Book: How to Hide an Empire: A History of The Greater United States Author: Daniel Immerwahr Reviewed by: Christopher N. Smith, Attorney at Law and Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Denmark in Georgia A global quest for guano. The need for coal fueling stations for a growing navy. An ascendant global power wishing to […]
Books 2019: Are the United States and China Destined for War?
Book: Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’s Trap? Author: Graham Allison Review by: Bruce Allen, honorary consul of the Principality of Liechtenstein in Georgia As described by the eponymous Greek historian about the war between Athens and Sparta two and a half millennia ago, Thucydides’s trap is a situation where a rising […]
Books 2019: The Dangers of Not Talking to Strangers
Book: Talking to Strangers:What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know Author: Malcolm Gladwell Review by: Soumaya Khalifa, president, Khalifa Consulting and founder of the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta Like many, I grew up with my parents telling me not to talk to strangers. Now in my consulting, I work with leaders and […]
Isakson’s Foreign Affairs Work Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award
For Johnny Isakson, a position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee wasn’t a lifelong dream. Instead, as he describes it in a recent tribute video honoring his steadfast commitment to international affairs, it was an assignment that came about by chance but would change the course of his work: Mr. Isakson, who stepped down from the Senate […]
Georgia’s Senators Want India’s Pecan Tariffs Removed in Trade Talks
As President Trump meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi twice this week, Georgia’s senators are urging his administration not to forget the plight of the pecan. Georgia’s signature tree nut faces a 36 percent tariff in the Indian market, “one of the most dynamic and fastest growing in the world,” according to a letter […]
Foreign Affairs and Africa’s Development Key Components of Sen. Isakson’s Career
While the bipartisan accolades continue to roll in praising Johnny Isakson’s 40 years of service in Georgia and Washington after he announced on Aug. 28 that he would be resigning his U.S. Senate seat at the end of the year, his dedication to his work on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has been noted only […]
Kenya’s Ambassador Challenges U.S. to Match Chinese Investment and Promote People-to-People Exchanges
China president Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has spread throughout the world including the African continent challenging the U.S.’s economic dominance, is proof enough of China’s ambitions. But last week even in Atlanta there were intimidations that a more dynamic role for the U.S. would be welcome in Africa if it upped its […]
Commentary: Georgians Contributing to African Democracy, One Book at a Time
Editor’s note: This commentary piece was written by Books for Africa Executive Director Patrick Plonski and board member Atare Agbamu, a Nigeria native Despite its flaws, the recently concluded Nigerian presidential election was an important milestone for Africa’s most populous country. Running on a campaign of anti-corruption against an opponent who was tarnished by it, […]
Commentary: Mexico Finds New Avenue for Responsible Diplomacy With Like-Minded Countries
Editor’s note: This commentary was published first in Spanish in “Reforma” newspaper and was made available to Global Atlanta in English by the Consulate General of Mexico in Atlanta. It was written by Julián Ventura Valero, deputy secretary of foreign affairs, who can be followed on Twitter at @JulianVenturaV. Mexico is convinced of the irreplaceable value of […]
Georgia Lawmakers Show Bipartisan Love for the United Kingdom
A pair of resolutions passed in recent weeks in both houses of Georgia’s legislature shows bipartisan alignment on at least one issue: that a “special relationship” with the United Kingdom holds multifaceted benefits for the state. The terminology echoes that used by national leaders aiming to affirm the alignment of values between the U.S. and […]