News and Events

Preview – Event Registration Coming Soon SPEAKER Dr. Craig WhitesideLt. Col., U.S. Army, Retired Professor, National Security Affairs,U.S. Naval War College WACMB August 2025 Dinner Lecture Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Overview Some view the costly and long wars with Islamic terrorists around the globe as a mistaken distraction. However, many observers believe the ability of … Continue reading “The Rise of Violent Non-state Actors”

World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay is excited to partner with Los Angeles World Affairs Council for their upcoming July 31 webinar on “The Trump Administration and Latin America.” Please see details and link below to participate in this FREE webinar. LA WAC Presents: On July 31st from 12:00-1:00 pm, join two Latin-America experts Professor … Continue reading “The Trump Administration and Latin America”

SPEAKER Michael Ipson International Banker (retired) Wednesday, July 30th, 2025 WACMB July 2025 Dinner Lecture Overview The U.S.-China relationship faces major challenges as the two nationspursue their respective objectives. Comments in the press are oftenerroneous and various aspects of the relationship do not get the attentionthey deserve. In this illustrated presentation Michael Ipson provides anup-to-date … Continue reading “The Breadth of U.S. – China Relations”

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The World Affairs Discussion Group will meet on Wednesday, July 9th at 4:00 pm. The topic will be Turkey’s Role in a Fractured Region based on the WACMB luncheon lecture of June 27th by Colonel Christopher Welch, who will join our discussion, and some additional reading. The meeting will be held on Zoom, and all … Continue reading “Discussion Group July 9th, 2025: Turkey’s Role in a Fractured Region”

SPEAKER Col. Christopher Welch U.S. Air Force (retired) Friday, June 27, 2025 Luncheon Lecture Overview Drawing on his experience as the U.S. Air Attaché and Chief of Attaché Operations in Ankara, Turkey, Colonel Welch will explore key factors shaping Turkey’s international outlook – from nationalism and energy insecurity to the pursuit of flexibility and influence … Continue reading “Fault Lines & Front Lines: Turkey’s Role in a Fractured Region”

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The WACMB World Affairs Discussion Group will meet on Wednesday, June 11th at 4:00 pm. The discussion topic will be The Impact of Tariffs on Foreign Policy based on selected readings. The meeting will be held on Zoom, and all WACMB members are invited to participate. If you are interested and have never attended our World Affairs … Continue reading “Discussion Group June 11, 2025: The Impact of Tariffs on Foreign Policy”

SPEAKER Ambassador Robert M. Kimmitt Wilmer Hale Meta Platforms, Inc. Tuesday, May 27, 2025 Dinner Lecture Overview The term “national security” is used frequently, but its definition has evolved significantly since the National Security Council was created in 1947. During the Cold War, national security was defined predominantly by the diplomatic and military dimensions of … Continue reading “Defining National Security”

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Honoring the Monterey High School Team who will compete at the World Affairs Councils of America AWQ contest on April 28th, 2025 in Washington D.C. Thursday, May 15th, 2025 Dinner Lecture Overview AWQ Competition 2025 Monterey High School Team Date and Times Menu Salad: California Field Green Salad with Arugula, Cherry Tomato, Pine Nuts, Shaved … Continue reading “WACMB Academic World Quest Dinner”

The World Affairs Discussion Group will meet on Wednesday, May 7th at 4:00 pm. The topic will be Do We Need Foreign Aid? based on the WACMB dinner lecture of April 24th by Mark Ward, retired foreign service officer with USAID, and some additional reading. The meeting will be held on Zoom, and all WACMB members are invited to participate. If … Continue reading “Discussion Group May 7, 2025: Do We Need Foreign Aid?”

SPEAKER Mark Ward InstructorOregon State University Thursday, April 24th, 2025 Dinner Lecture Overview In the belief that our foreign aid program has not served our national interest, the new Administration has dismantled the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and froze nearly all the contracts and grants that it funded. Our guest, Mark Ward, … Continue reading “Do We Need Foreign Aid?”

