Great Decisions

Great Decisions is America's largest discussion program on world affairs. The program model involves reading the Great Decisions briefing book, watching the video series, and meeting in a group to discuss the most critical global issues facing America today. Each year, eight topics are chosen by a panel of experts. Petoskey District Library has been participating for the past several years in this valuable program provided by the Foreign Policy Association, with all eight sessions held virtually via Zoom. 

For the April 2 session, we'll be reviewing "The Future of NATO and European Security" by Kori Schake. 
Session summary: European security is more uncertain than it has been for decades. Putin’s Russia has launched a war with Ukraine on its doorstep, and America’s uncertain role as leader of NATO and security provider has been called into question with the failure of Congress to pass supplemental military support for Ukraine. What are Europe’s options, and how might developments on both sides of Western Europe – in Ukraine and across the Atlantic – impact its choices? What are America’s stakes in NATO and Europe’s strategic dilemmas?

We'll also be joined by Natalie Melnyczuk during this session. Melnyczuk’s professional experience includes working as NATO Representative to Ukraine as the Head of the NATO Information and Documentation Center in Kyiv, Ukraine; as a Political Officer in the Political Affairs and Security Policy Division, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Section at NATO HQ in Brussels, Belgium; as Manager of  U.S.A.I.D.’s  Parliamentary Development Project, U.S. – Ukraine Foundation, in Kyiv, Ukraine; in Research Analysis at RFE/RL, Munich, Germany; in Research at The United States Institute of Peace, Washington, D.C.; at Chicago Research and Trading, Management Partnerships International on the first American-Soviet high tech Joint Venture; at Heartland International, Chicago, Il., on parliamentary reform and democratization in Africa; and in various other academic/policy positions.  She is currently a Consultant on Euro-Atlantic Security, a lecturer at Wayne State University, and a Doctoral Candidate in Political Science at Wayne State University where her research focuses on Euro-Atlantic Security, aspects of asymmetric warfare, and coming to a new understanding of Alliances.