A political society does not live to conduct foreign policy; it would be more correct to say that it conducts foreign policy in order to live.
George F. Kennan

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Diplomacy can and will matter; little is inevitable in international relations.
Richard Haass

Signature Programs

Distinguished Speakers Series

On the third Thursday of the month at 7 pm, PAWAC features a distinguished policy maker or thought leader who will explore the selected topic. These distinguished speakers begin the program by sharing own insights and experiences, followed by a moderated conversation with the participants. Distinguished speakers have been sitting and former ambassadors, diplomats in a variety of capacities, academics, business leaders, heads of global non-profit organizations, and more.

PAWAC Reads! Book Club

The PAWAC Reads! Book Club meets quarterly to discuss a work of non-fiction. The group selects the book and decides who will lead the discussion. PAWAC Reads! meets on the last Sunday of January, April, July, and October at 2 pm at the North Branch of the Peoria Public Library. This meeting is held in person and on Zoom.

International Scholastic Bowl

The largest of PAWAC's annual educational outreach programs. Every Fall, the Peoria Area World Affairs Council hosts 24 high school teams from across Central Illinois. These students meet in Bradley Hall in academic competition for a test of knowledge about the world around us. The winning teams win scholarship prizes with the championship team winning an automatic bid to compete in the WACA Academic WorldQuest in Washington, D.C. in the Spring.

PAWAC At The Movies!

The Peoria Riverfront Museum partners with PAWAC to show documentaries on Sundays in February and March, and PAWAC provides speakers to offer in-person perspective. This program is the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon during the waning weeks of winter in Central Illinois.