Great Decisions with Mona Yacoubian | American Foreign Policy in the Middle East: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead

Analysts of American policy in 2025 have the unusual advantage of being able to assess the new president’s likely policies regarding the Middle East against the backdrop of what he did in his first term, four years earlier. Join us for a timely discussion of this topic with&nbsp;Mona Yacoubian, senior adviser and director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). This program will feature an expert presentation, live audience Q&amp;A, and time for networking and discussion with other globally-oriented participants. The program will be live-streamed to Zoom from 6:00-7:00 PM.&nbsp;<a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_o3ecuZ__SUqDHtX6sRTC9g">To attend virtually, please register here.</a> This program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.

Third Sector New England

International Affairs Book Swap

Did you make a New Year’s resolution to clean out clutter this year? Or to read more? Or maybe to network with other internationally-minded people? For all of the above and more, join us for our International Affairs Book Swap on February 11th! This festive, informal program will feature book “shopping” and swapping, slam-style book pitches, networking, beverages and appetizers, and raffle prizes! And the best part is, you get to cull your bookshelves and restock with a new-to-you book or two. Come for the books, the fun, or all of the above! Participants should bring at least one and no more than six books about any topic in international affairs. We ask that all books be in good condition and published within the past ten years. And, please join us at 5:30 PM for a special Q&amp;A session with WorldBoston staff members on the state of WorldBoston and what WorldBoston is looking forward to in 2025. If you are interested in "pitching" your book please fill out this <a href="https://forms.gle/MZ9sJQg5sGfd2yMT6">form</a>. Spots are limited. All those who participate in pitching their book receive a free copy of the 2025 Great Decisions Briefing Book. Advance registration is required. We cannot accommodate walk-ins for the in-person program.

Foley & Lardner LLP

Great Decisions with Dr. Kori Schake | The Future of NATO and European Security

Europe is frightened and frightening for the first time really since the 1980s, when nuclear sabers were rattling as the Soviet Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) both deployed contending intermediate range missiles along the dividing line of the military alliances. With Russia’s continued barbarity in Ukraine there is no escaping that Vladimir Putin intends not to be “European” Join us for a timely discussion of this topic with Dr. Kori Schake, leader of the foreign and defense policy team at the American Enterprise Institute. This program will feature an expert presentation, live audience Q&amp;A, and time for networking and discussion with other globally-oriented participants in the Newsfeed Café. This program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. The program will be live-streamed to Zoom from 6:00-7:00 PM. <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lU2OV483STuoQmBo65iZYg">To attend virtually, please register here.</a>

Boston Public Library, Rabb Hall

Chat & Chowder with Dr. Mary Thompson-Jones | America In The Arctic

Join us for this installment of our popular Chat &amp; Chowder series, featuring Professor of National Security at the U.S. Naval War College and former U.S. Foreign Service Officer, Mary Thomspn-Jones. Dr. Thompson-Jones will discuss her new book, America in the Arctic: Foreign Policy and Competition in the Melting North. Chat &amp; Chowder programs are an excellent opportunity to engage with expert speakers and to network with other globally-oriented participants in an informal environment. Each event features a presentation, audience Q&amp;A, dedicated time for networking, and (of course!) a selection of chowders and beverages. Thanks to the generous support of <a href="https://lowellinstitute.org/about/">The Lowell Institute</a>, Chat &amp; Chowder is now free of charge for all participants (Zoom live-streams remain free as well). We sincerely appreciate The Lowell Institute’s commitment to our mission, as well as the support of our venue, Foley &amp; Lardner LLP. Please consider helping sustain this work by making a contribution <a href="https://www.worldboston.org/support-us">here</a>. This program will be streamed to Zoom from 6:15 to 7:15. <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DNoYZ7r_TT6RcSZVXNP27w">To attend the program virtually, please register for the Zoom webinar here</a>. Advance registration is required. We cannot accommodate walk-ins for the in-person program.

