Joining the Foreign Policy Association is like stepping back in history. It was just after the end of World War I that a distinguished group of academics and journalists from both sides of the Atlantic, inspired by President Woodrow Wilson’s vision for the League of Nations, came together to found the Association. Its mission: to educate Americans at the grassroots about world affairs.
From 1918 to the present, its members have witnessed all the most important developments in world affairs, and for the last 28 years thanks in part to the work of Noel V. Lateef, who has been its president since 1995.
We meet him on the 30th floor of an office building in mid-town Manhattan, where he works daily together with a close-knit team. As soon as we enter, he greets us in the company of three young staff members: Matt Barbari, Gabriel Suazo, and Peter Scaturro.
A symbolic and meaningful gesture. In fact, Lateef explains that “one of our most important goals is to engage young people.” It’s an ambitious and very complicated mission to attract the younger generation; it is essential to have a presence on social media with engaging content. But world affairs, especially on Instagram, is a hard sell.
So what are the solutions? “We generate stimulating and accessible content. Our materials are used on over 1,100 colleges and universities. We also create content for high schools and bring high school teachers from throughout North America together to improve their skills in teaching global studies.”
FPA is the sponsor of the largest world affairs outreach program in the United States known as Great Decisions, after its annual briefing book by that name. Over 400,000 people participate in Great Discussions groups in diverse settings ranging from libraries to women’s clubs to private homes. The Great Decisions television series is broadcast by 165 PBS stations across the United States and marked its fiftieth anniversary last year.
Despite confronting and interacting with controversial issues in world affairs, FPA remains by definition a non-partisan association. “The best way to succeed in being super partes is to promote debate. When we publish the Great Decisions briefing book, we try to look at issues in context, bringing different perspectives.”
As he speaks, the young people sitting next to him who hold prestigious positions within FPA, listen to him very attentively. Lateef speaks clearly, knows well the issues he is talking about, and is not afraid to express his opinions. As in the case of the United Nations.
It was at FPA that President Roosevelt gave his speech on the UN, the organization he strongly believed in and which was officially born on April 25, 1945, just thirteen days after his death.
“I believe that the United Nations plays a central role in the world order, and nations that are dissatisfied must submit proposals to reform the UN system.”
For example, reform of the Security Council? “That’s right, I’m in contact with Ambassador Maurizio Massari, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations, because we are organizing a conference on Security Council reform. It is a very difficult issue, but there are avenues, including enlarging the Security Council, that can be pursued. The United States agrees on this, as President Biden said last September, and Italy is also pushing in this direction.”
Italy, which, with the government led by Giorgia Meloni, is showing great loyalty to the United States, in a path already started by Mario Draghi’s government. “The United States has always seen Italy as an important ally, especially in terms of soft power. Giorgia Meloni surprised a lot of people who expected a more radical attitude from her and instead had to change their minds. At FPA we were very impressed by her cabinet, especially by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.”
For FPA, there is a lot of work to be done, especially with the impending start of the 2024 presidential election campaign. Inform, grow, and engage: these are the three key words the association will continue to work with, to make Americans an increasingly informed people about their choices.
