Letter from the President; Cover to Cover; Council of the Month; WorldQuest Weekly Quiz; WACA National Conference Recordings; Councils are Hiring; Council Highlights; & more!
Letter from the President
Dear Colleagues and Friends,

As 2022 gets under way, I wish you every success in the months ahead.

In retrospect, with the emergence of Omicron, WACA was fortunate to hold the 2021 National Conference in person. Energized by those conversations and my team's eagerness to plan this year's Conference and programs, I am curious to know what you think the defining foreign policy challenge of our era is.
 
Global health has obviously become a top concern, with linkages to aid, trade, and national security becoming more evident during the pandemic. Despite the worldwide shock, under-preparedness, loss of life and mass disruptions that COVID-19 exposed and caused, it’s not clear that global health will remain front of mind for policymakers minds a few years from now even if humanitarian benefits, equity, and productivity would warrant it.
 
The same appears so for climate change. We can hope the rising heat of rhetoric in the right direction will be followed with much greater action to counter causes and consequences of rising global temperatures. The climate crisis is existential and that ought to count as the preeminent threat. As long as natural disasters, food and water insecurity, and the melting polar ice seem anecdotal and far away, and as long as solutions are piecemeal and sporadic, environmental and security dangers will mount. At least the frequency and intensity of scientific warnings, compared to those that predicted pandemic, are much greater.
 
Perhaps the defining foreign policy challenge of the 21st century will arise from the U.S.-China rivalry, for this competition will affect everything – from the international relations of all countries and the world economy to global governance, values, and cooperation (or conflict) on issues of health and climate. China is the only country with the power to seriously challenge the international order built by the United States and its allies; it’s also one of a very few issues on which Republicans and Democrats today find common ground.
 
And so, we must focus also on the day of infamy that is January 6, 2021 – on the disunity at home before and since and how this weakens the country, degrades our standing in and attention to the world, and ultimately undercuts our national interests. To me, this is our defining struggle, and I am optimistic that we will get it right.
 
Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with me. Again, I wish you and your families a healthy, productive, and happy new year!
Bill Clifford
President and CEO
Cover to Cover: The World According to China
January 6 at 2:00 PM ET
WACA's first Cover to Cover webinar of 2022 will be held this Thursday, January 6 at 2:00 PM ET. Elizabeth Economy, a distinguished visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, will speak about her book: The World According to China.

A speaker at the WACA 2021 National Conference, Economy examines China’s ambitious new strategy to reshape the geostrategic landscape in her book. She details China's claims over Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the South China Sea, its Belt and Road Initiative, and its current role in international institutions.

The Cover to Cover discussion will be moderated by WACA President and CEO, Bill Clifford. Register for the program and receive a discount code to order your own copy of the book!
Council of the Month: World Affairs Council of Seattle
WACA is pleased to announce the World Affairs Council of Seattle as its January 2022 Council of the Month! Each month, WACA features one of its 90 Councils, highlighting their accomplishments and top-quality programming.

The WAC Seattle was selected for its international exchange work, DEI initiatives, staff expansion, and its virtual programming, which includes:


Make sure to follow WACA's social media accounts for additional updates on our Council of the Month!
Star Speaker: Farah Pandith
Farah Pandith, an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and former U.S. diplomat, will speak at the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head on January 7 about "How We Win: Countering Extremism Together Here and Abroad." Pandith was a keynote speaker at the virtual WACA 2020 National Conference.

To register for the other upcoming Council events, check the links in our Council Highlights section.
WorldQuest Weekly Quiz
This week's WACA WorldQuest Weekly is out! Test your global affairs awareness and dive into news stories that represent a broad spectrum of developments of interest and importance. Most of the questions are drawn from both WACA's Weekly World News Update, and a curated news Twitter feed @TNWAC #WACquiz.

In partnership with WACA, WorldQuest Weekly is produced by the Tennessee World Affairs Council, which offers customized subscriptions to the quiz for Council members. Contact pat@tnwac.org or visit tnwac.org/quiz for details.

Congratulations to last week's winner (10/10)! Basil (Jacksonville, FL)
Academic WorldQuest National Competition
WACA is excited that 44 Councils so far have pledged high school teams for the Carlos and Malú Alvarez Academic WorldQuest National Competition! The program will be held April 29-30 in Washington, D.C.

Pledged Councils have received the 2021-2022 Academic WorldQuest Study Guide, questions for local competitions, and the COVID-19 policy. If you have any questions, please contact Keily Ramirez.
Applications Open for ASG Rising Leaders Program
The Aspen Strategy Group is cultivating the next generation of leaders in foreign policy and national security through its Rising Leaders Program. ASG welcomed its first cohort of Rising Leaders in 2021.

Online applications for the Class of 2022 are now open. Candidates must be young professionals working in the fields of foreign policy and/or national security. Submit applications by Monday, January 10. Please share this application link with your Council and young professional networks.
Watch Now! The U.S.-Japan Alliance: The Economic Impact on North Texas
On November 30, the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosted "The U.S.-Japan Alliance: The Economic Impact on North Texas" as part of WACA's Engage America Series with Sasakawa USA. More than 170 Japanese companies, including major companies like Toyota and Fujitsu, have made their homes in North Texas and provided job opportunities and services to the region. Experts discussed the impact on the North Texas community, and you can watch the full discussion on YouTube now.
WACA 2021 National Conference on YouTube
In Case You Missed It...
Job Announcements in the Network
Global Minnesota seeks to hire an Administrative & Executive Coordinator, an International Exchange Coordinator, an International Student Engagement Manager, and a Major Gifts & Individual Giving Officer. Learn more.
World Affairs of New Hampshire seeks to hire an International Visitor Program Coordinator. Learn more.
International Institute of Buffalo seeks to hire a Bookkeeper, a Donations Coordinator, an Immigration and Domestic Violence Advocate, an Executive Director, a Professional Pathways Coordinator, and a Director of Philanthropy/Development & Community Engagement. Learn more.
Tuesday 1/4

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts Dan Schnur, Professor at UC Berkley and Pepperdine, for "The Dan Schnur Political Report"

Wednesday 1/5

World Affairs Council of Albuquerque hosts Peter Martin, Bloomberg's defense policy and intelligence reporter, for "The Making of China's Wolf Warrior Diplomacy"

Thursday 1/6

World Affairs Council of Maine presents "Coffee and Discussion"

World Affairs Council of Harrisburg presents "Travel Live"

Friday 1/7

World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay hosts Thomas Johnson, Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, for "A Postmortem on U.S. Involvement in Afghanistan" (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Hilton Head hosts Farah Pandith, Senior Advisor at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, for "How We Win: Countering Extremism Together Here and Abroad" (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Jim Goldgeier, Visiting Fellow at the Center on the U.S. and Europe at the Brookings Institution, and Alina Polyakova, President and CEO of the Center for European Policy Analysis, for "Growing Tension on Ukraine's Border"