Chat & Chowder with Stephanie Baker | Punishing Putin

Join us for this installment of our popular Chat &amp; Chowder series, featuring Stephanie Baker, senior writer at Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Business Week, to discuss her book Punishing Putin: Inside The Global Economic War To Bring Down Russia. Chat &amp; Chowder programs are an excellent opportunity to engage with expert speakers and to network with other globally-oriented participants in an informal environment. Each event features a presentation, audience Q&amp;A, dedicated time for networking, and (of course!) a selection of chowders and beverages. Thanks to the generous support of <a href="https://lowellinstitute.org/about/">The Lowell Institute</a>, Chat &amp; Chowder is now free of charge for all participants (Zoom live-streams remain free as well). We sincerely appreciate The Lowell Institute’s commitment to our mission, as well as the support of our venue, Foley &amp; Lardner LLP. Please consider helping sustain this work by making a contribution <a href="https://www.worldboston.org/support-us">here</a>. This program will be streamed to Zoom from 6:15 to 7:15. <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4uj1ku9uT2yWOXTTK6rcwg">To attend the program virtually, please register for the Zoom webinar here.</a> Advance registration is required. We cannot accommodate walk-ins for the in-person program.

Great Decisions with Sugata Bose|India: China, the West, & the Global South

India is an emerging major power in world affairs, occupying a pivotal position between China, the United States, and the Global South. Its population size, economy, and geopolitical location ensure that it will be an influential voice in debates and political struggles over global order. What are India’s choices and opportunities for regional and global leadership? How will it maneuver between China and the United States, and what is its role as a voice of the Global South? What opportunities exist for Washington to work with India? Join us for a timely discussion of this topic with Sugata Bose, Former Member of Parliament in India and Professor of Oceanic History and Affairs at Harvard University. This program will feature an expert presentation, live audience Q&amp;A, and time for networking and discussion with other globally-oriented participants. The program will be live-streamed to Zoom from 6:00-7:00 PM.&nbsp;<a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2826ITKfQQqy4s7PXMuSbA">To attend virtually, please register here.</a>

Chat & Chowder | Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare

Join us for this installment of our popular Chat &amp; Chowder series, featuring Senior Research Scholar and Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs, Edward Fishman. Mr. Fishman will discuss his new book "Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare." Chat &amp; Chowder programs are an excellent opportunity to engage with expert speakers and to network with other globally-oriented participants in an informal environment. Each event features a presentation, audience Q&amp;A, dedicated time for networking, and (of course!) a selection of chowders and beverages. Thanks to the generous support of <a href="https://lowellinstitute.org/about/">The Lowell Institute</a>, Chat &amp; Chowder is now free of charge for all participants (Zoom live-streams remain free as well). We sincerely appreciate The Lowell Institute’s commitment to our mission, as well as the support of our venue, Foley &amp; Lardner LLP. Please consider helping sustain this work by making a contribution <a href="https://www.worldboston.org/support-us">here</a>. This program will be streamed to Zoom from 6:15 to 7:15. <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KHOR5ZGiQw2skDqcP1buDA">To attend the program virtually, please register for the Zoom webinar here</a>. Advance registration is required. We cannot accommodate walk-ins for the in-person program. Edward Fishman is a leading authority on economic statecraft and sanctions. He teaches at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and is a senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy. He also advises companies on geopolitical strategy and invests in early-stage technology startups. Previously, he served at the U.S. State Department as a member of the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff, at the Pentagon as an advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and at the U.S. Treasury Department as special assistant to the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. His writing and analysis are regularly featured by outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, Politico, and NPR. He holds a BA in History from Yale, an MPhil in International Relations from Cambridge, and an MBA from Stanford. He lives with his wife and two children in New York City. The epic story of how America turned the world economy into a weapon, upending decades of globalization to take on a new authoritarian axis—Russia, China, and Iran. It used to be that ravaging another country’s economy required blockading its ports and laying siege to its cities. Now all it takes is a statement posted online by the U.S. government. In Chokepoints, Edward Fishman, a former top State Department sanctions official, takes us deep into the back rooms of power to reveal the untold history of the last two decades of U.S. foreign policy, in which America renounced the gospel of globalization and waged a new kind of economic war. As Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Ayatollah Khamenei wreaked havoc on the world stage, mavericks within the U.S. government built a fearsome new arsenal of economic weapons, exploiting America’s dominance in global finance and technology. Successive U.S. presidents have relied on these unconventional weapons to address the most pressing national-security threats, for good and for ill. Chokepoints provides a thrilling account of one of the most critical geopolitical developments of our time, demystifying the complex strategies the U.S. government uses to harness the power of Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and Big Oil against America’s enemies. At the center of the narrative is an eclectic group of policy innovators: the diplomats, lawyers, and financial whizzes who’ve masterminded America’s escalating economic wars against Russia, China, and Iran. Economic warfare has become the primary way the United States confronts international crises and counters rivals. Sometimes it has achieved spectacular success; other times, bitter failure. The result we live with today is a new world order: an economic arms race among great powers and a fracturing global economy. Chokepoints is the definitive account of how America pioneered this new, hard-hitting style of economic war—and how it’s changing the world.

