George Friedman (a geopolitical forecaster, founder of Geopolitical Futures and NYT
bestselling author of “The Next 100 Years”) published “The Storm Before the Calm,”
predicting in 2020 the reshaping of foreign policy, economics and culture that we are
currently experiencing. He explains this upheaval as a unique convergence of two
cycles that the U.S. has repeatedly experienced throughout its history – a 50-year
socioeconomic and an 80-year institutional cycle. He saw these cycles converging in
the mid-2020s with great disruption, but resolving in the 2030s stronger and more
stable. An optimistic message for our troubled times.
An alternate view argues that, although society’s sentiments swing back and forth in
the years after wars or plagues, there’s no steady metronome rhythm to history.
Joyce Francis, Ph.D., taught international relations at George Mason, Tulane, and American Universities. She serves on the NAUA Academy Advisory Board and is a founding member of the 2-year-old Salish Sea Fellowship in Port Hadlock, WA, where she directs its Adult Learning Programs (ALPs).
This is her third Academy presentation; previous topics were “Race Amity” and “Rise of the Nones.”The NAUA Academy takes place on the second Tuesday of the month from 4:30 to 6:00 PM PT.
Each session features an educational presentation by a guest speaker, a question and answer period and then small group discussion.
The Zoom link is: https://tinyurl.com/nauaacademy
When
June 9th, 2026 from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM