James Fallows, national correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly, will be the first speaker in the 2009–10 Bridges to the Future series. Fallows, who’s lived in China for the past three years, will speak about the country’s role in the world and its future at 7 p.m. Sept. 21, in DU’s Newman Center for the Performing Arts.
“No other part of the world has been growing as fast or in as many ways as China has through the entire lifetimes of today’s American college students,” Fallows says. “Sometimes, Americans get into a big scare mentality and think that China is taking over the world and will own everyone’s future. I don’t think that’s the case — and I don’t think that the next generation of Americans needs to be ‘afraid’ of China. But it certainly is going to be a bigger factor in their lives than it has been for their parents or grandparents.”
During his 25-year career at The Atlantic Monthly, Fallows has written on a wide range of topics, including national security policy, American politics, the development and impact of technology, economic trends and patterns, and U.S. relations with the Middle East, Asia and other parts of the world.
“I think that being able to get this outside perspective on your own culture is a huge advantage for students in whatever role they end up playing,” he says. “Just as it has been important for people around the world to understand how America ticks to make sense of the U.S. impact on the world, it will make a big difference in the future prosperity, happiness, and excitement of today’s American college to feel comfortable about and tuned into what’s happening in China.”
Bridges to the Future was created in 2002 to build a framework of programs that stimulate civic dialog and discussion among Colorado communities. Events are scheduled in each of DU’s three academic quarters.
All Bridges to the Future events are free and open to the public but RSVPs are required. To RSVP, visit www.du.edu/bridges or call 303-871-2357. Free parking is available in the Newman Center parking garage. If you are unable to attend, live streaming will be offered at www.du.edu/bridges.