The world doesn't pause for analysis. In just the first six weeks of 2026, the United States captured Venezuela's president, tensions with Iran escalated into military conflict, and the decades-old alliance between America and Europe showed unprecedented strain. Meanwhile, the quiet but consequential competition between the U.S. and China continued to reshape global power dynamics, from Latin American infrastructure deals to the race for supremacy in artificial intelligence.

For those trying to make sense of these developments—and understand their implications—the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) has launched the "State of the World" quarterly event series designed to provide expert analysis and foster discussion.

Moderated by FSI Director Colin Kahl, each quarterly discussion offers the Stanford community—faculty, staff, students, and alumni—an opportunity to hear expert analysis of current events, followed by networking over drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

The series debuted on February 12 to a packed audience eager to understand the year's early upheavals. The panel, titled "Global Trends and Geopolitics in 2026: A Look Ahead," featured Harold Trinkunas, deputy director and senior research scholar at the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC); Anna Grzymala-Busse, director of FSI's Europe Center; Larry Diamond, Mosbacher Senior Fellow of Global Democracy; and Or Rabinowitz, a visiting fellow at FSI's Jan Koum Israel Studies Program.

Their wide-ranging conversation revealed a common thread: U.S.-China competition is the quiet undercurrent beneath nearly every major geopolitical development, from trade tensions in Europe to technology races that could determine the future of freedom itself.

"Every quarter the world will be quite different than the quarter before," Kahl told the audience. "It's hard to believe we're only six weeks into 2026. It feels like we've had six years worth of foreign policy developments."

Why This Series Matters Now

Kahl, who recently assumed leadership of FSI after serving as the U.S. Department of Defense's under secretary of defense for policy and as national security advisor to Vice President Joe Biden, brings both scholarly rigor and real-world policymaking experience to his role as moderator. His insider perspective helps frame academic insights within the practical realities of governance and diplomacy.

"The goal is to create a space where the Stanford community can engage with the most pressing questions of our time," said Kahl. "These aren't just abstract academic debates—they're issues that will shape the world our students inherit, inform the research our faculty pursue, and determine whether democratic values prevail globally."

A Community Built Around Global Understanding

The series serves multiple purposes beyond disseminating expertise. It's designed to strengthen FSI's community of scholars, students, and supporters while showcasing the breadth of intellectual resources Stanford brings to understanding international affairs.

For students, the events offer direct access to leading thinkers and a preview of the academic programs FSI offers—from undergraduate majors and co-terms to master's and doctoral programs. For faculty across Stanford, even those outside traditional international relations fields, the series provides a window into how global forces intersect with their own disciplines, whether economics, technology, law, or public health.

For alumni and supporters, the events demonstrate FSI's vital role in analyzing consequential global challenges and advancing scholarship on the critical issues of our time.

"We need scholars who can connect the dots between their expertise and global affairs," Kahl explained. "A computer scientist who understands the implications of AI for democracy. An economist who grasps how trade policy affects alliance relationships. These connections are where the most important insights emerge."

The Technology Competition Ahead

The next event in the series, “World Changing Technology in 2026,” scheduled for May 5, will focus specifically on the impact of AI and other emerging technologies on society, politics, and global security.

"If China pulls ahead in quantum and AI, this would be a disaster for the future of freedom in the world," Diamond warned at the February event. "There's nothing more important to the future of global democracy than the democracies collectively of the world winning this technological race."

This race will determine "whose technological backbone do most people on Earth use to access the information through which their entire lives are mediated," Kahl added—a question with profound implications for privacy, security, free expression, and human rights.

The May event promises to explore these issues in depth, examining everything from semiconductor supply chains and export controls to the role of universities in maintaining America's innovation edge.

Following the discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to continue conversations over refreshments—an opportunity to foster the kind of informal dialogue where new ideas and collaborations often begin.

Join the Conversation

In an era of information overload and polarized discourse, FSI’s new event series offers substantive, non-partisan analysis from scholars whose expertise has been built over decades of research and, in some cases, policymaking experience.

Whether you're a student trying to understand career paths in international affairs, a faculty member considering how global trends affect your research, or an alumnus wanting to stay connected to cutting-edge analysis, these quarterly conversations provide valuable insight into the forces shaping our world.

Registration for the May 5 event is now open. Join FSI in exploring how the technology competition between the U.S. and China is shaping not just geopolitics, but the future of freedom, prosperity, and security worldwide.