Great Decisions with Dr. Daniel Drezner | U.S. Changing Leadership in the World's Economy

Under President Biden, the U.S. has advanced new ideas about trade, technology, industrial policy, competition with China, and the organization of the world economy. For most of the postwar era, the U.S. has tied its global leadership to cooperative agendas aimed at creating a more open-world trading system, but that has apparently come to an end. What are America’s options and opportunities as a leader of the world economy? How will America’s “foreign policy for the middle class” and strategic competition with China impact its leadership role? How can the postwar rules and institutions of the world economy be made safe for economic nationalism and great power competition? Join us for a timely discussion of this topic with&nbsp;Dr. Daniel Drezner, Distinguished Professor of International Politics and Associate Dean of Research at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. This program will feature an expert presentation, live audience Q&amp;A, and time for networking and discussion with other globally-oriented participants in the Newsfeed Café. This program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. The program will be live-streamed to Zoom from 6:00-7:00 PM.&nbsp;<a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4CVBmxIUSaK7HPmZKRH73g">To attend virtually, please register here.</a>

Rabb Hall, Boston Public Library

Great Decisions with Daniel Drezner|US Changing Leadership in World Economy

Under President Biden, the U.S. has advanced new ideas about trade, technology, industrial policy, competition with China, and the organization of the world economy. For most of the postwar era, the U.S. has tied its global leadership to cooperative agendas aimed at creating a more open-world trading system, but that has apparently come to an end. What are America’s options and opportunities as a leader of the world economy? How will America’s “foreign policy for the middle class” and strategic competition with China impact its leadership role? How can the postwar rules and institutions of the world economy be made safe for economic nationalism and great power competition? Join us for a timely discussion of this topic with Dr. Daniel Drezner, Distinguished Professor of International Politics and Associate Dean of Research at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. This program will feature an expert presentation, live audience Q&amp;A, and time for networking and discussion with other globally-oriented participants in the Newsfeed Café. This program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. The program will be live-streamed to Zoom from 6:00-7:00 PM. <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4CVBmxIUSaK7HPmZKRH73g">To attend virtually, please register here.</a>

Chat & Chowder with John Sullivan | Midnight in Moscow

Join us for this installment of our popular Chat &amp; Chowder series, featuring former Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan. Ambassador Sullivan will discuss his new book "Midnight in Moscow: A Memoir From The Front Lines Of Russia's War Against The West." Chat &amp; Chowder programs are an excellent opportunity to engage with expert speakers and to network with other globally-oriented participants in an informal environment. Each event features a presentation, audience Q&amp;A, dedicated time for networking, and (of course!) a selection of chowders and beverages. Thanks to the generous support of <a href="https://lowellinstitute.org/about/">The Lowell Institute</a>, Chat &amp; Chowder is now free of charge for all participants (Zoom live-streams remain free as well). We sincerely appreciate The Lowell Institute’s commitment to our mission, as well as the support of our venue, Foley &amp; Lardner LLP. Please consider helping sustain this work by making a contribution <a href="https://www.worldboston.org/support-us">here</a>. This program will be streamed to Zoom from 6:15 to 7:15. <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lOIdjAV6QhKF0HI3BzZDYw">To attend the program virtually, please register for the Zoom webinar here</a>. Advance registration is required. We cannot accommodate walk-ins for the in-person program.

Chat & Chowder | Midnight in Moscow

Join us for this installment of our popular Chat &amp; Chowder series, featuring former Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan. Ambassador Sullivan will discuss his new book "Midnight in Moscow: A Memoir From The Front Lines Of Russia's War Against The West." Chat &amp; Chowder programs are an excellent opportunity to engage with expert speakers and to network with other globally-oriented participants in an informal environment. Each event features a presentation, audience Q&amp;A, dedicated time for networking, and (of course!) a selection of chowders and beverages. Thanks to the generous support of <a href="https://lowellinstitute.org/about/">The Lowell Institute</a>, Chat &amp; Chowder is now free of charge for all participants (Zoom live-streams remain free as well). We sincerely appreciate The Lowell Institute’s commitment to our mission, as well as the support of our venue, Foley &amp; Lardner LLP. Please consider helping sustain this work by making a contribution <a href="https://www.worldboston.org/support-us">here</a>. This program will be streamed to Zoom from 6:15 to 7:15. <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lOIdjAV6QhKF0HI3BzZDYw">To attend the program virtually, please register for the Zoom webinar here</a>. Advance registration is required. We cannot accommodate walk-ins for the in-person program.

