The following article was written by Tim Gadzinski, Marketing Associate at Manitowoc Public Library
We live in a turbulent world. That’s not political commentary—that’s just a simple fact.
Be it nationally or internationally, there are no simple answers, no easily-arrived-at solutions. Merely complex situations that intertwine with one another, creating a contemporary Gordian Knot that, at times, appears to shun any and all unravelling.
Domestic and foreign conflagrations, détentes, and maneuvering can be seen simultaneously playing themselves out everywhere—in traditional media, online, and, depending on where one is situated, even by looking out of one’s the window. Not in a scripted, reality television sort of way, but in a way that feels like a real-life cliffhanger, chock full of unexpected twists, turns, gut-wrenching surprises, and mind-boggling (sometimes, mind-numbing) developments and consequences.
Add into the mix that finding reliable sources is getting more and more difficult to come by. In an age where opinion—regardless of what one holds dear—has become more cherished than fact, plucking truths from the swirl of words that surrounds us has become arduous. Wherever you look, it’s a war of inherent biases squaring-up to do battle. It certainly seems as if latching onto the unadulterated truth has become more complicated than ever before.
Since the world has become a more compact, more interconnected place, it becomes abundantly clear that regardless of in which corner of the world an event transpires, the fallout affects all of us on our collective home fronts. Therefore, while our community may appear at first glance to be our immediate geographic area, a closer, more accurate look reveals that we’re part of the larger global community, too.
There is one place, nevertheless, where the quest for an ongoing comprehensive look at the larger picture can be found—the public library. Libraries remain safe havens open to everyone, warehouses of knowledge of every stripe. Just look at Manitowoc Public Library’s Mission Statement, which plainly spells out that we’re here to provide access to information. Through our “services we strive to foster an environment that meets the educational, recreational and cultural needs of the community.” Not just a portion of the community, but the entirety of it.
Regardless of what transpires on a global level or in the culture wars that constantly flare up, one rock-solid constant remains: knowledge is power. Because facts really do matter. Sourcing accurate information from unbiased sources matters. And conveying accurate facts always trumps the mere confirmation of biases.
There may be no better source of familiarising oneself with the activities and situations of importance taking place around the world than the ones addressed during the Great Decisions lecture series at Manitowoc Public Library.
It’s with more than a little pride that I can announce that Manitowoc Public Library will be presenting Great Decisions 2026, our twentieth consecutive year of hosting this preeminent eight-week grassroots lecture series.
Once again, we’ll be presenting Great Decisions 2026 in a hybrid format. All of the lectures—except for the very last presentation, which will be taking place exclusively online—will be taking place in-person in the Balkansky Community Room at 6 PM every Monday evening in February and March. They will also be simultaneously livestreamed on both our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/manitowoclibrary) and our YouTube channel. This way, anyone with a thirst for knowledge and an Internet connection that can’t be at MPL in-person will have the opportunity to discover, discuss, and decide how to meet some of the world’s greatest challenges head-on.
The best part is that every lecture will be live. In-person and online attendees will have a real-time experience. And, after each lecture, everyone has the opportunity to participate in the Q&A sessions that precede them. If someone is following along online, all they need to do is type a comment or question into the “Comments” box, hit “Send,” and I’ll convey what they have to say to that week’s expert.
The lecture specifics are as follows:
February 2 Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy, Pablo Toral, PhD, Beloit College
February 9 Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation, Martin Farrell, PhD, Ripon College (Retired)
February 16 U.S.-China Relations, Shale Horowitz, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
February 23 Ukraine and the Future of European Security, Yoshiko Herrera, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison
March 2 Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World, Amitabh Pal, Journalist/former Editor of The Progressive, Adjunct Professor at Edgewood College, Madison
March 9 America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy, Beth Dougherty, PhD, Beloit College
March 16 U.S. Engagement of Africa, Heinz Klug, S.J.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School
March 23 *ONLINE ONLY*: The Future of Human Rights and International Law, Alise Coen, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
It’s important to note that the Great Decisions series is a product of the Foreign Policy Association. This nonpartisan, non-profit organization has dedicated itself to a single cause—to increase American awareness of global affairs. In 1918, 141 Americans came together to support President Wilson and his efforts to achieve a just peace. This group was called the League of Free Nations Association. In 1923, they became the Foreign Policy Association, the name by which they are still known. Their mission was, and still is, to study all sides of international questions that may affect the U.S. In 1954, the first Great Decisions program was launched, and it’s still going strong sixty-nine years later.
Any discussion about Great Decisions wouldn’t be complete without expressing gratitude to all those who make it possible. The series is generously sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Manitowoc County, Manitowoc Public Library Foundation, Manitowoc Public Library, and Lakeshore Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Their continued support is appreciated tremendously. Should you feel so inclined to lend your financial support to the Great Decisions series, we would once again direct you to the program’s landing page (www.manitowoclibrary.org/events/great-decisions) where information regarding that possibility is readily available.
Whether you’ll be attending online or joining us in the Balkansky Room, we look forward to seeing you! It’s going to be another great year of Great Decisions!