Social Sciences   

Over the past sixteen years, democracy has declined in all parts of the world, as populist leaders have promised easy solutions for complex challenges facing everyday people. From Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, to Xi Jinping in China, and Vladimir Putin in Russia, as well as in many other countries around the world, authoritarian rule has flourished. Questions remain about the future of democracy and if it is still the best model for today. Join Tim Horgan, Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire, to explore the state of democracy today, why strong democracies around the world are still important, and how they impact New Hampshire residents.

In this course, we will see photos of the beautiful faces of diversity in our communities, as well as images of immigrants in their daily activities. With over 60 countries of origin among N.H. residents, photographer Becky Field has traveled throughout the state to document cultural, ethnic and religious diversity. She also interviewed and recorded journey stories of immigrants who had to leave their countries to find a new home in the Granite State. We will read some of those stories and hear the voices of immigrants so that we can better understand the opportunities as well as the challenges that families face when they have to adjust to a new life in a strange land. Some came fleeing violence, some came for jobs or education, some came because they fell in love with a New Englander. The class participants will also be invited to share about their families' ethnic background. Discussion will focus on how we can be welcoming to the "other," both as individuals and as a community.

Developed by the Foreign Policy Association to promote understanding of American Foreign Relations, "Great Decisions" provides the perfect opportunity to learn about issues concerning U.S. policymakers today and pose foreign policy challenges for tomorrow. Read, watch, and join the discussion. The current topics for this year can be explored at https://www.fpa.org/great_decisions/?act=gd_topics. Please note, you must obtain the most current edition of the Great Decisions Book on your own. Can be purchased online from Foreign Policy Association www.greatdecisions.org.

Have you dreamed of starting your own company in N.H.?  This course is for you! Topics covered will include (1) the importance of business plans: (2) personal qualities needed for a successful business; (3) whether your business should have only one owner or two or more owners; (4) should your business be a sole proprietorship, a business corporation, an LLC or something else? (5) what you need to know about LLC law and tax and about LLC certificates of formation and operating agreements; (6) what should be the federal tax regimen of your business; (7) New Hampshire taxes on businesses and their owners and how to lawfully avoid these taxes. 

What is it really like to work for the Central Intelligence Agency in an age of changing global conditions? Rollie Flynn, a retired senior CIA executive, will give insights from her 30-year career as an undercover case officer, chief of station, and senior leader of CIA global counterterrorism operations. Topics will cover what’s new and old in Intelligence operations, how Intelligence priorities and tradecraft have changed in the 21st Century, new threats from both traditional and non-traditional adversaries, the potential for politicization of CIA activities, increased scrutiny by Congress and the media, and ethical dilemmas inherent to all Intelligence operations.

Beginning with the Torah, we find Jewish prayers for and teachings on healing throughout Jewish history. Some prayers and teachings appear in traditional sources, such as the Bible, Talmud, and Midrash (rabbinic interpretations of Biblical text). Others are found in folklore and stories. Regardless of the source, Judaism's message is consistent: While we pray to God to bring healing, it is up to us to provide the love, support, and even treatments. Come learn about this rich tradition.

Words have all kinds of special powers - as representation, promises, lies, stories, profanity, and more. How do we know what language is "doing" in any given context? What are or should be the ethical principles around language in these areas? We will look at theories about the relation of language to "reality" and whether language is one thing or many. We will explore ethical theories about when "lying" is and is not permitted. We'll ask whether we should have special rules for certain words that are considered profane or racist or threatening even when they are far from immediate action. We will consider theories from a variety of philosophical or even spiritual perspectives. As a group we can identify other areas of ethical interest.

This course is designed to show homeowners how they can limit their energy costs by using various cost-effective measures including being efficient (using only as much energy as is needed for the task), converting all fossil fuel combustion to electric motors, and converting to a sustainable energy source.. This course will profile five high-performance homes, examines the features they have in common that make them energy efficient, and outline how others may achieve similar results in a retrofit of an existing home. We will also discuss how new federal tax credits through the inflation Reduction Act offer incentives for strategies covered in during the course. No previous knowledge is required.

This four-session course shows how to use philosophy to address urgent contemporary ethical questions.  The course focuses above all on a revolutionary new feminist ethical theory called “the duty of care.” 

Diversity is a popular topic these days. But many say that diversity is difficult to achieve. Others diversity is not an issue here in New Hampshire. Bring your questions about diversity and hear our presenter James McKim lead a fascinating discussion about how New Hampshire and the United States are grappling with diversity in institutions and organizations. Suggested, but not required, reading is the presenter’s book, The Diversity Factor: Igniting Superior Organizational Performance, ISBN 9798809873321.

Few parts of the United States Constitution are more controversial today than the Second Amendment guaranteeing the right to bear arms. This lecture will introduce audiences to the origins of the Second Amendment, including the role of the militia in revolutionary America and what the right to bear arms did and did not mean. Although the focus will be on the amendment's early history, it will conclude with some remarks about how its meaning has evolved in the two centuries since it was ratified.

Our founding fathers knew that truth is essential for democracy to flourish. George Washington believed, “Truth will ultimately prevail where pains are taken to bring it to light.” Benjamin Franklin warned, “We have given you a republic if you can keep it.” However, a MIT study determined that Twitter falsehoods spread 6 times faster than truth. Since 1980, increasing income inequality has contributed to more political polarization. Could better tax policies help to solve this problem? Pope Francis “Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home” enjoined us to stop plundering our planet because the poor suffer the most. Climate extremes are increasing. What can we do right now to stop global warming?