Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning launched its 49th season with its hard-hitting Global Issues series in Sarasota, Venice, Lakewood Ranch and Longboat Key. Internationally acclaimed experts explore the challenges and dilemmas we face at home and around the world in this engaging series of lectures and lively conversations.
(Sarasota, Florida) Internationally renowned experts discuss a vast range of domestic and global issues as part of Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning’s (SILL) 2020 “Global Issues” series. The new season, which runs through March 27, features 72 programs in Sarasota, Venice, and Lakewood Ranch. SILL also offers recordings of 12 of its Thursday series lectures every Thursday at Temple Beth Israel in Longboat Key. Speakers explore dozens of topics, including the U.S. role in the world, income inequality, climate change, migration, artificial intelligence, and topical issues in Latin America, Asia, Europe, Russia and Iran.
Upcoming lectures include:
Tuesday, February 4: Is U.S.-Iran War Looming? With Ray Takeyh. The United States and Iran have been engaging in escalating conflict. The Trump administration imposed a series of crushing sanctions on Iran, including targeting its oil exports. Iran molested peaceful maritime commerce and violated the terms of the Iran nuclear deal. Dr. Ray Takeyh will explore the potential accidental conflict that could lead to war. 10:30 a.m. at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, and 2:30 p.m. at the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice.
Wednesday, February 5: Iran’s Revolution at 40 with Ray Takeyh. Why, over four decades ago, did Iran have a revolution that ushered in the first modern theocracy? How did the Pahlavi dynasty crumble so quickly? Why did Iran become stridently anti-American? Dr. Ray Takeyh will examine the roots of the revolution and suggest a reasoned assessment of the Islamic Republic and its many complexities. 10:30 a.m. at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota.
Thursday, February 6: America’s Nation-Building Efforts – What Have We Learned? With Jeremi Suri. Americans have long promoted nation-building as a prerequisite for democracy, evidenced by the United States’ involvement in Germany, Japan, and Iraq. Dr. Jeremi Suri will examine the U.S. record of nation-building. Where have Americans succeeded? Where have they failed? What are the lessons for the twenty-first century? 10:30 a.m., at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, and 7 p.m. at Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way in Lakewood Ranch.
Friday, February 7: America’s Nation-Building Efforts – What Have We Learned? With Jeremi Suri. Americans have long promoted nation-building as a prerequisite for democracy, evidenced by the United States’ involvement in Germany, Japan, and Iraq. Dr. Jeremi Suri will examine the U.S. record of nation-building. Where have Americans succeeded? Where have they failed? What are the lessons for the twenty-first century? 10 a.m. at the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice.
Tuesday, February 11: The United States and China with David Lampton. For eight U.S. administrations, the United States and China pursued a policy of constructive engagement. The world has changed and now Beijing and Washington are engaged in a broadening, deep conflict. Dr. David Lampton will examine the conflict, its dimensions and implications for the United States and the world. 10:30 a.m. at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, and 2:30 p.m. at the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice.
Wednesday, February 12: China’s Modern Infrastructure Push in the World with David Lampton. Since 2013, China has been engaged in a global push to build infrastructure all over the world. One of the most dramatic examples is China’s drive to build high speed railroads in Southeast Asia. Dr. David Lampton will examine this example of Chinese policy and its implications for United States and the world. 10:30 a.m., at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota.
Thursday, February 13: Driven to Extremes with Margaret Jay. The growth of extreme political positions, on both the left and the right, is a development that is happening worldwide. Baroness Margaret Jay will discuss some of the reasons that this trend is taking place both in the UK and elsewhere. 10:30 a.m. at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, and at 7 p.m. at Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch.
Friday, February 14: Driven to Extremes with Margaret Jay. The growth of extreme political positions, on both the left and the right, is a development that is happening worldwide. Baroness Margaret Jay will discuss some of the reasons that this trend is taking place both in the UK and elsewhere. 10 a.m. at the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice.
Tuesday, February 18: The Missing Story of American Politics with Hedrick Smith. 2018 brought the strongest surge of political reform in fifty years: five states enacting gerrymander reform by popular vote, others passing new election laws, adopting public funding for campaigns, and making voter registration easier. Hedrick Smith will discuss People Power, the citizen movements winning political reforms. 10:30 a.m. at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, and 2:30 p.m. at the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice.
Wednesday, February 19: Economic Inequality & Campaign 2020 with Hedrick Smith. America’s gaping economic inequality was the pivotal issue of the 2016 election, and it will figure powerfully again in 2020. Hedrick Smith notes that inequality is worse than four years ago when it fueled the campaigns of 2016 rebels like Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump and their rivals. 10:30 a.m. at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota.
Thursday, February 20: Solutions to Slavery in Our Country with Laurel Bellows. Slavery exists everywhere in our country and beyond. First, let’s understand the complexity of this horror. Then Laurel Bellows will detail solutions. There is a role for each person as we battle to save the lives of vulnerable children, men, and women trapped by desperation in a web from which escape appears impossible. 10:30 a.m. at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, and at 7 p.m. at Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch.
Friday, February 21: Solutions to Slavery in Our Country with Laurel Bellows. Slavery exists everywhere in our country and beyond. First, let’s understand the complexity of this horror. Then Laurel Bellows will detail solutions. There is a role for each person as we battle to save the lives of vulnerable children, men, and women trapped by desperation in a web from which escape appears impossible. 10 a.m. at the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice.
Tuesday, February 25: American Alliances in Asia with Kathleen Stephens. Since World War II, security in Asia has been underpinned by the network of U.S. alliances in Asia – the so-called “hub and spoke” system. Amb. Kathleen Stevens, former U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Korea, will take a look at how this system is faring today in light of growing Chinese power. 10:30 a.m. at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, and 2:30 p.m. at the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice.
Wednesday, February 26: The North Korean Challenge and What To Do About It with Kathleen Stephens. North Korea has developed nuclear weapons and missile delivery systems that threaten not only South Korea, but also the United States. Amb. Kathleen Stephens, former U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Korea, focuses on the North Korean challenge and what to do about it. 10:30 a.m. at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota.
Thursday, February 27: Fateful Choices in the Middle East: Israel and the United States with Dennis Ross. Israel faces choices that go to its very nature, and the U.S. has much at stake in the Middle East that engages its national interest. Amb. Dennis Ross will discuss the options and the implications as Israel strives to remain a Jewish democratic state, and the consequences for U.S. national security. 10:30 a.m. at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, and at 7 p.m. at Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch.
SILL’s Global Issues lectures are 40 to 50 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of audience questions. The lectures are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m., at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., in Sarasota; Tuesdays, 2:30 p.m., and Fridays, 10 a.m., at the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., in Venice; and Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way in Lakewood Ranch. Doors open 40 minutes prior to the start of the lecture. Season subscriptions are $85 for a 12-lecture series. If seating is available, single lecture tickets are $10. To purchase subscriptions, or learn about the program in more detail visit www.sillsarasota.org. For more information, call 941-365-6404.
About the Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning
The Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning (SILL) is a non-profit organization that offers an expert lecture series to provide information on and discussion of the arts and contemporary global issues. SILL is guided by an all-volunteer board committed to modest pricing and enhanced outreach. Visit www.sillsarasota.org.