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Monterey HS Team will compete in the National Competition on April 28,2025 Congratulations to Monterey High School for taking first place in our regional Academic World Quest competition (AWQ). The four team members, Zahra Sellami, Vrishabh Gupta, Eunyul Kim, and Khushi Shah, along with their coach, Nicholaus Bourgeois, will travel to Washington, D.C. in April … Continue reading “Monterey High School Students Take First Place in Regional AWQ Contest”

SPEAKER Captain John Tully Navy Foreign Area Officer ChairNaval Postgraduate School – Monterey, CA Wednesday, March 26th, 2025 Lecture Luncheon Overview Captain John Tully is the Navy Foreign Area Officer (FAO) Chair at the Naval Postgraduate School. Prior to assuming this position, he was Director, Africa Campaign Integration at Commander U.S. Naval Forces Europe and … Continue reading “Into Africa: Why the Most Ignored Continent Matters”

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How Monterey County’s single largest civilian employer provides trained and educated linguists essential to the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency. SPEAKER Colonel Christy Whitfield Commandant, DLI Thursday, February 20th, 2025 Lecture Luncheon Overview The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) is the largest foreign language school in the world. With 1,000 … Continue reading “The State of the Defense Language Institute (DLI) Foreign Language Center”

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The WACMB Discussion Group will consider eight critical topics during February-March 2025 as part of the Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decisions series. We will meet by Zoom for eight consecutive Wednesdays starting February 5th at 3:30 PM (video lecture) with discussion at 4:00 PM. The Great Decisions 2025 topics, set out in the Briefing Book, include: American … Continue reading “Discussion Group February-March 2025: Great Decisions Series”

SPEAKER Dr. Larry Diamond Mosbacher Senior Fellow of Global Democracy at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University & Senior Fellow – Hoover Institution Monday, January 27, 2025 Overview More people voted in competitive elections in 2024 than in any year in human history. From big countries like India, Indonesia, and the … Continue reading “2024 – The Historic Year of Elections Worldwide: How Well Did Democracy Do?”

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SPEAKER Dr. Thomas Fingar Former Deputy Director of National IntelligenceNow a Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institutefor International Studies at Stanford University Tuesday, December 17, 2024 Overview Foreign policy was not a major focus of the 2024 presidential campaign but developments beyond our borders do not take time out while the new American administration appoints … Continue reading “U.S. Foreign Policy in Transition: Persistent Problems & Pop-Up Challenges”

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WACMB is thrilled to be selected again for the annual MC – Gives campaign supporting local nonprofits in Monterey County. Our BIG IDEA this year continues our Youth Education Initiative, the Academic world Quest (AWQ) Program, a National contest with a fun, fast-paced team competition for high school students that tests participant knowledge of current … Continue reading “Donate to MCGives! for AWQ”

How the Global Positioning System transformed life on earth for 8 billion people and 195 nation states. SPEAKER Dr. Bradford Parkinson Edward C. Wells Professor of Aeronautics & Astronautics (Recalled), Stanford University Co-Director, Stanford Center for Position, Navigation, and Time Tuesday, November 19, 2024 Overview GPS, originally Navstar GPS, is a satellite-based radio navigation system … Continue reading ““The Story of GPS””

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The WACMB + OLLI World Affairs Discussion Group will meet on Tuesday November 12th at 4:00 pm. The discussion topic will be Foreign Policy Implications of the U.S. Elections Outcome. The meeting will be held on Zoom, and all WACMB members are invited to participate. If you are interested and have never attended this Discussion … Continue reading “Discussion Group November 12, 2024: Foreign Policy Implications of the U.S. Elections Outcome”

SPEAKER Brooks Hurd Sirius UHPFounder and Managing Director Wednesday, October 16, 2024 Overview Today, military, economic and geopolitical power are built on a foundation of computer chips. Semiconductors have been described as the most critical technology in the world. Our guest, Brooks Hurd, has over 35 years experience in the international semiconductor industry in more … Continue reading “The Global Transition of the Semiconductor Industry: From Silicon Valley to East Asia”

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The WACMB + OLLI World Affairs Discussion Group will meet on Tuesday October 1st at 4:00 pm by Zoom. The discussion topic will be The Rapidly Changing Arctic and Its Global Impact based on the WACMB luncheon lecture of September 30 by Dr. Brendan Kelly. “Polar ice caps are melting as global warming causes climate … Continue reading “Discussion Group October 1, 2024: The Rapidly Changing Artic and Its Global Impact”

SPEAKER Dr. Brendan Kelly Middlebury Institute of International Studies andInt’l. Artic Research Center, Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks Monday, September 30, 2024 Overview “Polar ice caps are melting as global warming causes climate change. We lose Arctic Sea ice at a rate of almost 13% per decade, and over the past 30 years the oldest and … Continue reading “The Rapidly Changing Artic and Its Global Impact”

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The WACMB + OLLI World Affairs Discussion Group will meet on Tuesday September 3rd at 4:00 pm by Zoom. The discussion topic will be Russia and the United States in Space: Conflict or Cooperation? based on the WACMB dinner lecture of August 27 by Colonel William McArthur. Some believe that space exploration over the next … Continue reading “Discussion Group September 3, 2024: Russia and the United States in Space”

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SPEAKER Colonel William McArthur U.S. Army Aviator & NASA Astronaut (retired) Tuesday, August 27, 2024 Overview Some believe that space exploration over the next few decades will change the face of global politics. Already competition between the United States, China, and Russia in space is having consequences for us here on Earth. In March of … Continue reading “Russia and the United States in Space: Conflict or Cooperation?”

