The media in a “Twitter universe,” global health, the future of American global leadership, the defense budget and Putin’s Russia are some of the dynamic topics being explored as the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan launches its 2018 Great Decisions Global Discussion Series. Discussions will take place January 29 through March 26, and feature national scholars and experts—including former ambassador and CEO of the Carter Center Mary Ann Peters, Susan Glasser of POLIT

Local businessman Hendrik Meijer long had a dream to give Michigan senator Arthur Vandenberg (1884-1951) his due—as a national leader who changed his isolationist views to become a leader in building consensus for major U.S. international initiatives such as the Marshall Plan, the United Nations and NATO. “I remember Hank telling me 20 years ago that he was determined to get his Vandenberg biography done,” said World Affairs Council of Western Michigan (WACWM) executive direc

Russia has dominated our national headlines for months. Timely, then, that the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan is bringing a Russian expert to town. On Tuesday, November 14, The Honorable John Beyrle, United States Ambassador to Russia (retired), will present on the topic “Russia 2018: Putin’s Last Act?” Beyrle will speak at 7:00 p.m. at the Western Michigan University Grand Rapids East Beltline campus. Ambassador Beyrle’s talk is the conclusion of the Council’s fal

On Wednesday, November 8, Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), will present on the topic “Top Five Threats to America’s National Security.” She will speak at 7:00 p.m. at the Western Michigan University Grand Rapids East Beltline campus. Just prior to joining the CFR, Murray held the Distinguished National Security Chair at the U.S. Naval Academy. Murray’s talk is part of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan’s fall lect

His Excellency H.E. Vasko Naumovski, the Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia to the U.S., will give a presentation titled “Soft Power in the Balkans” on Tuesday, November 7, beginning at 5:15 p.m. at the University Club of Grand Rapids, located in the Fifth Third Bank building at 111 Lyon Street NW. The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan is hosting this special event. The Balkans—which include the European countries of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cro

The annual fall lecture series of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan features three of retiring executive director Dixie Anderson’s favorite speakers—heralded experts and outstanding presenters on international issues. And she has definitely chosen timely topics. With the Iran nuclear treaty in today’s headlines, Mr. Reza Marashi, the research director of the National Iranian American Council, will speak on “The Middle East: Regional Shifts and Global Responses” at

Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 2, 2017 – Michael Van Denend is the new executive director of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan. He succeeds Dixie Anderson, who has held the post for 22 years and is retiring later this year after a lauded career of leadership that has seen the Council grow into a major community resource of global education—for businesses, educational institutions and the general community—through a wide range of successful and highly acclaimed pr

Affairs of state often seem remote from the everyday life we live in Grand Rapids. But our local community is influenced by and influences global affairs. World events shape our community. Consider the impact of war and conflict worldwide and how that has driven a decades-long effort to resettle refugees in Western Michigan. Through the arrival of newcomers, our neighborhoods are truly global. And our economy increasingly relies on global markets to maintain the economic grow