Great Decision Lecture Series illuminates defense and trade policies

Kesha Williams
February 27, 2014

If you are looking for a place to ponder some of the toughest challenges facing the current administration, look no further than room #226 of Moore Hall on the Elizabeth City State University campus. At 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, ECSU faculty will lecture on topics that span from national defense to international trade policies. Dr. Kwabena Boansi, a professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences coordinates the lecture series each year. He said the series is a great way for citizens and students to explore a wide selection of current events. &quotThe series began on February 25 with a lecture topic, &quotTechnology and Defense,&quot that is a timely discussion because it coincides with the new defense strategy outlined by the Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel. The lecture also tackled United States’ relationship with China,&quot Boansi said. &quotThe Obama administration has concluded that this century of American foreign policy is going to be Asia centric. Turkey is also viewed as an important country because of its strategic location between Asia and Europe. Turkey is also central to resolving the civil war in Syria.&quot Another global issue of concern to the United States is climate change and food production. On this issue, domestic considerations, Boansi said, are hampering America’s leadership. Finally, the United States sees trade as vital to economic development. However, the impact of globalization on manufacturing jobs over the years is hampering the administration’s effort to enter into trade agreement with Latin America. United States officials are likely to push to countries like China to open their markets to the rest of the world. The challenges of doing so are numerous. See the schedule below for specific topics and the names of faculty conducting the lectures. Dr. Margery Coulson-Clark lectures on &quotChina’s Foreign Policy&quot on March 4 Dr. Charles Reed lectures on &quotTurkey’s Challenges&quot on March 11 Dr. Vang Nengher lectures on the &quotIslamic Awakening&quot on March 25 Dr. Glen Bowman lectures on &quotEnergy Independence&quot on April 1 Dr. Lynn Barnes lectures on &quotFood and Climate&quot on April 8 Dr. Shahid Shahidullah lectures on the &quotArab Spring and U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East&quot on April 15 Dr. Ebere Oriaku lectures on the &quotU.S. Trade Policy&quot on April 22. For more information on the series, contact Dr. Kwabena Boansi, 252-335-3332 koboansi@ecsu.edu