Global in the Granite State

Across the globe, many people see democracy retreating and authoritarianism on the rise. In places as diverse as India, Hungry, Niger, El Salvador, and even right here in the United States, people of all political background are concerned about the state of their democracy, even if their reasons for worry differ. From attacks on courts, to the accumulation of executive power, and the takeover of institutions, many countries have see their democracies weaken, while many others have seen their democracies completely overthrown (at least 32 coup d'état's since 2010, and many more attempts, around the world).  Freedom House has marked overall democratic decline for the past 19 years based on their global metrics, while countless articles have been written about democratic backsliding around the world. In this month's episode, we discuss the state of democracy around the world with Dr. Henry Thomson of Arizona State University. Throughout this conversation, we cover the pathways to democratic decline and dive into the trends that the world is currently experiencing, while putting this discussion in historical context. In addition, we talk about what lessons pro-democracy forces can learn from the transitions that other countries have made away from authoritarian styles of government. It is important to remember that at one point in time, all countries were under authoritarian forms of government. Dr. Henry Thomson is an Associate Professor in the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University. He is a political economist with a research focus on economic development, authoritarian rule, and transitions to democracy. He is the author of two books, Watching the Watchers: Communist Elites, the Secret Police and Social Order in Cold War Europe [https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009413602] (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2024) and Food and Power: Regime Type, Agricultural Policy and Political Stability [https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108568951] (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2019). Before joining ASU, Thomson was a Postdoctoral Prize Research Fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford. He completed his PhD in Political Science at the University of Minnesota. His doctoral dissertation won the 2015 Juan Linz Prize for the Best Dissertation in the Comparative Study of Democratization from the American Political Science Association. He has been a visiting scholar at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, at Australian National University, and at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies in Berlin. Professor Thomson teaches classes on Democratization, Political Economy, International Political Economy, and social science research design.

As the Trump Administration works to re-envision, revise, and rewrite the ways in which the United States engages with the world, it remains important that people understand the why and the how of U.S. foreign policy.  Whether you want to make America safer, more prosperous, and more secure, or you take a broader look at the importance of global engagement, understanding the goals and limitations of U.S. power can inform your thinking of the U.S.' role in the world. Speaking with Andrew Albertson, Executive Director of Foreign Policy For America, this episode outlines what a principled approach to foreign policy looks like and how the current administration diverges from the traditional approach. From respecting human rights, building important alliances, and engaging the global economy, there is a lot about U.S. foreign policy that can be improved, but we must ensure we do not throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water. By listening to this month's episode you will gain insights into the state of U.S. global engagement, hear about why it remains important to U.S. prosperity, and how you can help shape the U.S.' approach to the world.  Andrew Albertson is the founding Executive Director of Foreign Policy for America. He previously served at USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), where he was Deputy Regional Representative for OTI’s programs in South and Southwest Afghanistan. Prior to that, Andrew was the founding executive director of the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED), a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to examining how genuine democracies can develop in the Middle East and how the U.S. can best support that process. Andrew serves on the board of directors for Secure Families Initiative, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), and the Middle East Democracy Center. He received a B.A. from Taylor University and a Master of Science in Foreign Service degree from Georgetown University, where he was the Huffington Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy.

One of the first government agencies targeted for dismantling by the Trump Administration, The United States' Agency for International Development (USAID) has been a major focal point of executive actions, headlines, and judicial filings. The chaotic approach to slashing jobs, shuttering offices, and eliminating funding has led to many people feeling unclear on what this agency does and how it affects the United States, as well as its relationship to the world. With many questions still remaining about the legality of what the Administration is attempting, as USAID is a Congressionally mandated agency, many Americans are left to wonder and wade through a dizzying array of information.  In light of all this, the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire spoke with Charles Kenney, Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Development, to unpack the history of this agency and the impact it has. From administering lifesaving treatments around the world (which remain paused despite waivers) to building local economies (allowing people to stay in their home countries, rather than migrating to the West), this Agency has left an indelible mark on the world. Join us on this insightful conversation as you learn more about the realities surrounding USAID. Charles Kenny is a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development. His current work focuses on global economic prospects, gender and development, and development finance. He is the author of the books “The Plague Cycle: The Unending War Between Humanity and Infectious Disease,” "Getting Better: Why Global Development is Succeeding," “The Upside of Down: Why the Rise of the Rest is Good for the West,” and “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Utility: Happiness in Philosophical and Economic Thought.” He has been a contributing editor at Foreign Policy magazine and a regular contributor to Business Week magazine. Kenny was previously at the World Bank, where his assignments included coordinating work on governance and anticorruption in infrastructure and natural resources, and managing a number of investment and technical assistance projects covering telecommunications and the Internet.

