International/Foreign Policy

Guides to Dialogue & Deliberation

By the People: Americans' Role in the World

2003. National Issues Forums.

Powerful and prosperous, yet neither entirely secure nor universally liked, Americans are uncertain about their role in the world in the twenty-first century. This issue book presents four perspectives on the question of what kind of world we want our children and grandchildren to live in. This nonpartisan guide used for citizen deliberations is available for $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html. For more info about the project, go to www.by-the-people.org.

Choices Curriculum for Teaching about International Issues

Choices curriculum materials are used in a range of courses including U.S. history, world history, global studies and government. A few recent titles are: The U.S. Role in a Changing World; Indian Independence and the Question of Pakistan; Keeping the Peace in an Age of Conflict: Responding to Terrorism: Challenges for Democracy; Shifting Sands: Balancing U.S. Interests in the Middle East. At the heart of each unit is a range of contrasting policy options. By exploring a spectrum of alternatives, students are better able to articulate their own views on pressing international issues. Order teacher sets or student texts at http://store.yahoo.com/choices-education/ or print the order form at www.choices.edu/order/classform.pdf. Teacher sets can also be downloaded for a fee at www.choices.edu.

Constructive Conversations for Challenging Times: A Guide for Community Dialogue.

2003. Public Conversations Project.

Originally developed in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 to help people convene and facilitate constructive conversations about the crisis. Includes dialogue question sets developed for the first anniversary of September 11, 2001 and the war in Iraq. A guide to family dialogue is also available. Available in pdf format and MS Word format at www.publicconversations.org.

Conversations About Our Post-September 11 World: A Guide for Family Dialogue.

2001. Public Conversations Project.

Designed to help families and other loved ones talk about the events of September 11. Available in pdf format and MS Word format at www.publicconversations.org.

Globalization: Fear or Promise? A Public Deliberation Guide

2001. National Issues Forums.

This guide deals with issues related to globalization?one of the most significant forces affecting the United States today. The pace of global change?political, technological, economic and environmental?has greatly increased in recent years. Societies and economies around the world are becoming increasingly integrated, and new technologies are altering the way we work and the way we live. As Americans, we are being affected in many ways, some of which we are just beginning to realize. Our jobs and businesses, our environment and the future of our society are all increasingly linked to globalization. This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.

Facing the Future: How Should We Move Forward After September 11?

2002. Study Circles Resource Center (SCRC).

A five-session discussion guide to help people talk about the impact of 9/11 in their community, examine the cause of terrorism, and find ways to work together as a community. Download for free at www.studycircles.org/pages/pub.html or complete the order form at www.studycircles.org/pdf/orderform.pdf.

Mission Uncertain: Reassessing America's Global Role

1995. National Issues Forums.

In what seems like an instant, the world changed in 1989. The Berlin Wall collapsed and Russia embraced democracy. The new world was utterly confusing, but refreshing in that the United States could stop playing the costly and nerve-racking Cold War chess game of containing communism and deterring nuclear war. The end of the Cold War did not bring peace to the world, but it brought some peace of mind and new opportunities that Americans are still absorbing. This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.

Terrorism: What Should We Do?

2002. National Issues Forums issue book.

On September 11, the curtain came up on a troubling new world, filled with danger. In one awful day, the nation?s self-confident mood and its public agenda were turned on their head. A threat that had been waiting in the wings moved to center stage. Since then, terrorism has been public issue #1. Deciding what to do about it, and how to regain a measure of our national security, is now the chief preoccupation of elected officials and the American public. This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.

U.S. Policy Toward Post-War Iraq: What Shall We Do?

2002. Study Circles Resource Center (SCRC).

A single-session guide to help communities talk about this issue in a single, 2-hour session. Download for free at www.studycircles.org/pages/pub.html or complete the order form at www.studycircles.org/pdf/orderform.pdf.

Democracy's New Challenge: Globalization, Governance, and the Future of American Democracy.

Demos publishes original research and timely analysis of policy issues. Their publications introduce new ideas, help reframe political debates and provide factual information to policymakers, advocates, and grassroots reformers across the U.S. Downloadable at http://demos-usa.org/demos/Pubs/.

The People Speak

A public education effort to stimulate a national debate about the future of U.S. foreign policy. Multiple sponsors include the United Nations Foundation, the League of Women Voters, the Jesse Helms Center, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Approximately 1000 debates were scheduled to be held across the country in October, 2003 on America?s role in the world. Detailed debate kits are among the downloadable materials offered on the site.

www.jointhedebate.org

A Public Voice '03: Terrorism

Each year, many public TV stations around the nation air an hour-long program that features American citizens deliberating in National Issues Forums around the nation, and a distinguished panel of nationally-known political leaders, commentators and journalists meeting at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. to reflect on what this ?public voice? may mean in setting direction for America. Tapes of these programs (produced by Milton B. Hoffman Productions) are available for $6.50 each. To order, email Ruffolo at .

Terrorism: What Should We Do Now? - Results from Citizen Forums

2003. National Issues Forums.

A report on the outcome of forums held across the nation on this issue, involving nearly 2,000 people in 40 states around the country. Making use of participants' answers to Pre- and Post-Forum Questionnaires, reports from moderators, and in-depth studies of selected forums, these reports describe in some detail what happened as people deliberated about the issue at hand. These reports range from 20 to 48 pages and cost $3.00 (or download free at www.nifi.org). To order, email Ruffolo at or call 800-600-4060.

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