Great Decisions with Lt. Col. Thomas Kenney | AI and American National Security

Artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI, is often claimed as an emerging technology that will disrupt all facets of society. Join us for a timely discussion of this topic with&nbsp;Lt. Col. Thomas Kenney, outgoing commander of the 416th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) on Camp Pendleton North, San Diego, CA and Fellow at the Belfer Center. This program will feature an expert presentation, live audience Q&amp;A, and time for networking and discussion with other globally-oriented participants. This program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. The program will be live-streamed to Zoom from 6:00-7:00 PM.&nbsp;<a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a8cYfo6WTACZfrlLNq6BXg">To attend virtually, please register here.</a> Note: This event does not take place in the Boston Public Library. This event is taking place in the&nbsp;Eichenbaum Colloquium Room on the 1st floor of the Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences &amp; Engineering (CILSE) at 610 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston MA.

Eichenbaum Colloquium Room on the 1st floor of the Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences & Engineering (CILSE)

Great Decisions with Thomas Kenney | AI and American National Security

Artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI, is often claimed as an emerging technology that will disrupt all facets of society. Join us for a timely discussion of this topic with&nbsp;Lt. Col. Thomas Kenney, outgoing commander of the 416th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) on Camp Pendleton North, San Diego, CA and Fellow at the Belfer Center. This program will feature an expert presentation, live audience Q&amp;A, and time for networking and discussion with other globally-oriented participants. Lt. Col. Kenney&nbsp;will be introduced by WorldBoston Board Member&nbsp;Ann LaFrance. This program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. The program will be live-streamed to Zoom from 6:00-7:00 PM.&nbsp;<a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a8cYfo6WTACZfrlLNq6BXg">To attend virtually, please register here.</a> Note: This event does not take place in the Boston Public Library. This event is taking place in the&nbsp;Eichenbaum Colloquium Room on the 1st floor of the Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences &amp; Engineering (CILSE) at 610 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston MA.

Rajen Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences and Engineering

Great Decisions with Tim Ritchie | Science Across  Borders

Scientific advances benefit from collaboration between researchers, but what happens when material, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) is controversial and important to a nation’s national security? Is there a middle ground between sharing information and denying access? How can we regulate cooperation? Join us for a timely discussion of this topic with&nbsp;Tim Ritchie, President of the Museum of Science. This program will feature an expert presentation, live audience Q&amp;A, and time for networking and discussion with other globally-oriented participants. This program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. The program will be live-streamed to Zoom from 6:00-7:00 PM.&nbsp;<a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NydGx06XRSyP-BR1sv1VUw">To attend virtually, please register here.</a> Note: This event does not take place in the Boston Public Library. This event is taking place in the CDS Conference Center on the 17th Floor of the Boston University Center for Computing and Data Sciences.

CDS Conference Center, 17th Floor of the Boston University Center for Computing and Data Sciences 

Chat & Chowder with Joseph S. Nye, Jr. | A Life in the American Century

Join us for this installment of our popular Chat &amp; Chowder series, featuring Joseph S. Nye Jr., Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at Harvard University to discuss his book A Life in the American Century. Chat &amp; Chowder programs are an excellent opportunity to engage with expert speakers and to network with other globally-oriented participants in an informal environment. Each event features a presentation, audience Q&amp;A, dedicated time for networking, and (of course!) a selection of chowders and beverages. Thanks to the generous support of <a href="https://lowellinstitute.org/about/">The Lowell Institute</a>, Chat &amp; Chowder is now free of charge for all participants (Zoom live-streams remain free as well). We sincerely appreciate The Lowell Institute’s commitment to our mission, as well as the support of our venue, Foley &amp; Lardner LLP. Please consider helping sustain this work by making a contribution <a href="https://www.worldboston.org/support-us">here</a>. This program will be streamed to Zoom from 6:15 to 7:15. <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_t8e_F9nHTLeB99_An7gyWA">To attend the program virtually, please register for the Zoom webinar here.</a> Advance registration is required. We cannot accommodate walk-ins for the in-person program.

Pardee School, Riverside Room

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

worldboston

Experiences