Registration for the 2024 Great Decisions program, sponsored by the Foreign Policy Association, is now open. PCFR and Global Ties Arizona have partnered again this year to provide the program and materials free of charge to our members.

PCFR members have enjoyed participating in the Great Decisions series since 2020. Charles Blum, a PCFR member, had this to say about the program:

"Great Decisions and PCFR are a perfect match. This program provides an ideal platform for informed discussion, deeper insights into current issues, and greater appreciation for the insights and experiences of our members."

Over the next 12 months, PCFR members participating in this small discussion group will have the opportunity to delve into eight of the most critical issues facing US foreign policy makers.

Before each virtual session throughout the year, participants will read a chapter from the Great Decisions Briefing Book. Each session will feature a moderated group discussion where ideas can be shared. The series will be hosted by PCFR member Charles Blum.

PCFR and Global Ties Arizona are covering the cost of the Great Decisions Briefing Book (a $35 value) for PCFR members. 

Mideast Realignment

February 13, 2024, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MT

The United States and Middle East are at a crossroads. In spite of a reduced presence in the Middle East, the U.S. still has significant national interests there and the area is a key arena for global power politics. Can the U.S. continue to defend its interests in the Middle East and globally with a lower level of military and political involvement, or should it recommit to a leading role in the region?

Science Across Borders

March 12, 2024, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MT

Scientific advances benefit from collaboration between researchers, but what happens when material, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) is controversial and important to a nation’s national security? Is there a middle ground between sharing information and denying access? How can we regulate cooperation?

U.S.-China Trade Rivalry

April 9, 2024, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MT

China’s economic rise and its current policies of increasing the role of the state in the economy have led some U.S. policymakers to seek to deny China access to U.S. technology and investment. This is seen as a necessary corrective to decades of predatory Chinese economic policies. Is this a wise strategy, and how effective can it be?

NATO's Future

May 14, 2024, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MT

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has come under increased scrutiny, not because NATO troops are involved in the conflict, but because of its role in relations between Russia and its neighbors. Will expanding membership in NATO protect countries, or will it further provoke Russia?

High Seas Treaty

June 11, 2024, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MT

Areas of the seas beyond national jurisdiction comprise the high seas, which are facing a degradation of ecosystems due to climate change and the increase in human activities, such as shipping, overfishing, pollution, and deep-sea mining. The recently negotiated High Seas Treaty, also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty, will attempt to address these issues. How difficult will it be to convince nations to participate?