Barry McNamara  |   Published January 15, 2019

Understanding Global Change

39th year of Great Decisions to begin Jan. 23 with discussion of “Refugees and Global Migration.”
Center for Civic and Social Change

MONMOUTH, Ill. – The topic “Refugees and Global Migration” will kick off the 39th year of the Great Decisions series at Monmouth College on Jan. 23.

Monmouth anthropology professor Megan Hinrichsen will introduce this year’s opening topic at 7:30 p.m. in the Moot Board Room (Room 276) of the Center for Science and Business, 720 E. Broadway. A group discussion, which will last about an hour, will follow her remarks.

MIKE NELSON: ?This is a time of great global change, as America's leaders reassess our position i... MIKE NELSON: “This is a time of great global change, as America's leaders reassess our position in the world, China rises, and the general diplomatic status quo faces increasing challenges.”“This is a time of great global change, as America’s leaders reassess our position in the world, China rises, and the general diplomatic status quo faces increasing challenges,” said Monmouth political science professor Mike Nelson, who is one of the co-hosts of the eight-week Great Decisions series. “This program allows all of us to stay informed and have the time to reflect and discuss how all of this is significant to our own lives.”

Since 1981, Great Decisions has operated at Monmouth as a forum where the public and the academic community can freely meet in a congenial setting and discuss world affairs. All eight Great Decisions programs this semester are free and open to the public. They will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the Moot Board Room, concluding on March 20 when Nelson will lead a discussion on the state of diplomacy.

“This year, we will include speakers with a wide range of backgrounds, including anthropology, communication studies, French and political science,” said Nelson. “One of the best aspects of these programs is that we always have a diverse audience, including members of the broader Monmouth community, as well as the students, staff and faculty of the College.”

Other topics that will be discussed in the first few weeks of the series are the Middle East, nuclear negotiations and the rise of populism in Europe. The United States’ relationship with Mexico and its trade status with China are also on the agenda, as well as a discussion on cyber conflicts and geopolitics.

Called “America’s largest discussion program on world affairs,” Great Decisions is a nationwide program sponsored by the Foreign Policy Association, a non-partisan, non-governmental association that works to increase Americans’ understanding of foreign policy issues.

A companion guide, Great Decisions 2019, can be ordered online at fpa.org. It includes eight chapters, each of which takes about a half-hour to read. The readings are also available on reserve at the College’s Hewes Library.

For more information …

For more information about Great Decisions at Monmouth College, contact Nelson at mbnelson@monmouthcollege.edu or 309-457-2422 or the forum’s other co-host, Mohsin Masood, at mohsin@monmouthcollege.edu or 309-457-2113. 

Center for Civic and Social Change

Related Stories

Back to News & Events

Did you know?

  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> 99% of Monmouth students received some type of scholarship or financial assistance.</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/offices/student-financial-planning/types-of-aid/scholarships/" target="_blank">Scholarships</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College has an educational garden and 6.7 acre farm. Students grow and harvest fruits and vegetables to sell at the local farmer’s market. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_urls"><a href="https://monmouthcollege.edu/academics/only-at-monmouth/educational-garden-farm/" target="_blank">Garden & Farm</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> 98% of Monmouth graduates were employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/wackerle-center/career-services/" target="_blank">Career Preparation</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p><strong>Monmouth College is the birthplace of the women’s fraternity movement. Pi Beta Phi, the first such collegiate women’s organization, was founded at Monmouth in 1867. It was followed three years later by Kappa Kappa Gamma. The two pioneering organizations today boast a total of 275 active chapters nationwide.</strong></p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/student-life/sororities-fraternities/" target="_blank">Sororities & Fraternities</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> We’re no stranger to winning. Last year the Fighting Scots won Midwest Conference championships in Football, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Basketball and Men’s Track and Field. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_urls"><a href="https://monmouthscots.com/" target="_blank">Fighting Scots</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College is proudly test optional. Applicants may choose whether or to submit SAT or ACT scores for admission and scholarship consideration. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/admission/apply/test-optional/" target="_blank">Test Optional</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College has an active Pipe & Drum Band. Each year on Scholar’s Day in April the bagpipers wake students up at 6:00 a.m. by playing in the residence halls!</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/music/pipe-band/" target="_blank">Pipe Band</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College covers the cost for all current students to get a U.S. passport. Unlock access to over 198 different countries! We’ll even help with the paperwork :)</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/study-abroad/" target="_blank">Study Abroad</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College offers unique academic minors in Global Public Health and Global Food Security for students who want to use their education to address global challenges. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/global-public-health/" target="_blank">Global Public Health</a></li><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/global-food-security/" target="_blank">Global Food Security</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College offers several international trips each year during 2-week Scots Terms in January and May. Recently students have traveled to Botswana, Greece, Scotland, Japan, and more. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_urls"><a href="https://monmouthcollege.edu/offices/global-engagement/" target="_blank">Scots Term</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> We offer a certified Peace Corps Preparation program that gives Peace Corps bound graduates a leg up in the application process.</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/peace-corps-prep/" target="_blank">Peace Corps Prep</a></li></ul></div></aside>