Iowa City Foreign Relations Council

City of Iowa City

Audio podcast of the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council meetings from the City of Iowa City's City Channel 4.

Episodes

  1. 10/09/2025

    ICFRC - Kosovo's Cultural Survival Through Literature and Education

    Vlora Konushevci is a poet, translator, and essayist from Kosovo whose work spans the literary, cultural, and linguistic bridges of the Balkan region. She is the author of the acclaimed poetry collection Lavdi Vetes, a bold exploration of selfhood and identity. As editor and translator, she has curated two notable bilingual anthologies Poetry Without Borders (Albanian-Serbian), which fosters dialogue across historical divides, and Magma (Albanian-English), introducing Albanian voices to a broader international readership. She also published a short-story collection Martesat, valixhet dhe ngarkesat e tjera (Marriages, suitcases and other burdens) in 2025, a spare, unsentimental portrait of post-war Kosovo. With quiet irony and tight, clear prose, Konushevci turns departures, waiting rooms, and half-open doors into acts of witness and stubborn survival. Her poetry and translations have appeared in a range of respected literary journals including The Common, Songs of Eretz, and European Literature Network.Konushevci has received multiple literary awards for her original work and is a respected voice in Kosova's cultural press. Beyond her creative contributions, she serves as a certified translator for both national and international institutions, playing a key role in intercultural communication and diplomacy. Her participation in this program is made possible through the generous support of the University of lowa's Office of the Vice President for Research and the Graduate College.Presented in partnership with Oaknoll.For more information about the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, visit icfrc.org. To watch other ICFRC programs, please view our extensive collection at citychannel4.com/icfrc.

    51 min
  2. 05/15/2025

    ICFRC - Flashpoint? Taiwan, China, and the United States

    The 100-mile-wide Taiwan Strait, which separates the small democratic island of Taiwan from the People's Republic of China, has emerged as one of the world's most volatile geopolitical flashpoints. As tensions between China and the United States continue to rise, the risk of conflict-either deliberate or accidental-has become a subject of serious concern. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control. President Xi Jinping has directed the People's Liberation Army to be ready for a possible invasion of Taiwan by 2027. Meanwhile, the United States continues its long-standing "One China" policy, accompanied by a deliberately vague stance of "Strategic Ambiguity" -- a posture that has left key questions about American military intervention unanswered. Former President Biden publicly declared that the U.S. would defend Taiwan in the event of an attack, though those remarks were later tempered by his staff. Adding to the stakes, Taiwan plays an outsized role in the global economy: a single Taiwanese company manufactures over 90% of the world's most advanced microchips-components that power everything from smartphones to artificial intelligence systems. This presentation examines the underlying interests of the United States, China, and Taiwan; the potential pathways to conflict; and the far-reaching consequences for global security, diplomacy, and technology.Featured speaker: Ron McMullen Ambassador Ronald McMullen is a career diplomat with over 30 years of service as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. He has lived, worked, or traveled in more than 100 countries and brings a wealth of global experience to discussions of international relations, diplomacy, and strategic conflict.Known for his captivating storytelling and deep insight, Ambassador McMullen brings global complexity into focus and makes the most pressing international issues accessible and compelling for public audiences. He is a native of Northwood, lowa, and holds a doctorate in political science from the University of lowa.Presented in partnership with Oaknoll.For more information about the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, visit icfrc.org. To watch other ICFRC programs, please view our extensive collection at citychannel4.com/icfrc.

    1h 8m

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5 Ratings

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Audio podcast of the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council meetings from the City of Iowa City's City Channel 4.

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