http://illinois.edu/lb/imageList/391 The Office of International Programs and Studies brings you these brief interviews with visiting diplomats and faculty experts discussing issues of international import. Interested in finding a faculty member with expertise in an area of international import? Contact IPS at (217) 333-6104 or by email at int-eng-prot@uiuc.edu. http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/74187 General http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/74187 Wed, 08 May 2013 08:00:00 CDT Global Viewpoint Dr. S. Ismat Shah, winner of the 2012 Sheth International Alumni Achievement Award, discusses his humanitarian work, his advocacy of alternative energy, and other important topics. http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/72625 General http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/72625 Wed, 27 Mar 2013 08:00:00 CDT Global Viewpoint Maimouna Barro (above), associate director of the Center for African Studies, discusses themes covered in the conference "Peace Building in West Africa: Looking for Answers," held recently at Illinois. http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/70273 General http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/70273 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:00:00 CST Global Viewpoint Professor Damarys Canache discusses Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's (above) health issues and their potential impact on the future of the Latin American nation prior to his death March 5. http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/69819 Academic http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/69819 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 08:00:00 CST Global Viewpoint UI History Professor Ken Cuno discusses the recent protests in Egypt against President Muhammad Mursi (above, courtesy UK) and the constitutional referendum which began Dec. 15. http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/68155 Craig Chamberlain General http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/68155 Mon, 22 Oct 2012 08:00:00 CDT Global Viewpoint European Union Center Director Bryan Endres, discusses the EU receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in an interview with News Bureau social sciences editor Craig Chamberlain. http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/67677 Craig Chamberlain General http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/67677 Mon, 08 Oct 2012 08:00:00 CDT Global Viewpoint Nuclear war seemed a very real possibility 50 years ago this month, as the U.S. confronted the Soviet Union over its placement of nuclear missiles in communist and (above) Fidel Castro-led Cuba. Prof. Ned O'Gorman examined the strategic Cold War thinking of key U.S. leaders during the decade prior to the Cuban crisis in his recent book "Spirits of the Cold War." O'Gorman discusses this confrontation, and the modern example in Iran, in an interview with News Bureau social sciences editor Craig Chamberlain. http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/66174 General http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/66174 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:00:00 CDT Global Viewpoint The Aug. 23 shooting at a Sikh temple near Milwaukee and other hate crimes aimed at Sikhs in the U.S. since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks suggest, many Westerners know little about the Sikh people and their beliefs, even though Sikhism is the worlds fifth largest religion with an estimated 30 million followers. UI Professor Pradeep Dhillon, a scholar of global aesthetics and ethics, who is a Sikh, recently spoke with News Bureau reporter Sharita Forrest about the philosophies of Sikhism and its cultural practices. (Above is the Harmandir Sahib, a well-known Sikh Temple in Amritsar, India. Credit: Diego Delso) http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/64911 General http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/64911 Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:00:00 CDT Global Viewpoint The leaders of China, Japan (above, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda), and South Korea agreed to start negotiations this year on a free-trade accord between three of Asias four biggest economies. Joseph L.C. Cheng is a professor of business at Illinois and an expert in international business. Cheng spoke with News Bureau reporter Phil Ciciora about what the proposed China-Japan-South Korea free-trade agreement would mean for the U.S. and the global economy. http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/64427 General http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/64427 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 08:00:00 CDT Global Viewpoint Many world leaders and economists seemed to be holding their collective breath June 17 as debt-burdened Greece held its second parliamentary election in as many months. Would the Greeks choose the established center-right party that supports international bailout agreements? Or would they choose the upstart leftist party that vowed to tear up the agreements and the austerity measures that went with them? How serious would be the consequences if they did? Political scientist Kostas Kourtikakis, a native of Greece and lecturer at the University of Illinois, is an expert on the European Union and its institutions, as well as on the politics of Greece and the region. Kourtikakis was interviewed by News Bureau social sciences editor Craig Chamberlain. http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/63647 General http://illinois.edu/lb/article/391/63647 Tue, 29 May 2012 08:00:00 CDT Global Viewpoint French Professor Marcus Keller discusses the recent election of Francois Hollande as President of France. Hollande, seen here meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama on May 18 at the White House, defeated incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy to hold the country's top office. Here, Keller talks about why Hollande won and what it means for the western European nation going forward.