The North County Chapter of the
San Diego World Affairs Council Presents
A Distinguished Speakers Series Program Featuring
Prof. Randy Willoughby
Thursday, October 1st, 2026
10:00pam - 12:00pm
Location:
The Remington Club II Assisted Living Community
2nd Floor
Rancho Bernardo, CA
*This is a hybrid event. Zoom link to be sent to all Zoom registrants via registration confirmation email *
About this Program
The talk will discuss France’s position on the world stage and how it navigates through world crises, including its place in the war in
Iran and their nuclear program. It will also focus on additional impacts of France’s nuclear program, then and
now, and with relation to other nuclear powers such as the UK, Israel, Pakistan, India. How have Iran’s
nuclear ambitions coincided with French support early on - and now?
Free to the public also available via Zoom. Pre-registration required.
About Prof. Randy Willoughby
Randy Willoughby, PhD, has been on the USD faculty since 1988 and teaches courses on comparative politics
and international security. His undergraduate education began at the University of California at Irvine and
concluded at UCLA. His graduate education was at the University of California at Berkeley, preceded by a year
of study in Paris, and a year working in the Executive Office of the President in Washington DC, a year teaching at the University of Santa Clara, and two years participating on a research project at the University of California at San Diego. Prof. Willoughby's doctoral dissertation on European Missile Defense was
nominated for a national political science award.
Prof. Willoughby has written on a variety of political and security issues, including European arms control, French nuclear testing, comparative nuclear proliferation, security and politics in the South Pacific, Latin American drug trafficking, Mexican immigration, the US defense budget, and global energy futures.
Prof. Willoughby emphasizes comparative and historical dimensions in international politics and security. He enjoys teaching at all levels within the department: lower division students, more advanced undergraduates,
and students in the USD Master of Arts in International Relations program. He has organized several major conferences on contemporary international issues, bringing together professionals and academics from off campus for discussions with the USD faculty and student community. He regularly offers international travel courses in Mexico, Europe (including Morocco and Turkey), and Asia.
The San Diego World Affairs Council does not endorse any specific political ideology or viewpoint. As a nonpartisan organization, we are committed to presenting a wide range of perspectives to promote informed, respectful dialogue on complex global issues. The opinions expressed by speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Council, its board, or its partners.