As President Trump has implemented sweeping changes in how the government functions and continues to try and re-write the rules of the game, many people are feeling overwhelmed trying to keep up. In this month's episode, we speak with Jeffrey Thielman, President & CEO of the International Institute of New England, to unpack the various changes and enforcement actions implemented in the first couple weeks of the new administration. From a stated desire to remove up to 11 million undocumented people from the country, to activating the military and empowering them to directly engage in deportations, there is a lot to keep up with. There are long ranging implications for these efforts, many of which will be challenged in courts, and it remains important for people to know what is really going on and to hold their government accountable. Jeffrey Thielman - Since becoming the President and CEO of the International Institute of New England [https://iine.org/]in 2015, Jeff has been a leader in the effort to preserve the U.S. refugee resettlement program and to protect the rights of immigrants in New England. Under his direction, IINE has expanded services to more refugees and immigrants, reinstated its legal services program, and expanded career services to more cities and towns in the region. Prior to joining IINE, he co-founded the national Cristo Rey Network and spent nearly two decades creating schools that today serve 13,000 low income and immigrant students in 24 U.S. states and boast of more than 21,000 graduates. Jeff oversaw the start-up of the first 24 Cristo Rey schools and served as President of Cristo Rey Boston High School. Early in his professional career, Jeff was a trial attorney in Boston and worked in the financial services industry. Between college and law school, he served as a Jesuit International Volunteer in Tacna, Peru, where he was a teacher and founder of a program for street children called the Center for the Working Child, which has been replicated in several cities in Peru. He is co-author of Volunteer: With the Poor in Peru, holds undergraduate and law degrees from Boston College, and is fluent in Spanish. Jeff lives with his wife and three children in Arlington, Massachusetts, where he serves on the town’s School Committee. View the Pew Research Center's Chart on Immigration Encounters since 2000. [https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/10/01/migrant-encounters-at-u-s-mexico-border-have-fallen-sharply-in-2024/]

The relationship between the United States and China remains one of the most critical dynamics shaping our world today, with ripple effects that could lead to either global progress or conflict. Amid political shifts in the U.S., now is the perfect time to take stock of where this high-stakes relationship stands, uncover emerging trends, and hear from experts on fostering understanding between these two global powerhouses. In this month’s episode, we sit down with Sarwar Kashmeri—renowned host of the Polaris Live web series and Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Association. A longtime friend of the Council, Mr. Kashmeri taps into his extensive network of global leaders to offer fresh insights into U.S.-China relations. Together, we explore his latest Telegram Series installment [https://kashmeri.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/The-Telegram-IV.pdf], where he gathers perspectives from top thinkers on how the two nations can maintain stability and avoid potential catastrophe. While tensions remain high, there are glimmers of hope. Discover how these two nations can collaborate on pressing global challenges, avoiding conflict while building a foundation for mutual benefit. Don’t miss this critical conversation on the future of the world’s most consequential relationship. Bonus Content: Curious about the European Parliament’s report on the 2022 Sanctions War between China and the EU, discussed in this episode? Click Here to Read it Now [https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2021/690617/EPRS_ATA(2021)690617_EN.pdf]. Sarwar Kashmeri is an international relations specialist, author, and commentator, noted for his expertise on U.S. global strategy and national security. He speaks frequently before business, foreign policy and military audiences. He is the founder and host of Polaris-Live. com, “United States and China in the world,” [http://www.polaris-live.com/] a live internet video program featuring 30 minute conversations on the business and geopolitical impact of China’s rapid rise to superpower status. Kashmeri is author of the Foreign Policy Association’s report “The Telegram: A China Agenda For President Biden [https://www.fpa.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Printproduction09Jul_red.pdf]“ (2021); “The Telegram II: The Business of America and China is Business [https://www.fpa.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/The%20Telegram2_F-w-links.pdf]“(2022); “China’s Grand Strategy: Weaving a New Silk Road to Global Primacy [https://tinyurl.com/y3egqesx],” (Bloomsbury), his third book, was published in July 2019. It is a centennial book of the Foreign Policy Association where Sarwar is a Senior Fellow. The book was released at a Washington D.C. launch [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L20IxXy58bw] on November 7th, 2019 featuring Kashmeri and former U.S. Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel.