Camera as Witness: Powerful Driver of Social Change
Sept. 19—International film authority Jasmina Bojic will illustrate the power of film with the short documentary This Being Human.
Programs with Purpose
We offer timely, insightful talks on international, locally relevant topics—and empower participants to connect, learn and act on issues they care about. Check out recordings of some of our recent programs below.
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Marin | Tectonic Shifts in Middle East
June 13—SOLD OUT: Dr. Abbas Milani will explain the dramatic reshuffling of power dynamics underway in the Middle East that will alter the balance of power in profound ways and reshape roles, ambitions, alliances and...
Peninsula | The Law of War and the Israel-Hamas Conflict
June 5—Stanford Law School Professor Allen Weiner will discuss the relevant law of armed conflict and when violations amount to war crimes or other serious violations of international humanitarian law in the context of...
Napa | Developing Communities and Global Migration
May 20—Commonwealth Club World Affairs Napa Valley Chapter hosts a local business owner who epitomizes locals acting globally, improving lives in impoverished countries around the world.
Marin | Understanding Russian Aggression: Imperialism or Aggrieved Self Defense?
May 16—Professor George Breslauer will discuss Russia’s attitude toward Ukraine and its motivations for invasion, as well as the rise in assassinations, trolls, disinformation and alliances against the West.
Teaching Casualty Care in Ukraine During the Russian Invasion—Fourth Time’s the Charm
Dr. Michael Baker will review some history and geography of Central Europe/Ukraine, and give his insight into morale and conditions in Ukraine during this conflict. He will also explain where he perceives links of this...
Peninsula | The Human Costs of Climate Change
May 1—Brad Adams, former Asia director at Human Rights Watch, will address issues at the intersection of climate change and human rights and discuss practical solutions.
Marin | COVID-19: The Mistakes We Made and How to Control the Next Pandemic
April 18—UCSF's Dr. Monica Gandhi will review the history of COVID-19 and different responses to the pandemic around the world. She will explain how to better manage pandemics in the future.
Peninsula | Building Resilient Inter-Ethnic Peace: Lessons from Historical Political Economics
April 3—Saumitra Jha will explore the challenges of building resilient inter-ethnic peace around the world, an increasingly difficult task in nations and communities with less experience navigating a diverse setting.
Marin | The US’ Involvement in Human Trafficking
Mar. 21—Laurel Botsford, organizer and advocate, will explore the involvement and impact of the US in global human trafficking.
CNN’s Jim Sciutto: Russia, China and the Next World War
Mar. 12—CNN Chief National Security Correspondent Jim Sciutto will draw on his reporting from the front lines of political hotspots and war zones across the globe to explain history unfolding in front of us.
Embargo & Engagement: Insights from the Cuban Ambassador
Mar. 12—Amb. Lianys Torres Rivera, Cuba's ambassador to the US, will shed light on one of our closest yet most controversial and closed-off neighbors in this in-person only program, Q&A and reception.
Taiwan: The Unavoidable US-China Flashpoint?
Mar. 7—Ingrid Larson, Managing Director at the American Institute in Taiwan and one of the highest-ranking US officials engaged on these issues everyday, will delve into the latest developments in Taiwan and US-China...
Peninsula | The Changing Face of Authoritarian Politics in Egypt
Mar. 6—Hesham Sallam will examine how authoritarian rule in Egypt has evolved under the rule of Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, who is about to embark on his third term as president.
Kumi Naidoo: How Activism Can Win Bigger and Faster
Feb. 27—Join us for a live conversation with scholar and activist Kumi Naidoo about how the international drive away from fossil fuels relates to human rights and economic justice.
Mayor London Breed: The State of San Francisco
Feb. 23—San Francisco Mayor London Breed will give a state-of-the-city program, taking stock of the San Francisco’s present and looking forward to its future, and share her thoughts on ballot measures facing voters...
Marin | Is Conflict Coming to Korea?
Feb. 22—Philip W. Yun, Co-President and Co-CEO of Commonwealth Club World Affairs, will provide his take on what may be happening in North Korea and why some Korean experts are worried about the potential for military...
Future of SF: Town Hall + March Election Roundup
Feb. 21—Join our town hall presentation and discussion presenting a nonpartisan multimedia breakdown of each of the ballot measures and candidates on the March 2024 election ballot and featuring many of the city’s...
East Bay | International Criminal Law and the Values of the New World Order
Feb. 15—Renowned international law expert Dr. James Armstead will explore whether the rules-based international order created in the wake of World War ll and current institutions are sufficient to protect us from...
