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Great Decisions 2020
The Great Decisions briefing book features impartial, thought-provoking analyses on eight issues of concern to U.S. policymakers today. Written by carefully selected experts, each article offers policy options for U.S. officials as well as questions and tools for discussion.
- GenresNonfiction
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 30, 2020
The Foreign Policy Association 2020 edition of Great Decisions matches its past behemoth efforts in educating the public on global issues. Topics addressed include Climate Change, India and Pakistan, Red Sea region, Human Trafficking, Northern Triangle, China in Latin America, The Philippines, and Artificial Intelligence and Data.
Most informative to me were the chapters on the Red Sea region and on China in Latin America. The article does an excellent job of documenting the history of conflict in the Red Sea area bringing us to the current conflict not just between the African West coast countries of Egypt, Sudan and Eritrea versus Saudi Arabia on the Eastern coast but the competition among many others for positioning of military bases in Djibouti; namely, Spain, France, United States, and Italy. The most important and powerful new addition to the scene is China which opened its first ever foreign military base in Djibouti in 2017. Part of the rationale is to support the Somali anti-piracy operations, counter terrorism, and support Chinese troops present as part of UN peace keeping mission. Concern is raised as China has allowed Russia to use its facility even though Russia's request to Djibouti for a base of its own was refused. Russia is a major arms supplier to the region especially among African west coast countries. Several countries United States included conduct war-fighting readiness exercises routinely in the area along with Egypt naval ships and those from Kenya, Somalia, Seychelles and Ethiopia . A draw for all is the future development of undersea resources.
While Latin American countries of limited means most often embrace the presence of the Chinese in their countries for resource development consistent with China's two decades old "going -out" strategy, article suggests there is a high price to pay for their interest. Central and South America has been targeted by the Chinese as a source of natural resources and commodities: soy, crude oil iron and copper in part necessitated by the Trade War initiated by the United States. The exclusive use of Chinese labor in their Latin American companies draws much ire from the locals; others find themselves in a mounting debt to the Chinese as terms of initial loans as time goes on with the Chinese banks setting terms and taking the action.
DVD tape is to accompany the discussions groups for which this book was created. Due to government shutdown of universities and libraries where most often held, this was not possible. However, I would encourage all who read this to go to lectures on named topics as posted on You Tube. I listened to two selections to date, one on Human Trafficking from an associate Professor of Criminology from PSU based in Portland Oregon and the other from a Professor at the War College on the Red Sea region. I recommend book and enrollment in one of the series of Great Decisions discussion groups in your area when they are available again to all citizens of this world.
Most informative to me were the chapters on the Red Sea region and on China in Latin America. The article does an excellent job of documenting the history of conflict in the Red Sea area bringing us to the current conflict not just between the African West coast countries of Egypt, Sudan and Eritrea versus Saudi Arabia on the Eastern coast but the competition among many others for positioning of military bases in Djibouti; namely, Spain, France, United States, and Italy. The most important and powerful new addition to the scene is China which opened its first ever foreign military base in Djibouti in 2017. Part of the rationale is to support the Somali anti-piracy operations, counter terrorism, and support Chinese troops present as part of UN peace keeping mission. Concern is raised as China has allowed Russia to use its facility even though Russia's request to Djibouti for a base of its own was refused. Russia is a major arms supplier to the region especially among African west coast countries. Several countries United States included conduct war-fighting readiness exercises routinely in the area along with Egypt naval ships and those from Kenya, Somalia, Seychelles and Ethiopia . A draw for all is the future development of undersea resources.
While Latin American countries of limited means most often embrace the presence of the Chinese in their countries for resource development consistent with China's two decades old "going -out" strategy, article suggests there is a high price to pay for their interest. Central and South America has been targeted by the Chinese as a source of natural resources and commodities: soy, crude oil iron and copper in part necessitated by the Trade War initiated by the United States. The exclusive use of Chinese labor in their Latin American companies draws much ire from the locals; others find themselves in a mounting debt to the Chinese as terms of initial loans as time goes on with the Chinese banks setting terms and taking the action.
DVD tape is to accompany the discussions groups for which this book was created. Due to government shutdown of universities and libraries where most often held, this was not possible. However, I would encourage all who read this to go to lectures on named topics as posted on You Tube. I listened to two selections to date, one on Human Trafficking from an associate Professor of Criminology from PSU based in Portland Oregon and the other from a Professor at the War College on the Red Sea region. I recommend book and enrollment in one of the series of Great Decisions discussion groups in your area when they are available again to all citizens of this world.
April 27, 2020
1. Climate change and the global order
2. India and Pakistan
3. Competition and cooperation in the Red Sea region
4. Modern slavery and human trafficking
5. Panic at the border: U.S. relations with the Northern Triangle
6. China and Latin America
7. The Phillippines and the U.S.: change with continuity?
8. American's uneven approach to AI and its consequences
All topics worthy of consideration.
2. India and Pakistan
3. Competition and cooperation in the Red Sea region
4. Modern slavery and human trafficking
5. Panic at the border: U.S. relations with the Northern Triangle
6. China and Latin America
7. The Phillippines and the U.S.: change with continuity?
8. American's uneven approach to AI and its consequences
All topics worthy of consideration.
November 12, 2020
Great book and program.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews