About Global Agenda 2004

For decades, the global ideological competition between the US and the Soviet Union formed the backdrop against which most U.S. foreign policy was conducted. Americans were clear about who was an "enemy" and who was a "friend" during the Cold War era.

During the 1990's many Americans came to the conclusion that, in the aftermath of the Cold War, the U.S. had no "enemies" capable of seriously threatening the interests of the sole remaining superpower.

The terror attacks of 2001 revived thinking among many Americans of foreign "enemies" and global threats.

The Global Agenda weekly seminar focuses on the geopolitical realities of "enemies" in today's world. Is France, a longtime ally of the United States, a new "enemy" because it declined to support the U.S. war against Iraq? Is China an "enemy" because its government remains based on communist thinking? Is Saudi Arabia an "enemy" because most of the 911 hijackers were Saudi born? What about non-state threats such as terrorism, religion-based hostility, disease and computer threats?

Approximately every other week, guest lecturers, practitioners in intelligence and international media, visit the UD campus to explore with students the problems, the foreign policy and the media's role influencing them. Students in this seminar attend exclusive small-group talks and private dinners with visiting speakers, and are joined by members of the university and public community who are invited to the series of Wednesday evening events.

On intervening weeks, the class will explore topics upcoming and just passed in the speaker series. This course is appropriate for juniors and seniors interested in geopolitics in policy and journalism who are eager for lively interaction with our internationally prominent visiting speakers.