“20 Days in Mariupol” Film Screening
Feb. 13—Join us for a special screening of this Academy Award-nominated film following an Associated Press team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city during the early days of Russia’s invasion.
2024 Economic Forecast: Inflation, Election Bonanza and the Global Economy
Feb. 8—At our annual economic forecast, an expert panel will give you the insight you need to better understand the trends, policies, dangers and opportunities that lie ahead for your business and your wallet in 2024.
Peninsula | Digital Conflict Through the Lens of National Security
Feb. 7—Herbert Lin will survey the landscape of digital security as a national security issue, addressing both offensive operations in cyberspace and and information/influence operations.
Simon Shuster: Volodymyr Zelensky and the Invasion That Shook the World
Simon Shuster was given unprecedented journalistic access to President Volodymyr Zelensky and his team, and comes to San Francisco to report about the president's evolution from slapstick actor to symbol of resilience.
Marin | Preparing the Bay Area for Climate Change
Jan. 25—How can the Bay Area build resilience to flood, heat, and fire threatened by climate change? Dr. Andrew Gunther, the environmental scientist who speaks human, will bring us up to date on what needs to be done...
Ukraine Firsthand: Resistance, Resolve, Recovery
Jan. 24—Connect directly with Ukrainians on the frontlines of the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. Hear personal testimony of life at war and efforts toward laying foundations for peace and...
Peninsula | Immigrants and Refugees in a Multicultural Europe
Jan. 3—Professor David D. Laitin will address issues of discrimination at the individual level, bureaucratic practices, and voting behavior in the context of immigrants and refugees in Europe.
Members & Friends Holiday Mixer
Join us in holiday spirit as we celebrate the coming together of our two organizations and get a preview of what's to come!
Marin | Saudi Arabia: Rising Powerbroker
Dec. 14—Saudi Arabia has adopted a more assertive regional posture, reached strategic agreements with Russia and China, and recently re-established diplomatic relations with Iran. Hear more from Dr. Peter Bartu of UC...
Peninsula | How History Caught Up With the West in Afghanistan
Dec. 6—Drawing from his years of reporting from Afghanistan, journalist Andrew North discussed how history caught up with the west in Afghanistan, with examples from the early period after 9/11 through to the Taliban...
Marin | Some Really New Thinking About How We Control Nuclear Weapons
How do we move forward on controlling nuclear weapons when Russia and now also China seem disinterested? Former NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller will broach some new ideas about nuclear arms control in...
David Brooks: How to Know a Person
Nov. 16—How can we look somebody in the eye and see something large in them, and in turn, see something larger in ourselves? To find out, join us in Silicon Valley as David Brooks explains.
After APEC: What’s China’s Role in California’s Green Transition?
Against the backdrop of the 2023 APEC Leaders Week Summit in San Francisco and tense national geopolitics, hear about what's next for collaboration and competition between California and China as we surge toward a green...
East Bay | Teaching Casualty Care in Ukraine: 1 Year Update
Nov. 8—Dr. Michael Baker, retired general and trauma surgeon, recently returned from his third tour in Ukraine where he taught Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) to Ukrainian physicians. He will review some history...
Peninsula | Gender-Based Violence in Mexico and the Role of the Media in its Coverage
Karla Casillas Bermúdez, independent investigative journalist with the Mexican production company Mezcla, will speak on gender violence in Mexico and the challenges faced by the media in reporting on the topic.
Whose Country is it Anyway? feat. Miko Marks & Tookta Topline
Oct. 23—Experience an intimate evening of music and conversation challenging what we think we know about country music with Miko Marks and Tookta Topline.
Marin | Surviving in the Age of Disinformation
Dr. Paul Clarke, former White House spokesperson and National Security Specialist, will describe the many actors involved in disinformation and how they operate. He will also provide important tips on how to be a savvy...
San Francisco’s Future: Culture & Revitalization
Oct. 6—Feel the pulse of San Francisco: dig into delicious Chinese cuisine AND chew over the role of iconic cultural hotspots like Chinatown in the city’s next chapter. World Affairs and Dear Community invite you to...
Napa Valley | How to Grow Wine Exports in the New Global Marketplace
Reta Jo Lewis, President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and Honore Comfort, Vice President of International Marketing at Wine Institute, will discuss how to grow Napa Valley wine exports and wine supply...
Peninsula | Putin’s Gamble
Award-winning journalist Natalia Antelava will explain how the collective West has played an important and largely underreported part in enabling narratives that fuel the current bloodshed in Ukraine.
