BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council - ECPv6.14.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://secwac.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260602T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260602T193000 DTSTAMP:20260602T115224 CREATED:20260107T184617Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T184723Z UID:2394-1780423200-1780428600@secwac.org SUMMARY:Great Decisions 2026 - U.S. Engagement of Africa DESCRIPTION:SECWAC is proud to partner with the Essex Public Library for the Foreign Policy Association’s 2026 “Great Decisions” program. \nWhen: Tuesday June 2\, 2026  |  6pm – 7:15pm \nWhere: Essex Library Association – 33 West Ave\, Essex\, CT 06426 \nTopic: U.S. Engagement of Africa \nAuthor: Jendayi E. Frazer \nAfrica’s geopolitical role is growing. What lessons can the U.S. learn from China’s presence there\, and how might it strengthen ties\, especially with leading nations like Nigeria? What tools of statecraft might the U.S. bring to its engagement with Africa? \nTo learn more about the topic\, and get up to speed with the recommended reading\, CLICK HERE. URL:https://secwac.org/event/great-decisions-2026-u-s-engagement-of-africa/ LOCATION:Essex Library\, 33 West Ave\, Essex\, CT\, 06426\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260616T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260616T193000 DTSTAMP:20260602T115224 CREATED:20260107T184837Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T184837Z UID:2396-1781632800-1781638200@secwac.org SUMMARY:Great Decisions 2026 - The Future of Human Rights and International Law DESCRIPTION:SECWAC is proud to partner with the Essex Public Library for the Foreign Policy Association’s 2026 “Great Decisions” program. \nWhen: Tuesday June 16\, 2026  |  6pm – 7:15pm \nWhere: Essex Library Association – 33 West Ave\, Essex\, CT 06426 \nTopic: The Future of Human Rights and International Law \nAuthor: Jose Enrique Alvarez \nAs democracy and human rights retreat globally—and the U.S. pulls back—how can civil society and legal norms remain effective in a divided world? What is the role and force of international law in this era of impunity? \nTo learn more about the topic\, and get up to speed with the recommended reading\, CLICK HERE. URL:https://secwac.org/event/great-decisions-2026-the-future-of-human-rights-and-international-law/ LOCATION:Essex Library\, 33 West Ave\, Essex\, CT\, 06426\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260618T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260618T190000 DTSTAMP:20260602T115224 CREATED:20260415T132454Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260529T150127Z UID:2456-1781803800-1781809200@secwac.org SUMMARY:SECWAC Presents: Suzanne Loftus on "Russia's War of Self-Destruction" DESCRIPTION:“Russia’s War of Self-Destruction”\nRussia’s invasion of Ukraine was intended to restore Moscow’s power and reshape the European security order. Instead\, the war is increasingly exposing the limits of Russian strength. This talk examines how prolonged conflict is generating mounting economic\, military\, and geopolitical pressures on the Kremlin\, while Ukraine and its partners continue to adapt in a sustained war of attrition. It also explores the weakening of Russia’s broader support networks and the strategic risks of premature negotiations that could reward aggression before Russia achieves its objectives militarily. \nWho: Dr. Suzanne Loftus\, Associate Professor\, National War College \nWhen: June 18\, 2026 | Reception: 5:30pm | Presentation: 6:00pm \nWhere: Connecticut College. Ernst Conference Room\, Blaustein Hall 1st Floor \n  \nPre-speaker reception of crudities\, cheese and crackers\, water\, seltzers\, iced-tea. \nA post-presentation dinner with the speaker is available to members. Menu for the dinner includes a Summer-night buffet of sandwiches\, wraps\, garden salad\, pasta salad. Red and white wine.  Cookies and sweets \n  \nAbout the Speaker: \nDr. Suzanne Loftus is Associate Professor of National Security Strategy at the National War College. She is also a Global Fellow and Member of the Advisory Council at the Kennan Institute. Prior to that\, Suzanne worked as a professor at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen Germany. Suzanne specializes in post-Soviet studies\, Russian foreign policy and identity\, transatlantic security and great power competition. Her latest book\, Russia\, China and the West in the Post – Cold War Era: The Limits of Liberal Universalism (Palgrave\, 2023)\, is an analysis of the inadvertent consequences of the pursuit of liberal hegemony as an American foreign policy in the post-Cold War years and the concomitant effects of the rise of civilizational states such as Russia and China on the international system. \n  \n\n\n \n \n Single Event Registration for Nonmembers Only\n \n \n First Name(Required)Last NameEmail(Required)\n \n Address(Required) \n \n \n \n Street Address\n \n \n Address Line 2\n \n \n City\n \n \n State / Province / Region\n \n \n ZIP / Postal Code\n \n \n Single Event Registration\n \n \n Price:\n \n \n \n How Did You Hear About Us?Please choose:(Required)\n \n \n Friend or Family\n \n \n \n Email Notice\n \n \n \n Guest or Friend of Speaker\n \n \n \n Facebook\n \n \n \n Newspaper\n \n \n \n Other URL:https://secwac.org/event/secwac-presents-suzanne-loftus/ LOCATION:Connecticut College\, 270 Mohegan Ave Pkwy\, New London\, CT\, 06320 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260910T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260910T190000 DTSTAMP:20260602T115224 CREATED:20260415T135054Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260421T174505Z UID:2467-1789061400-1789066800@secwac.org SUMMARY:SECWAC Presents: William and Philip Taubman on “McNamara At War - In Vietnam and With Himself.” DESCRIPTION:“McNamara At War — In Vietnam and With Himself.”\nRobert S. McNamara\, the  star of both John Kennedy’s and Lyndon Johnson’s cabinets\, led a double life as both a fierce proponent and a secret opponent of the Vietnam War\, contributing to a tragic outcome for himself and for his country. We will discuss why and how as well as lessons of his life and career for today. \nWho: William Taubman\, Author\, Bertrand Snell Professor of Political Science Emeritus at Amherst College\, & \n             Philip Taubman\, Author\, Center for International Security and Cooperation\, Stanford University \nWhen: Wednesday September 10\, 2026 | Reception: 5:30pm | Presentation: 6:00pm \nWhere: TBD \nAbout the Speakers: \nWilliam Taubman is the Bertrand Snell Professor of Political Science Emeritus at Amherst College. His book\, Khrushchev: The Man and His Era\, won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. He is also the author of McNamara at War: A New History and Gorbachev: His Life and Times. He lives in Amherst\, Massachusetts. \nPhilip Taubman\, a former New York Times reporter\, is affiliated with Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation. He is the author of In the Nation’s Service: The Life and Times of George P. Shultz. \n  \n\n \n \n Single Event Registration for Nonmembers Only\n \n \n First Name(Required)Last NameEmail(Required)\n \n Address(Required) \n \n \n \n Street Address\n \n \n Address Line 2\n \n \n City\n \n \n State / Province / Region\n \n \n ZIP / Postal Code\n \n \n Single Event Registration\n \n \n Price:\n \n \n \n How Did You Hear About Us?Please choose:(Required)\n \n \n Friend or Family\n \n \n \n Email Notice\n \n \n \n Guest or Friend of Speaker\n \n \n \n Facebook\n \n \n \n Newspaper\n \n \n \n Other URL:https://secwac.org/event/secwac-presents-william-and-philip-taubman/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR