The presentation was organized by the 麻豆原创 Global Perspectives Office and held during a special open meeting of 麻豆原创 LIFE. The program was part of the 2011-2012 theme, 鈥淧eople Power, Politics and Global Change.鈥�

In his overview of cross-strait relations, Kastner 鈥� an associate professor at the University of Maryland 鈥� outlined the historical impediments that have led to the current stalemate over Taiwan鈥檚 political status. Since the Chinese Nationalist Party, the Kuomintang, fled to the island in 1949 and established the Republic of China, there has been a struggle over whether the island is technically a part of the People鈥檚 Republic of China on the mainland, Kastner said.

Until recently, Taiwan鈥檚 internal debate over its political status had been a severe irritant to China, which considers the island a province. Kastner discussed how other countries, such as the United States, play a role in maintaining a precarious power balance in the region.

Taiwan鈥檚 current president, Ma Ying-jeou, has been able to ring in 鈥渁 new era of more constructive cross-strait relations with a policy of 鈥淭hree Noes鈥� 鈥� no unification, no independence and no use of force,鈥� Kastner said. Citing results of multiple national surveys, he indicated that many Taiwanese prefer the status quo, which leaves the question of the island鈥檚 status for future generations.

Taiwan鈥檚 presidential election Saturday may determine the course of future relations between the two governments, Kastner said.聽 Ma supports continuing the 鈥淭hree Noes鈥� policy, while opposition candidate Tsai Ing-wen fears Taiwan has grown too dependent on China in recent years.

One audience member, who referred to himself as a Chinese-American from Taiwan, underscored the importance of the election, and said he would be flying there this weekend to cast his vote.

Another audience member mentioned that, beyond politics, there is an unresolved question of identity, which is an emotional issue driving both sides that cannot be forgotten or overlooked.

In addition to the Global Perspectives Office and 麻豆原创 LIFE, sponsors and partners included the 麻豆原创 China-Taiwan Cross-Strait Program, C.T. Hsu and Associates, the 麻豆原创 Political Science Department, The Chinese American Scholars & Professionals Association of Florida, and the Global Connections Foundation.

Shadid, the former Baghdad bureau chief for the Washington Post, has been a foreign correspondent for The New York Times since December 2009. During his presentation, organized by the 麻豆原创 Global Perspectives Office, Shadid jumped among first-person tales from the frontlines in Egypt, Libya and Syria, and musings on the Middle East’s history.

Shadid painted a picture of what individuals are going through in the midst of Arab revolutions, and noted that he dislikes the term 鈥淎rab Spring,鈥� a popular reference to the region鈥檚 upheaval.

He said the revolutions are unprecedented in their transnational nature and that they are a product of globalization. For the first time, he said, they cross both physical and mental borders between countries due to youth-driven social media.

Shadid then spoke of the brutal days in March he spent as a prisoner of government soldiers in Libya. He contrasted that with a story of the enthusiastic spirit and new found sense of self he saw in the youth that gather in Syria’s streets by night. The Syrian people, he said, have passed the point of no return in their uprisings. They 鈥渉ave already liberated themselves,鈥� he said, because there is 鈥渘o more fear of the regime.鈥�

When asked a question about journalistic objectivity, Shadid responded that he doesn’t believe in it. While he stressed the importance of being fair, he said objectivity is used as an excuse to remove justice and righteousness from stories. If a journalist sees and experiences brutality from the government, he said, the journalist owes it to his or her readers to convey it; anything else leads to misunderstanding.

Although Shadid acknowledged that there will be danger, volatility and uncertainty in the Middle East and North Africa for the foreseeable future, he contends that there is reason for optimism. In the long term, according to Shadid, the region will benefit from the political changes that are taking place today.

Along with the Global Perspectives Office, sponsors and partners of Shadid鈥� s presentation included the 麻豆原创 Global Peace and Security Studies Program, the Sibille H. Pritchard Global Peace Fellowship Program, Lawrence J. Chastang and the Chastang Foundation, the 麻豆原创 Nicholson School of Communication, the Orlando Area Committee on Foreign Relations, LarsonAllen LLP, the 麻豆原创 Islamic Studies Program, the 麻豆原创 Diplomacy Studies Program, the 麻豆原创 Middle Eastern Studies Program, the 麻豆原创 Political Science Department, the 麻豆原创 International Services Center, the 麻豆原创 Book Festival 2012 in association with the Morgridge International Reading Center, 麻豆原创 LIFE and the Global Connections Foundation.

For a full list of upcoming events or to learn more about the Global Perspectives Office, visit .

鈥淎merica and the Rising Powers,鈥� held Oct. 28, focused on America鈥檚 evolving international role among emerging global leaders.

Hosted by the 麻豆原创 Global Perspectives Office, about 250 students, faculty, staff and members of the community, attended the event. The conference was part of a yearlong series of presentations on global peace and security.