The 70th Anniversary of the Republic of Korea-US Alliance
Please join World Affairs and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea for a seminar and reception. Our esteemed guest contributors will provide insight and analysis of the latest geopolitical developments,...
Emerging Leaders Club: Plug into Tech Diplomacy
Sept. 28—Join the Emerging Leaders Club, our 35 and under community for global enthusiasts, for a lively happy hour and discussion on tech diplomacy’s role in the digital transformation.
Marin | Why Must we Protect Classified Intelligence Information?
Marin Chapter Steering Committee Chair Frank Rettenberg will speak on his experience during extended tours in Istanbul and Copenhagen.
Peninsula | The Deer and the Dragon Revisited: Southeast Asia and China Now
Explore today's dynamics of Southeast Asian nations in relation to China and the US with Prof. Donald K. Emmerson of Stanford University.
Perennials and the Megatrends Creating a Postgenerational Society
Leading sociologist and business economist Mauro F. Guillén explains how a new post-generational workforce known as “perennials” could give everyone a chance at living a rewarding life.
Shake-Up in the Middle East: US Interest and Influence in Retreat?
Mara Rudman, Executive Vice President for Policy at the Center for American Progress, speaks with Ray Suarez about the future of the Middle East and US involvement in the region.
Thomas Byrne Edsall: American Democracy at the Crossroads
As the US continues to reckon with the January 6 insurrection and prepares for the 2024 presidential election, Edsall warns that American democracy remains under siege. What can we do to bridge the increasingly polarized...
Napa Valley | Circumnavigation With Purpose
Sabine Hirsohn of Napa will share her amazing round-the-world voyage in a 65-foot sloop as a "Blue Habits Ambassador" with the Oceanic Society.
Marin | Understanding India, Its Politics, Its Culture and Society
Hear Professor Darren C. Zook's take on whether India overcome the serious challenges it faces in both the international and the domestic context.
Emerging Leaders Club: Big Tech, AI & the EU
June 8, 2023: European Union’s chief West Coast representative on tech, Gerard de Graaf, dives deep on the EU’s digital approach.
Peninsula | Education for Girls and Women in Afghanistan Under the Taliban
June 6, 2023: Two guests discuss the current situation in Afghanistan, particularly as it relates to the education of girls and women, as well as the work being done to support them.
Lessons from the Green Wave: How to Unify Action for Reproductive Justice
May 10, 2023: A conversation with leading practitioners on the frontlines driving action and building unified coalitions for sexual and reproductive health and rights across the Americas.
Iran Through Women’s Eyes: A World Affairs Salon Experience
April 27, 2023: Explore the complexity of Iran—its history and current challenges—through the intersection of art, culture and politics with leading figures from the Bay Area's Iranian diaspora.
International Journalism in the Digital Age: Sorting Through the Information Chaos
April 19, 2023: A roundtable dialogue on international journalism in the digital age, featuring BBC News Senior Disinformation Journalist Fauziyyah Tukur and World Press Institute fellows from 10 countries.
Solutions To Close The Gender Economic Gap
March 8, 2023: In collaboration with Global Fund for Women and The Women's Building, leading changemakers on the frontlines speak about dismantling obstacles to economic opportunity and empowering women, internationally...
Across Nations and Borders with Ray Suarez
February 1, 2023: A conversation with seasoned journalist, acclaimed author and "On Shifting Ground" podcast host Ray Suarez and World Affairs CEO Philip Yun.
Humanitarian Crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh: Day 44 of Siege on the Armenians of Artsakh
January 25, 2023: A discussion about the rapidly unfolding humanitarian crisis in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh—and how we can help.
Featured Past Programs
Ukraine Firsthand: Resistance, Resolve, Recovery
Jan. 24—Connect directly with Ukrainians on the frontlines of the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. Hear personal testimony of life at war and efforts toward laying foundations for peace and...
After APEC: What’s China’s Role in California’s Green Transition?
November 15, 2023: Against the backdrop of the 2023 APEC Leaders Week Summit in San Francisco and tense national geopolitics, hear about what’s next for collaboration and competition between California and China as we surge toward a green energy future.
Whose Country is it Anyway? feat. Miko Marks & Tookta Topline
Oct. 23, 2023: Experience an intimate evening of music and conversation challenging what we think we know about country music with Miko Marks and Tookta Topline.
Iran Through Women’s Eyes: A World Affairs Salon Experience
April 27, 2023: Explore the complexity of Iran—its history and current challenges—through the intersection of art, culture and politics with leading figures from the Bay Area's Iranian diaspora.