By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
If you look in the history books, international relations between the United States and the countries of Vietnam, Germany and Japan have had dark periods of political axis when American was at war with each.
But if you look at modern international and strategic relationship, all three are among America’s most important economic partners and military allies in the world.
So it is fitting that the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan (WACWM) begins its 70th year of with a fall series titled “Global 2020: Three Strategic International Relationships”, where America’s relationship with Vietnam, Germany and Japan will each be focused on for a night.
The three evening presentations — Vietnam on Sept. 20, Germany on Oct. 8 and Japan on Oct. 29 — are scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Donnelly Center on the campus of Aquinas College.
“These three countries — Vietnam, Germany and Japan —all have obviously complicated historical relationships with the U.S.,” Michael Van Denend, WACWM executive director, said in supplied material. “But no one would deny the strategic importance of all three nations to U.S. foreign policy and trade today. We’re interested in discussing how the countries are currently collaborating.”
On Wednesday, Sept. 25, Ed Martini, associate provost at Western Michigan University and director of the school’s Extended University Programs, will speak on “Vietnam, the United States, and the Long Road to Peace.” Martini, a professor of history, has centered his research on Vietnam, and he is the author of “Agent Orange: History, Science, and the Politics of Uncertainty”.
Germany is the focus on Tuesday, Oct. 8, as the Consul General for Germany in the Midwest, Wolfgang Moessinger presents “Wunderbar Together: Germany and the U.S.” Consul Moessinger began his work in the Chicago Consulate this summer, after having served in numerous countries for the German government since 1991, including Senegal, Finland, Russia, Scotland, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine.
To close out the fall series, Japanese Consul General Tsutomu Nakagawa, the country’s chief representative in the Midwest and based in Detroit, will lead a conversation on “The Future of Japanese-U.S. Relations” on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Consul Nakagawa has served in India, Thailand and the Middle East, and has also been a senior advisor to the Japanese government for international trade policy.
All three presentations are open to the general public for a $10 fee and additional information is available at worldmichigan.org/fall2019 or by calling 616-776-1721. The Aquinas College Donnley Center is located at 157 Woodland Lane S.E., Grand Rapids. Free parking is available at the center.
The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan is located at 1700 Fulton Street E., Grand Rapids, For more information visit worldmichigan.org .
