World Affairs Council Tacoma

06/06/2026

On May 27th, 2026, Dr. Patrick O'Neil explored possible trajectories—intensified repression, elite reconfiguration, prolonged instability, and liberalization—and discussed the ability of future regime to resolve Iran's internal contradictions.

Iran’s future domestic politics are likely to be shaped less by the...

05/29/2026

WACT Book Club

A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell
Time & Location
Jun 25, 2026, 7:00 PM

Zoom

About the event
The gripping, deeply researched life of Virginia Hall—the American with a prosthetic leg who built Resistance networks, outfoxed the Gestapo, and helped change the course of WWII. Purnell follows Hall from early rejections to frontline sabotage and a death-defying escape over the Pyrenees, restoring a legend to the record with novelistic drive.

***Our events are free to attend, but not free to produce. If you value these conversations, please consider supporting our mission by making a donation through our Support Our Work page.***

05/26/2026

RSVP Now at wactacoma.com if you are concerned about the following issues:

Can the US war on Iran make any significant changes to the socio-political regime in Iran? What is to come next with the domestic politics in Iran? What would the Islamic regime of Iran look like post Ali Khamenei and during his son's leadership?

Patrick O'Neil, the Distinguished Professor of Politics and Government at the University of Puget Sound, and an expert in Shiism and Iran analyzes Iran’s future domestic politics, examining structural tensions, fragmented opposition, elite competition, and post-Khamenei trajectories.

Time & Location
May 27, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Bellarmine Preparatory School, 2300 S Washington St, Tacoma, WA 98405

***Our events are free to attend but not free to produce. If you value these conversations, please consider supporting our mission by making a donation through our Support Our Work page.***

05/23/2026

Last Call: RSVP NOW! at WACTACOMA.COM

May 27, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Bellarmine Preparatory School, 2300 S Washington St, Tacoma, WA 98405

After the War: The Future of Domestic Politics in Iran
This talk analyzes Iran’s future domestic politics, examining structural tensions, fragmented opposition, elite competition, and post-Khamenei trajectories.

Iran’s future domestic politics are likely to be shaped less by the war’s outcome than by preexisting structural tensions. This includes a fragmented opposition, ethnic tension, and elite competition and corruption in a post-Khamenei landscape. This talk explores possible trajectories—intensified repression, elite reconfiguration, prolonged instability, and liberalization—and will discuss the ability of future regime to resolve Iran's internal contradictions.

Patrick O'Neil is the Distinguished Professor of Politics and Government at the University of Puget Sound. His current research interests focus on the Middle East, particularly Iran, Israel and Palestine. In addition to his research in those areas, he has also written and co-written several widely used textbooks in the field of comparative politics.

***Our events are free to attend but not free to produce. If you value these conversations, please consider supporting our mission by making a donation through our Support Our Work page.***

05/20/2026

Consequences of Trump's Foreign Policy: Iran, Ukraine, NATO
by Dr. Thomas Preston
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On April 28, 2026, Dr. Thomas Preston is C. O. Johnson Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Washington State University and a specialist in security policy, foreign affairs, and political psychology, examined the direction of U.S. foreign policy and global engagement in a period of heightened international tension. It will consider how U.S. actions and commitments related to Iran, Ukraine, and its alliance with NATO are shaping strategic priorities and perceptions of American leadership.

05/19/2026

RSVP at wactacoma.com

WACT Book Club

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway

Time & Location
May 28, 2026, 7:00 PM

05/15/2026

RSVP at wactacoma.com

WACT Speaker Series

After the War: The Future of Domestic Politics in Iran

This talk analyzes Iran’s future domestic politics, examining structural tensions, fragmented opposition, elite competition, and post-Khamenei trajectories.

Time & Location
May 27, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Bellarmine Preparatory School, 2300 S Washington St, Tacoma, WA 98405

***Our events are free to attend, but not free to produce. If you value these conversations, please consider supporting our mission by making a donation through our Support Our Work page.***

05/14/2026

“A lot of Germans are concerned that this war is in support of the former Iranian elite”

Dr. Johann J Reusch
Associate Professor at UWT Social Sciences

Watch the full video on our
website or Youtube channel:

website: wactacoma.com
Youtube:

05/14/2026

RSVP at WACTACOMA.COM

Time & Location
May 28, 2026, 7:00 PM
Zoom

***Our events are free to attend, but not free to produce. If you value these conversations, please consider supporting our mission by making a donation through our Support Our Work page.***