The WACMB World Affairs Discussion Group will meet on Tuesday August 6th at 4:00 pm by Zoom. The discussion topic will be Navigating the Geopolitical Impact of Artificial Intelligence, based on the WACMB dinner lecture of August 1 by Russell Wald. The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence have brought forth innumerable benefits, possibilities, and challenges. … Continue reading “Discussion Group August 6, 2024: Geopolitical Impact of Artificial Intelligence”

SPEAKER Russell Wald Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) Thursday, August 1st, 2024 Overview The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence have brought forth innumerable benefits, possibilities, and challenges. Our guest, Russell Wald, will discuss how AI will affect governments and governance across the world and what it will mean for the geopolitical environment. Wald will take … Continue reading “Navigating the Geopolitical Impact of Artificial Intelligence”

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The WACMB World Affairs Discussion Group will meet on Tuesday July 2nd at 4:00 pm by Zoom. The discussion topic will be Thailand’s Polarized Politics: Entrenched Elite & Implications for U.S. Policy, based on the WACMB luncheon lecture of June 28 by James Stent. Over recent decades, the popular aspirations in Thailand for a fully … Continue reading “Discussion Group July 2, 2024: Thailand’s Polarized Politics”

SPEAKER James Stent Bank of Asia (Retired) Friday, June 28th, 2024 Overview Over recent decades, the popular aspirations in Thailand for a fully democratic and more just society have run up against entrenched resistance and repression from an elite determined to defend its political control and economic privileges. Polarization between the contending forces has steadily … Continue reading “Thailand’s Polarized Politics: Entrenched Elite & Implications for U.S. Policy”

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The WACMB World Affairs Discussion Group will meet on Friday June 7th at 4:00 pm by Zoom. The discussion topic will be Mexico’s Elections, which take place this coming Sunday, June 2nd. Mexico’s elections on June 2nd will choose a new president and an entirely new national Congress. Much attention will be focused on the … Continue reading “Discussion Group June 7, 2024: Mexico’s Elections”

This article in the May 24, 2024 edition of the Monterey County Weekly tells how a team from Greenfield High School won the local competition for Academic WorldQuest and traveled to Washington DC to compete in the national event. https://flipbook.montereycountyweekly.com/archive/2024/05-09-24/6/#zoom=true

Honoring the Greenfield AWQ Team who competed at the World Affairs Council of America AWQ contest on April 20th in Washington D.C. Tuesday, May 14th, 2024 Overview The Greenfield AWQ student team arrived home on Sunday, April 21st from their whirlwind trip representing Monterey County in the National Academic World Quest. When asked what their … Continue reading “WACMB Academic World Quest Dinner”

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The WACMB World Affairs Discussion Group will resume our monthly meetings on Tuesday, May 7th at 4:00 PM via Zoom (note the earlier start time). The discussion topic is Understanding Military Coups in Africa: A Question Concerning Democracy following on the April 26th WACMB luncheon presentation by Dr. Jeremias Zunguze, Associate Professor of Ethnic & Gender Studies at CSUMB. Since … Continue reading “Discussion Group May 7, 2024: Military Coups in Africa – A Question Concerning Democracy”

Speaker Jeremias Zunguze, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Ethnic & Gender Studies – California State University, Monterey Bay Friday, April 26, 2024 Overview Since independence in the 1950s, the beginning of African independence, the continent has witnessed more than two hundred military coups, dictators and democratically-elected leaders overthrown, and democracy brought to a halt. Since 2020 … Continue reading “Understanding Military Coups in Africa: A Question Concerning Democracy”

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Speaker The Honorable Leon E. Panetta
 Former United States Secretary of Defense Thursday, March 28, 2024 Overview “Abroad there is Putin’s war against Ukraine, turmoil in the Middle East, and looming threats in Asia. Put succinctly, the fate of the West is being decided by what happens in the East. At home, American democracy is … Continue reading “The Challenge of World Leadership in the 21st Century”