Centennial Speaker Series

Nine Questions for the World

This series, which commemorates CFR's centennial, will feature some of today's biggest thinkers including Margaret MacMillan, Anne Applebaum, Nicholas Stern, Minouche Shafik, Nicholas Eberstadt, Michelle McMurry-Heath, Elizabeth Perry, and Fei-Fei Li.

CFR President Richard Haass will lead conversations on the future of democracy, globalization, climate change, and other issues that will define the century.The series also aired as a podcast called Nine Questions for the World.

Past Events

Centennial Speaker Series Session 1: What Are the Lessons of History for Our Era?

Speaker Margaret MacMillan

Presider Richard Haass

Centennial Speaker Series Session 2: Can Democracy Survive?

Speaker Anne E. Applebaum

Presider Richard Haass

Centennial Speaker Series Session 3: Will Climate Change Us Before We Change It?

Speaker Nicholas Stern

Presider Richard Haass

Centennial Speaker Series Session 4: Balancing the Role of Government and Markets

Speaker Minouche Shafik

Presider Richard Haass

Centennial Speaker Series Session 5: Comparative Demographic Trends & Their Implications

Speaker Nicholas Eberstadt

Presider Richard Haass

Centennial Speaker Series Session 6: What Are the Potential Benefits and Risks of Biotechnology?

Speaker Michelle T. McMurry-Heath

Presider Richard Haass

Centennial Speaker Series Session 7: Will the 21st Century be China's?

Speaker Elizabeth J. Perry

Presider Richard Haass

Centennial Speaker Series Session 8: Will Technology Save Us or Threaten Us?

Speaker Fei-Fei Li

Presider Richard Haass

Centennial Speaker Series Session 9: The Future of World Order

Speaker Richard Haass

Presider Fareed Zakaria

United States

How Does Immigration Affect the U.S. Economy?

Immigrants have long played a critical role in the U.S. economy, filling labor gaps, driving innovation, and exercising consumer spending power. But political debate over their economic contributions has ramped up under the second Trump administration.

by Diana Roy December 4, 2025

G20 (Group of Twenty)

What Does the G20 Do?

The Group of Twenty, an informal gathering of many of the world’s largest economies, is the premier global forum for discussing international economic issues. Its 2025 summit marks the first time the forum is hosted in Africa, but questions loom about the group’s continued relevance.

by CFR Editors November 18, 2025

Climate Change

Paris to Kyoto: The History of UN Climate Agreements

International efforts, such as the Paris Agreement, aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But experts say countries aren’t doing enough to limit dangerous global warming.

by Lindsay Maizland and Clara Fong November 6, 2025 Renewing America

Past Events

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