Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs

About the DSP  

The Distinguished Speakers Program each year features presentations by sixteen distinguished authorities on foreign affairs.

The Program is comprehensive with respect to major contemporary issues and geography, and is sensitive to the underpinnings of American foreign policy. The program is evenhanded, balanced, and does not take a position on the issues presented. About half the speakers are Americans and half non-Americans. Past programs have included George Bush, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Edward Teller, Jeanne Kirkpatrick, Caspar Weinberger, Paul Nitze, Sam Nunn, Anthony Lake, Strobe Talbott, Norman Augustine, NATO Supreme Allied Commander General Wesley Clark, and the ambassadors of over sixty nations.

Programs are held in downtown Baltimore, usually in the World Trade Center. The 6:00 p.m. - 7:10 p.m. addresses are preceded by a wine and cheese reception that begin at 5:15 p.m. Members and non-members are cordially invited to attend.  Attendance is free for members. Guests of members may attend for a fee of $20.  Non-members may attend for a fee of $25.  Reservations are required for every program.

Professor John J. Mearsheimer - September 2012

Mr. Kenneth Wollack - June 2012

Congressman Ruppersberger - June 2012

Ambassador Robert Ford - April 2012

Panel Discussion - February 2012

Ambassador Almeida - November 2011

Archived Videos

The ultimate purpose of the Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs is to help ensure that Baltimore has a comprehensive international affairs educational program. Its basic objective is to provide activities to meet the needs of each of its audiences. Among its more specific objectives are:

• providing for the discussion of current international affairs issues among attentive citizens and the internationally oriented professional community
• increasing community participation in international affairs
• increasing the number of community members seriously interested in international affairs
• raising the general level of community education vis-a-vis international affairs
• providing a meeting ground for Baltimore and national leaders, especially on international issues critical to the region
• ensuring the regular presence of American and foreign leaders and respected commentators in Baltimore
• improving information for local decision making
• fostering policy analysis of key local issues
• enhancing the quality of present and future Baltimore leadership
• invigorating the community's internationalist environment
• improving the functioning of the community by identifying its international education needs and providing a complete and coordinated response to those needs
• institutionalizing a comprehensive international affairs program that contributes to and demonstrates the vitality of a resurgent intellectually alive Baltimore; and that is aware of its national and international roles.