World Affairs Council of Atlanta

09/15/2026

We’re just one day away and excited to announce that Rana Shabb, Associate Director, Middle East & Data and Analysis, The Carter Center, has joined tomorrow’s conversation on Syria!

Join the Council for a timely conversation on Syria’s transformation, regional implications, and future trajectory.

Don’t miss this free virtual program.

Register now:

What lies ahead for Syria and the broader Middle East? Former senior CIA intelligence officer Jeffrey S. Sanow explores Syria's political transition, regional dynamics, and prospects for stability in a timely discussion on one of the region's most important challenges.

09/15/2026

Introducing our Student Assistant Spotlight.

Each week, we’re highlighting one of the talented students who help support the World Affairs Council of Atlanta and the work behind our programs.

For Week 1, meet Erin Fox. Erin studies International Relations at Agnes Scott College, where she serves as Student Government Vice President and works as an admissions ambassador and orientation leader. She brings her interests in international affairs, leadership, and community engagement to her work with the Council.

Outside of school and work, Erin is a big New York Yankees fan and enjoys walking the Atlanta Beltline with friends.

09/14/2026

For 25 years, the War on Terror has been one of the most consequential periods in American foreign policy.

Across four presidential administrations, decisions made regarding Iraq, Afghanistan, and the broader mission to fight global terrorism have had far-reaching effects both at home and abroad.

Join author and national security analyst Peter Bergen for a look at the decisions that defined this era.

Free virtual program. RSVP here: https://ctwac.org/event/all-the-presidents-wars-worldnow/

09/10/2026

What does diplomacy look like when the stakes could not be higher?

In Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7th Hostages, Brett McGurk offers a firsthand account of fifteen months of negotiations to free the hostages and secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

McGurk, who served as a senior national security advisor under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump, brings nearly two decades of experience in U.S. diplomacy, foreign policy, and military strategy to the story.

Hear directly from McGurk during this special virtual WorldNow conversation. WorldNow is in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Connecticut.

Free virtual event. Register on our website

09/09/2026

Space has become a critical arena for global competition, diplomacy, and technological leadership. Join Georgia Tech’s Thomas González Roberts, Assistant Professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech, who will explore how space policy intersects with global power competition, emerging technologies, commercial innovation, and international law.

You don’t want to miss this: link on our website

09/09/2026

The World Affairs Council of Atlanta is proud to recognize The Carter Center for supporting our upcoming conversation with former U.S. Senator and U.S. Ambassador Jeff Flake.

At a time of significant global change, discussions about how America engages with the world are more important than ever. Thanks to partners like The Carter Center, we can continue bringing distinguished voices and meaningful dialogue to Atlanta.

Join us September 28 for this engaging discussion on Congress and American foreign policy.

📸 Register today: https://www.wacatlanta.org/event-details-registration/congress-and-american-foreign-policy-u-s-engagement-in-a-shifting-global-landscape

09/07/2026

25 years after the War on Terror began, its consequences continue to shape countries across the globe.

Over this past quarter century, four American presidents have made consequential decisions that transformed American foreign policy, domestic policy, and political realities from Iraq to Afghanistan.

Join author and national security analyst Peter Bergen for an analysis of this pivotal period in American history, drawing on his new book, All the Presidents' Wars.

09/03/2026

The October 7th hostage crisis reshaped the Middle East — and few people were closer to the negotiations that followed than Brett McGurk.

A former White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa and national security advisor to three U.S. presidents, McGurk takes readers inside the high-stakes diplomacy in his new book, Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7th Hostages.

Join us for a virtual conversation with McGurk about the negotiations, difficult decisions, and race against time to secure a hostage deal and ceasefire. WorldNow is in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Connecticut.

Free virtual event. Register on our website.

09/03/2026

Council members recently joined Jon Birdsong of S**o Atlanta for an exclusive tour of South Downtown - ATL, exploring historic buildings, local restaurants and retailers, and exciting redevelopment projects shaping the future Atlanta.

Check out our favorite photos and read the full event recap to learn more about one of Atlanta's most dynamic neighborhoods.

🔗 Read the recap and view the photo gallery:
https://www.wacatlanta.org/post/the-heart-of-atlanta-exploring-south-downtown-s-renewal

08/31/2026

Great leaders face difficult choices.

Explore how Churchill and Kennedy navigated some of history's most dangerous moments and what their experiences can teach us about today's world.

🎟️ Free registration:

As geopolitical tensions rise and global challenges multiply, the experiences of Winston Churchill and John F. Kennedy offer valuable lessons for today. Join us for a conversation on leadership, alliances and the challenges facing democratic nations in a changing world.