Robert Sutter, a visiting professor of Asian Studies at Georgetown University鈥檚 School of Foreign Service, discussed the evolving relationship between the United States and China. Sutter said both governments can benefit from positive interaction and engagement, and that both countries are dependent on each other.

Shubhro Sen, co-founder and executive director of the Massachusetts-based Conscious Capitalism Institute spoke about India on the global stage. He said this millennium appears to be India鈥檚 time to shine.

鈥淚ndia wants a return to its place in the world, and many in India view it as a return to global primacy,鈥� Sen said.

Jo茫o Castro Neves, a founding partner of and analyst for CAC Political Consultancy, a Brazil-based political strategy and consulting organization, highlighted the country鈥檚 global ascent and its ties with the United States. He said Brazil and the United States have a sort of 鈥渂enign indifference鈥� to one another, but will have to deal with each other more substantially in the near future.

The United States鈥� relationship with Russia with an emphasis on arms control was discussed by Jack Mendelsohn, a member of the Arms Control Association鈥檚 board of directors.

In recent years, relations between the two powers have grown cold, he said. However, last year the two countries set to rebuild their relationship. A new nuclear agreement between the two countries to reduce nuclear weapons, 鈥淣ew Start鈥� is a 鈥渒ey component to U.S. and Russia relations,鈥� Mendelsohn said.

The conference鈥檚 keynote speaker, Paul Wolfowitz, former president of the World Bank, concluded the conference with a talk on the importance of peace.

Wolfowitz, who also served as Deputy Secretary of Defense under President George W. Bush, spoke about the role economic prosperity plays in stability. And although disagreements may arise among the powers, it鈥檚 important they be resolved calmly.

鈥淭here is no reason to repeat the sorry history of the past century,鈥� Wolfowitz said. 鈥淲e can maintain peace.鈥�

The conference was co-hosted by the National Conference of Editorial Writers and the Global Connections Foundation.

Other sponsors included 麻豆原创鈥檚 Student Government Association, Nicholson School of Communication, Global Peace and Security Studies Program, Diplomacy Program, Terrorism Studies Program, Political Science Department, International Services Center and China-Taiwan Cross-Strait Program. Additional sponsors are the India Program at 麻豆原创, 麻豆原创 LIFE, the Sibille H. Pritchard Global Peace Fellowship program, the Orlando Area Committee on Foreign Relations, C.T. Hsu International (Group) Co., Lawrence J. Chastang and The Chastang Foundation, The Anil and Chitra Deshpande Foundation and Larson Allen L.L.P.

鈥淎merica and the Rising Powers鈥� will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, in 麻豆原创鈥檚 Student Union. The conference, hosted by the 麻豆原创 Global Perspectives Office, is part of a yearlong series of presentations on global peace and security.

The international global issues forum will feature experts from around the world, including former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, who will give the keynote address on the United States鈥� relations with established and rising powers.

Other speakers include Robert Sutter, a visiting professor of Asian Studies at Georgetown University鈥檚 School of Foreign Service who will discuss American and Chinese relations, and Shubhro Sen, co-founder and executive director of the Massachusetts-based Conscious Capitalism Institute. Sen will speak about India on the global stage.

Joao Castro Neves, the founding partner of and analyst for CAC Political Consultancy, a Brazil-based political strategy and consulting organization, will highlight the country鈥檚 ascent and ties with the United States. Jack Mendelsohn, a member of the Arms Control Association鈥檚 board of directors, will give a presentation on the United States鈥� relationship with Russia with an emphasis on arms control.

The public is invited to attend the conference, and attendees must register by Thursday, Oct. 21. Registration is $50 per person. The fee includes breakfast, lunch, refreshments and conference materials, and it can be paid at the conference. The conference is free for 麻豆原创 students, but they must register in advance.

To register, contact the 麻豆原创 Global Perspectives Office at 407-823-0688 or global@mail.ucf.edu.

The National Conference of Editorial Writers and the Global Connections Foundation are also co-hosting the conference.

Other sponsors include 麻豆原创鈥檚 Student Government Association, Nicholson School of Communication, Global Peace and Security Studies Program, Diplomacy Program, Terrorism Studies Program, Political Science Department, International Services Center and China-Taiwan Cross-Strait Program. Additional sponsors are The India Program at 麻豆原创, 麻豆原创 LIFE, the Sibille H. Pritchard Global Peace Fellowship program, the Orlando Area Committee on Foreign Relations, C.T. Hsu International (Group) Co., Lawrence J. Chastang and The Chastang Foundation, The Anil and Chitra Deshpande Foundation and LarsonAllen L.L.P.

