The lecture, open to the public at no charge, is set to begin at 6 p.m. in Thurmond-McRae Lecture Hall.

He will be available for a "meet and greet" at 5:30 p.m. at the Brenau Trustee Library.

Musnier spent 35 years in the French diplomatic corps, including service as consul general in Atlanta, ambassador to New Zealand and previous service in the Middle East, Germany, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

He cautions that the United States should brace for "unpleasant days" and that "quick fixes," such as the economic stimulus package and the recent cuts in the prime rate by the Federal Reserve Bank, may be "too little, too late."

Musnier believes the economic stimulus package, which will provide the average middle income family about $1,800, is merely a device "to keep people happy until the election is over," and probably will hurt the economy more than help it.

Musnier believes the government needs to put tighter reigns on the financial industry to forestall future debacles such as the subprime mortgage disaster that has led to widespread foreclosures.

He is teaching an eight-week undergraduate course this semester in the politics and economics of the European Union.