
Great Decisions
Great Decisions – Spring 2025
Great Decisions is a discussion forum that follows a curriculum developed by the Foreign Policy Association (www.fpa.org). The program is supported by the Great Decisions program materials which presents basic information on each topic. Participants read the topical section for that week, then come to the sessions to discuss their various points of view with one another. Active participation is encouraged, but not required.
This spring we will have 4 sessions using the Great Decisions materials and 2 open discussions on current events – with the topics chosen by the participants. In an age where our political discourse has become more polarized, Great Decisions provides an excellent opportunity for open, fair, objective discussions - and helps the participants understand multiple perspectives on these topics.
Here are the spring topics (as described by FPA):
American Foreign Policy at a Crossroads – March 13
This chapter will explore the contours of the U.S. foreign policy debate as it plays out in a world of multiple and escalating crises and domestic polarization.
U.S. Changing Leadership of the World Economy – March 20
Under President Biden, the U.S. has advanced new ideas about trade, technology, industrial policy, competition with China, and the organization of the world economy. For most of the postwar era, the U.S. has tied its global leadership to cooperative agendas aimed at creating a more open-world trading system, but that has apparently come to an end. What are America’s options and opportunities as a leader of the world economy? How will America’s “foreign policy for the middle class” and strategic competition with China impact its leadership role? How can the postwar rules and institutions of the world economy be made safe for economic nationalism and great power competition?
Open Discussion – March 27
Topics to be selected by the participants.
U.S.-China Relations – April 3
Washington’s relations with Beijing have reached an ominous low ebb. Both American political parties have identified China as the country’s preeminent geopolitical challenger and, in the eyes of many, a systemic threat. What is driving this deterioration of Sino-American relations, and what are America’s strategic options in the face of Chinese power and ambition?
India: Between China, the West, and the Global South - April 17
India is an emerging major power in world affairs, occupying a pivotal position between China, the United States, and the Global South. Its population size, economy, and geopolitical location ensure that it will be an influential voice in debates and political struggles over global order. What are India’s choices and opportunities for regional and global leadership? How will it maneuver between China and the United States, and what is its role as a voice of the Global South? What opportunities exist for Washington to work with India?
Open Discussion – April 24
Topics to be selected by the participants.
The sessions are planned for Thursdays from 9:30 – 11:30 AM. The sessions will be in person in Chapman Hall in room 808A.
Participants are expected to obtain the 2025 Great Decisions program materials from FPA.ORG and to read the topic sections prior to each session. The materials are purchased separately. The books are available in print ($35) and various e-book formats (est. $25). Contact the moderator for details at [email protected] and to reserve your space. The book has all the topics we will cover in Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 – so one purchase will cover both semesters.
Moderator: Bud Sielaff, a retired business executive with degrees in engineering, marketing and finance. Bud is a member of MILE and has been a moderator of the Great Decisions program since Fall 2018. He has a business strategy background, has had extensive international travels, and closely follows world events as an interested citizen.
"Knowledge is a process of piling up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification." ~~ Martin H. Fischer
Proudly powered by Weebly