Wprld Affairs Council of WNC

7 May 2013

"What's Next for Zimbabwe?"

Recent events in Zimbabwe -- a constitutional referendum and a national election this spring -- underscore the development, growth, and vulnerability of emerging democracies. Having muddled through several post-colonial challenges, what might Zimbabwe teach us about establishing civic institutions, nurturing political leadership, and expanding the political debate to include conflicting agendas and viewpoints? And all in an era of rapid world-wide technological and cultural change.

Susan Zelle, a retired Foreign Service Officer, spent much of her career in Africa promoting democracy, building civil society and encouraging observance of human rights. She served for 24 years as an American diplomat in Central America, Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East. She has worked in all of the foreign service fields--political, economic, military, consular, management, and public affairs--but was known for her political reporting on African affairs. Although retired, State Department continues to call her back for short postings as needed, including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Gambia, and Eritrea. With the exception of her stateside assignments, she has only accepted hardship posts, and specialized in countries in transition. She has just this spring returned from a trip to Zimbabwe and South Africa, thus many of her observations should be fresh and personal.

7:30 PM
Manheimer Room -- Reuter Center -- UNCA.
Co=Sponsored by OLLI & UNCA Dept. of Political Science

These programs are free to subscribing members of the World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina, joint WACWNC-OLLI members, and full time UNCA students. Admission is $8.00 for all others.

For further information call George Peery at (828) 242-6380 or email: gpeery@mhc.edu