Organized by the 麻豆原创 Global Perspectives Office in a partnership with Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jay Garner, the forum will take place in the Pegasus Ballroom of the Student Union from 3 to 5 p.m. The event, which is free and open to the public, is part of the office鈥檚 annual focus on 鈥淲omen and Leadership: A Global Perspective.鈥�

Presentations will be given by actress Sarah Culberson, the Kurdistan Regional Government鈥檚 Zhala Sabir and the U.S. Institute of Peace鈥檚 Jacqueline H. Wilson. The forum will be moderated by Ambassador Harriet Elam-Thomas, director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Diplomacy Program.

Culberson appeared in television shows such as 鈥淪trong Medicine,鈥� 鈥淎ll of Us,鈥� 鈥淏oston Legal鈥� and 鈥淭he Secret Life of the American Teenager鈥� and in the film 鈥淎merican Dreamz.鈥� She learned later in life that she was from a royal family in Sierra Leone. After learning of the difficulties a brutal 11-year civil war inflicted on Sierra Leone鈥檚 people, she co-founded the Los Angeles-based Kposowa Foundation to help educate young people in Sierra Leone.

Sabir serves as the director of congressional and academic affairs for the Kurdistan Regional Government鈥檚 office in the United States. She oversees the office鈥檚 congressional and think tank outreach, following legislation, polices and reports relevant to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.聽 She is also the office鈥檚 point person on strengthening relations with U.S.-based research and academic institutions. Sabir previously worked for the Department of Foreign Relations of the Kurdistan Regional Government in its capital, Erbil. She also has served as a member of Iraq鈥檚 foreign service, with assignments in Baghdad and Ottawa, Canada.

Wilson is a senior program officer at the United States Institute of Peace鈥檚 Education and Training Center/International. Previously, she spent more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserves. Her military career included assignments in analysis, training and counterterrorism. She served overseas in the Middle East and Africa, and she was a Middle East foreign area officer. After Sept. 11, 2001, she was assigned to the U.S. embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, serving in the defense attach茅 and Kenya-U.S. liaison offices. She hosted Sudanese peace talks and was an international observer for Kenya鈥檚 elections in 2002.

In addition to the Global Perspectives Office and Gen. Garner, sponsors of this forum include Lawrence J. Chastang and the Chastang Foundation, the 麻豆原创 Diplomacy Program, the Sibille H. Pritchard Global Peace Fellowship program, the 麻豆原创 Global Peace and Security Studies Program, 麻豆原创 LIFE, the 麻豆原创 Political Science Department, the 麻豆原创 Women’s Research Center, the 麻豆原创 Women’s Studies Program and the Global Connections Foundation.

Giridharadas discussed his exploration of those ideas with nearly 200 attendees during a presentation Tuesday at the 麻豆原创.

The forum, part of the ongoing 2010-2011 India Speaker Series, was organized by the 麻豆原创 Global Perspectives Office. Giridharadas also made presentations at other community events during his visit to Orlando.

Giridharadas was the 罢颈尘别蝉鈥� first Bombay- based correspondent in modern times, beginning in 2005. He began writing the 鈥淟etters from India鈥� series three years later, and he is presently focused on 鈥淐urrents,鈥� a column focused on globalization and the increasing effects of technology. His first book, 鈥淚ndia Calling,鈥� is due out in January.

Giridharadas, who is of Tamil and Punjabi ancestry, grew up in Ohio and wasn鈥檛 interested in India as a young person. Short visits to his parents鈥� country of birth did not help, and he was guided by negative preconceptions, he said.

Later, though, after spending more time in India, he experienced an awakening. Most important and exciting, he said, was the realization that 鈥淚ndians were coming to believe that their destinies are in their own hands. They were coming to believe in the power of their own dreams.鈥�

Those dreams, he said, are what separate the past from the present and mark a stark contrast between the land his parents had left and the one to which he had returned.

It was in this context that Giridharadas elaborated on the 鈥渞ise鈥� that will make India a world leader. He noted that the next generation of Indians will be of major significance because they will provide a new model for globalization, challenging how Americans learn and being ambitious.

In addition, Giridharadas urged the audience to see India as an experiment, one that will have a major effect on international politics, economics and social organization. Democracy, cutthroat capitalism, pluralism and poverty are all factors in India that have the capacity to drastically alter the country鈥檚 path, he said.

鈥淓ven if you don鈥檛 care about India, you should care about its experiment, because it is, in so many ways, your experiment, too,鈥� said Giridharadas.

The sponsors of this event included the 麻豆原创 Global Perspectives Office, The India Program at 麻豆原创, The Anil and Chitra Deshpande India Program Endowed Fund, Lawrence J. Chastang and the Chastang Foundation, the Orlando Area Committee on Foreign Relations, 麻豆原创鈥檚 Political Science Department, 麻豆原创鈥檚 Nicholson School of Communication, 麻豆原创鈥檚 International Services Center, 麻豆原创 LIFE and the Global Connections Foundation.