Wood County Committee on Aging Inc. will once again hold the Great Decisions Lecture Series at the Wood
County Senior Center, 305 N. Main St., for six consecutive Saturdays from 9:30-11 a.m. starting this
weekend.
The Great Decisions Lecture Series is an informative educational discussion group. Participants will be
enlightened with up-to-date information on worldly topics facilitated by Bowling Green State University
professors. The professors will provide an opportunity for questions and answers following each
discussion session.
The series is co-sponsored by the American Association of University Women and WCCOA.
Registration is required due to limited seating. When registering, a name and phone number is required in
case of cancellations due to inclement weather. Manuals are available for $25 but not required.
To register for this program, contact the WCCOA program department at 419-353-5661, 800-367-4935 or email
[email protected].
A full list of topics and speakers is provided below.
• Saturday, Conflict with the South China Sea, Dr. Neil Englehart
The South China Sea is a locus of competing territorial claims, and China its most vocal claimant.
Beijing’s interest has intensified disputes with other countries in the region in recent years,
especially since China has increased its naval presence. Despite rising international pressure,
including an unfavorable ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, China staunchly
defends its policies in the region.
• Jan. 28, Nuclear Security, Dr. Marc Simon
Nuclear nonproliferation was a top priority for the Obama administration. While the Iran Deal was a
diplomatic victory toward this end, major threats persist from both state and non-state actors.
Countries like North Korea, Russia,  India and Pakistan continue to challenge nonproliferation efforts.
The possibility that terrorists will carry out an attack using a “dirty bomb,” made from captured
nuclear materials, looks increasingly real.
• Feb. 4, Saudi Arabia in Transition, Dr. Jacqueline Sievert
As Saudi Arabia struggles to adjust to the drastic decline in oil revenue, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad
bin Salman attempts to boldly transform the country and shift more power to the younger generation. At
the same time, many countries such as the U.S. point out the lack of democracy, women’s rights and human
rights in Saudi Arabia, and blame its promotion of Wahhabism, an extremely conservative version of
Islam, for creating jihadists. Bipartisan criticism of Saudi Arabia is rising in Congress. Both
countries need each other, but they are at a crossroads in bilateral relations.
• Feb. 11, Future of Europe: Coping with Crisis, Dr. Neal Jesse
The outcome of the United Kingdom referendum on EU membership sent shockwaves across the globe. It even
caught British voters by surprise. The European Union has helped secure peace in Europe for the past 70
years. Now it faces an uncertain future. Amid a refugee crisis, lingering financial recession and the
constant specter of terrorism, unity seems more imperative than ever. But the Brexit vote underscores
the complexities of integrating an extremely diverse continent. What will post-Brexit Europe look like,
and how can U.S. foreign policy adapt?
• Feb. 18, Latin America’s Political Pendulum, Dr. Roger Anderson
The pendulum of Latin American politics is swinging rightward once again. Yet as the “pink tide” recedes,
the forces of change have more to do with socioeconomics than ideology. Dramatic economic and political
crises have coincided in countries like Brazil and Venezuela. Still, the final result for Latin America
may be the emergence of centrist, pragmatic modes of governance, and with them, opportunities for the
U.S. to improve relations. The new administration must look beyond the neoliberal model of the 1990s,
and develop an approach to relations fit for the 21st century.
• Feb. 25, Trade Policy, speaker TBA
The U.S. political mood toward trade has gone sour. One need look no further than the 2016 presidential
contest for the popular narrative: trade means that China wins, at America’s expense. But do the numbers
support that conclusion? The metrics used to gauge economic strength — Gross Domestic Product and
balance of trade—have not kept up with the realities of modern manufacturing. Obtaining an accurate
picture of U.S. economic stature requires a critique of those numbers. Only then can the U.S. develop
appropriate policy solutions for the challenges at hand.
For information on programs and services, contact the Wood County Committee on Aging Inc. at
419-353-5661, 800-367-4935 or www.wccoa.net.