Past Council Events
Berlin 1961: Kennedy, Khrushchev and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth
Drawing from a wealth of new documents and interviews, Atlantic Council President and former Wall Street Journal editor-journalist Fred Kempe offers a new look at one of the epic dramas of the Cold War— Berlin in 1961—and its lessons for today. Read More ››
Algerian Pop Now! Hip Hop, pop music, dance and drumming from North Africa
The World Affairs Council of Oregon and Ethos Music Center's AmeriCorps Program present ALGERIAN POP NOW! An early evening showcase of Hip Hop, "L'autre rap algerien," dance, pop music and drumming. Featuring members of legendary Algerian Hip Hop group T.O.X. (Theory of Existence). Event is all ages and no cover. Read More ››
Modern Direct Democracy in Switzerland and the American West
This program-one part of an extensive series in California, Oregon, and Arizona—offers a rare opportunity for direct cultural and conversational exchanges on how to make direct democracy work better, in and beyond Oregon. Read More ››
The Syrian Uprising: The Long Road to Democracy
Join Radwan Ziadeh (a leading voice and one of the major players in the “Damascus Spring”) for an eye-opening look at the recent events and the historic and political context underpinning the current democratic revolution in Syria. Read More ››
The Irish Hunger Strike: 30 Years On
The 30th anniversary of the dramatic year when 10 men died protesting the withdrawal of political prisoner status for Irish nationalists will be commemorated by a public lecture and exhibit at Portland City Hall. Read More ››
Crossing Centuries: A 1953 African road trip anticipates the shape of things to come
Irene Tinker recounts her journey by car (from Mombasa to London) across colonial Africa, circa 1953, during a pivotal period when colonialism was beginning to falter and East Africa was on the road to independence. Read More ››
The Theater of Cultural Diplomacy: A Director’s Notes from Pakistan
Allen Nause, Producing Artistic Director of Portland’s Artist Repertory Theatre, talks about his recent experiences directing and teaching theater in Pakistan as a US Cultural Envoy and why, now more than ever, cultural diplomacy matters. Read More ››
D-Day for the Debt Ceiling: What are we fighting about and what does victory mean?
August 2 is the day the Treasury Department is scheduled to run out of borrowing authority unless Congress raises the federal debt ceiling. Join Lewis & Clark College economist Martin Hart-Landsberg for a lively look at the nuts and bolts of the debt-ceiling debate and critical evaluation of what lies ahead for our economy. Read More ››