Global I.q. Minute With Jim Falk

In this fascinating Greenberg Traurig Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk, Manal al-Sharif, the charismatic human rights leader and author of Daring To Drive, discusses not only “driving while female” but also the Islamic “male guardian” system that controls female lives in Saudi Arabia. She says the oppression mirrors the cultural attitudes that launched the American Civil Rights Movement. And, she sees changes coming in the Kingdom.

Dr. Steven A. Cook, author of False Dawn, explains the complicated and evolving multinational relationships in the Middle East in this Global I.Q. Minute with the Council's Jim Falk. For example, how significant is Qatar's difficulty with Saudi Arabia? Cook says, Qatar's "prime directive in foreign policy has been to remain independent of Saudi Arabia." Can democracy "take root" in the Arab and Muslim worlds? Cook has an answer. And, on another challenging topic involving U.S. diplomacy, he says, "It's clear that Turkey's trajectory is authoritarian and unstable." Then there's Syria... Cook has an analysis.

From the Cold War to Twitter? Journalist/author Garrett M. Graff laughs when he describes his latest book as "light reading." In this Global I.Q. Interview with Jim Falk, Graff explains the U.S. Government's Secret Plan To Save Itself While the Rest of Us Die. He also addresses his current newsmaker connection: Robert Mueller, head of the team investigating "Russian meddling." There is even a trendy ‘covfefe’ moment!

"Lack of democracy, lack of liberties and corruption" launched the "Arab Spring" in Tunisia where it is known as the "Dignity Revolution." The nation's Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Fayçal Gouia, discusses these points and the "young people's" lack of hope, affiliation with ISIS and "evil behavior" in his Global I.Q. with Jim Falk.

For years as the South Asia correspondent for The Economist, Adam Roberts lived in India and got to know the nation while "tasting the spice and feeling the dust and the heat." Now reporting from Europe, Roberts tells us in this Global I.Q. With Jim Falk that India is facing many issues along with economic success. Population and pollution rise to the forefront, but with urbanization there are gender issues and even a "flashpoint" over cows.

In this Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk, the journalist/author Graeme Wood sees the "big contradictory religion" of Islam as having the potential to be "a faith of either war or peace." He says there was a time when "it might have been possible" to keep ISIS from having "the space that they had to develop." He also addresses the question, "Is ISIS on the run?" And what is the U.S. role?

What about Venezuela? The Council's International Perspectives Series speaker Dr. Harold Trinkunas focused on the economically unsteady nation in his Global I.Q. Minute With Jim Falk. And, he explained the reasons "Washington doesn't pay that much attention to Latin America."

Helene Cooper of The New York Times begins her Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk in an unusual way, a quick "personal history" note about North Carolina vs. Duke. Then, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter moves into family history and Liberia's historical women's movement, an inspirational story of political change coming not just to the nation but also to the African continent. It is a story of newfound safety for the women of the nation.

Mexico's Ambassador to the United States Gerónimo Gutiérrez, in his Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk, touches on what he sees as a hopeful future for an improved NAFTA. Regarding campaign issues, i.e., the "wall," the Ambassador says that does not form "part of the bilateral agenda."

In this Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk, Executive Editor of The Economist Daniel Franklin explores technology's disruption of the workplace and offers a caveat to one profession that "will never be out of work" but will face changes.

"Texas has hugely benefited from being open to the world," David Miliband, the president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, declares in his Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk, He also outlines challenges refugees face – from an uncertain landing (they went to nearly 3 dozen nations last year) to lives put on hold by President Trump's executive orders. Amidst all that, there's a growing crisis in Yemen. Also, for refugees, he says, "Education is a lifeline, not a luxury."

Our Council guest, the writer and Middle East analyst Geneive Abdo examines the "complicated" cultural/religious change and the Shi'a/Sunni divide. What created momentum for violence in the Islamic world. Is this battle political or existential? How does Iran fit into this conflict? Is there a U.S. role? This Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk gets the answers.

In this Global IQ Minute with veteran military advisor Stephen Biddle, the topic is the future of American support in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. effect on region's conflicts and the contested Afghan/Pakistan border which Biddle describes as "famously porous" and an area where the sides have a "tendency to negotiate by 155 millimeter artillery."

This Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk focuses on a novelist, his inspiration and his goals. Istanbul-based writer Elliot Ackerman, a U.S. Marine with combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, has lived a life that has led him to what he calls an "improbable friendship, " an opportunity for understanding that helps him "trace the emotional topography" of "complex geopolitical events." Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk is sponsored by Greenberg Traurig, LLP

In this Global IQ Minute, Council President Jim Falk explores the "global disarray" outlined by Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass who, in this wide-ranging interview, cites such things as "loss of the discipline of the Cold War," global conflicts, U.S. "acts of commission and omission" and "both real viruses and computer viruses."

This portion of Dr. Robert Gates’ Global IQ session with Jim Falk includes his declaration that dropping out of the Trans Pacific Partnership has “yielded home-field advantage” to the Chinese, that “this guy” who leads North Korea is a “gigantic challenge” and that U.S. budgeting faces “complete chaos.”

Dr. Robert Gates joined the World Affairs Council to celebrate education and sat for a Global IQ Minute Interview with Council President Jim Falk. Our two-part Global IQ opens with a brief praise of education by Dr. Gates, whose career includes service as Secretary of Defense and CIA Director. He then delves into such topics as Rex Tillerson’s challenges as Secretary of State, the American relationship with Russia and his advice for President Trump.

Beyond personality conflicts with President Donald Trump, Vicente Fox, Mexico's president 2000-2006, sees serious political and trade issues affecting the relationship between Mexico and the United States, i.e., the wall, NAFTA changes and "migration." In this Council Conference Call Series on U.S.-Mexico Relations, President Fox also answers insightful questions from callers who touch on not just U.S.-Mexico issues, but the global result of trade disruption in North America. Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk is sponsored by Greenberg Trauig LLP. Visit them at www.GTLaw.com for more information.

U.S. Ambassador James Jones (1993-1997), in our Conference Call Series on U.S.-Mexico Relations, says that while government levels are operating "maturely," the challenge is at the people level as President Trump has "managed to do something no other politician has been able to do: That is unite all the Mexican people against us." Hear the Ambassador’s "experienced" solution for some of these issues, his thoughts on NAFTA changes and his suggestion that Canada may be next to hear from President Trump. Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk is sponsored by Greenberg Trauig LLP. Visit them at www.GTLaw.com for more information.

Council President and CEO Jim Falk spoke with Sebastian Mallaby to discuss the future of the UK and the EU, along with how Fed Chair, Janet Yellen can learn from and avoid the same mistakes that Alan Greenspan made in his time as Federal Reserve Chairman.