Wednesdays 9:30-12:00 Noon
D.O.C. House
March 26 through May 14, 2003
During this eight-week course, we will explore some of the great issues of the day and develop our individual positions on US Foreign Policy direction and actions. Each week participants will focus their broad range and depth of life's knowledge and experience on one of eight current foreign policy topics furnished by the Foreign Policy Association (FPA).
This is a very active discussion course. Each week, all participants will read the brief background material provided by the FPA, and one or two volunteers from the group will prepare a more in-depth 10 minute introduction to the issue. This is then followed by a vigorous but controlled discussion of the background and options leading to positions on US policy actions. Guest specialists may also participate.
This year's topics are again interesting: Multilateralism vs. Unilateralism: What will be the direction of U.S. foreign policy? Afghanistan: Will that fledgling government be able to rebuild the country, or will it fall victim to internal conflicts? U.S. - Saudi Relations: How will this relationship be affected by the war on terrorism and a possible war against Iraq? Nigeria: How will religious conflicts, regional tensions and oil production affect Nigeria's stability? World Trade and Food Policy: How will the U.S. and EU resolve these issues while combating food shortages in other parts of the world? China: How will China's poetical transition and the changing international environment affect U.S. - China relations? European Integration: Faced with balancing expansion with cooperation and security, how will the EU establish its internal and external priorities? Women's Rights: What standards should govern how countries treat women and allow for their full participation in education, business and politics?
Class is limited to 20 participants.
Jim Wooster received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College, as well as an MS degree in Engineering and Business Administration (The Tuck-Thayer Program). After serving in the Atlantic for several years on a destroyer, he left the Navy to join New England Telephone. A career with NET, and later NYNEX, provided opportunities to work on the operations side of the business, as well as in public relations, labor relations, marketing and human resources. He and his wife Betsy have retired to Norwich where they are enjoying family, travel and life in the Upper Valley. He has been involved with ILEAD for several years as a student, member of the Curriculum Committee, and co-leader of the Great Decisions course for the past three years.
Pete Bleyler has spent 30 years as a management consultant dealing with the broad human resource areas of employee benefits and compensation, and more specifically, corporate retirement programs. A mathematics major at Dartmouth, he entered the actuarial field after five years in the US Naval Submarine service. After a few years with the Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford, Pete entered the consulting field and has worked for three different firms in Chicago, St. Louis, Washington, DC, Boston, and New York. He completed his career as the Chief Human Resource Officer of William M. Mercer, Inc. He and his wife Ruth moved to Lyme in 1998. Pete led the Actuarial and Financial Foundations course at ILEAD, and has co-led the Great Decisions course with Jim for the past two years.
