, 11 Fri., 3/5–5/14, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., $66 series, in-district residents age 60 and above. CRN 40749

HUM S53-50, OC/SK, 11 Fri., 3/5–5/14, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., $81 series, out-of-district residents or under age 60. CRN 40756

Registration is by series only. Half price discounts do not apply. 

A $7 processing fee will be charged once a semester.

Friday, March, 5

THE CONSTITUTION: WHAT’S RACE OR GENDER GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Those who have experienced discrimination on the basis of race or gender would reach better conclusions in judging discrimination cases than those who have not had this experience. This statement seems far less threatening in language that is depersonalized, colorblind, and neutered. We’ll look at the U.S. justice system and discuss the justness (or unjustness) of changes in language and their impact on questions facing the Supreme Court. Loretta Capeheart, Ph.D., is the granddaughter of a Mexican immigrant who was raised in South Texas along with two brothers by her widowed, working-class mother. She currently teaches justice studies at Northeastern Illinois University.

Friday, March 12

LEBANON 

Even after recent elections that returned to power a pro-Western coalition led by Saad Hariri, Lebanon’s future remains uncertain. Having just returned from Lebanon, Toufic El Rassi examines the country’s recent civil war as well as its possible next steps. Topics also include the influence of Hezbollah and tensions with the state of Israel.

Friday, March 19

SRI LANKA: AFTER THE TIGERS

Join Swarna Wickremeratne, MLS, a native of St. Louis, to explore the history and culture of Sri Lanka, as well as recent developments that have led to terrorist attacks against the country. Topics include Sri Lanka’s contemporary scene and a prognosis of what lies ahead. 

Friday, March 26

ANOTHER VIEW OF IRAN

In November 2008, our presenters joined an interfaith peace delegation to Iran, the largest Jewish delegation to visit that country in recent history. Rabbi Brant Rosen is the spiritual leader of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston; Sallie Gratch is a social worker and peace activist; Alan Gratch is a lawyer, law professor, and community activist. They will share their views of this experience.

Friday, April 2

TUMULT IN TEHRAN

Join Keki Bhote, Ph.D., as he looks at Iran’s post-election uprising of 2009 from the perspective of a person with family living in the country. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei quashed the chance for a democratic government. Anointed instead were the revolutionary guard and its armed militia, the Basij, with President Ahmadinejad at the top. Can the military dictatorship last? History suggests otherwise.

Friday, April 9

MEXICO AT A CROSSROADS

Peter Hudis, a member of Oakton’s philosophy faculty, looks at how Mexican society and politics are being impacted by the global economy. We’ll focus on changing migration patterns and how that might affect relations between the U.S. and Mexico.

Friday, April 16

A NEW ‘GREAT GAME?’ POWER STRUGGLE IN CENTRAL ASIA

“Now I shall go far and far into the North, playing the Great Game ...” (Rudyard Kipling, Kim, 1901). Throughout much of the 19th century, Britain and Russia competed for spheres of influence in Central Asia. Now, at the dawn of the 21st century, virtually all the world’s great powers are engaged in a new “Great Game” that may well define the region’s future. Join George Lungu, associate professor of political science at Oakton, for an in-depth look at the changing geopolitical landscape of Central Asia.

Friday, April 23

CHINA: DOMESTIC TRANSFORMATIONS AND GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

Dali Yang, Ph.D., a member of the political science faculty at the University of Chicago, examines how China has weathered the global economic crisis. He also will look at the implications of China’s continuing transformations on global governance.

Friday, April 30

FREEDOM’S FRONTIER IN KOREA: WAR 1950 TO CRISIS 2010

Michael Zimmerman provides the background: a strategic sketch of events leading up to and including the Korean War; some lessons well learned and others misapplied to the Vietnam War; and of course, North Korea’s recent development of nuclear power and missile capability. We’ll discuss what America has done and might do going forward.

Friday, May 7

THE STATE OF OUR WORLD

Join John Mearsheimer, Ph.D., professor of political science and co-director of the Program in International Security Policy at the University of Chicago, for comments about the state of world affairs. Mearsheimer is the author of The Tragedy of World Politics, which attempts to validate the political theory of “offensive realism,” under which each state must ensure its own survival by maximizing its share of world power.

Friday, May 14

MYTHS OF POWER

Every state strives for power to improve its national security. Robert Pape, Ph.D., a faculty member at the University of Chicago and author of Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorists, will examine the resources each national state has at its disposal to achieve its aims. Come prepared for a thought-provoking examination.

[back to top]