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| It's Time for a Change in America's Global Thinking |
| [Opinion] We need to immediately engage Generation X, Generation Y and Generation Next |
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Paul J. Lamb (plamb)  |
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Published 2007-07-08 10:51 (KST) |
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Rather than just whining about how the Iraq war has gone to hell in a hand basket, and arguing about the short term question of whether we should stay or go, we need to start thinking now about long-term solutions so that this will never happen again.
First, we need to start by recognizing that a Cold War framework and a narrow "War on Terror" focus do us little good when we are facing issues that impact all citizens of planet earth regardless of national origin, wealth, or religion. Things like global warming, AIDS, water shortages, the increasing global migration of peoples, and the possibility of new health pandemics.
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FROM THE SECTION |
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| Recognizing that new world challenges are not confined to national borders, perhaps the nation state is no longer the most effective and efficient organizer of political and military activities? Maybe the conditions are ripe to form new global and regional political parties and institutions to tackle transnational issues like those above.
Instead of wasting another billion dollars on just the 2008 presidential campaign, why don't both major parties agree to use a small portion of that amount in political donations raised to train and engage the next generation of global leaders through a nonpartisan global leadership academy. Now that is true leadership!
In moving toward the globalization or regionalization of politics, an expansion of citizen assemblies could be helpful in mobilizing ordinary people to contribute directly to a new era of international, and not just national democratic activity. Canada and a handful of U.S. states have already taken the lead in developing such citizen assemblies.
Another related institution whose time may have come is a kind of "Global Connections Corps," where young Americans are sent abroad to learn about political, social, economic, and cultural trends and institutions - both to bring new ideas back to their home country and to establish businesses and organizations overseas. Global Connections Corps members could be the vanguard of a new generation of globally-minded leaders who are bridges of peace and prosperity to lead us beyond an inward-focused, nationally-based view of the world.
In the new, connected world small is also beautiful and often more effective. States and municipalities should simultaneously be encouraged to develop their own foreign policies and foreign assistance models that reflect the values and requirements of their specific populations. This trend is already underway in the form of climate change agreements between the United Kingdom, California and several northeastern states.
Because private players in some arenas offer more effective solutions than large public bureaucracies, we should seriously consider shifting public monies into the hands of private, neutral foundations (like the Gates Foundation) who can leverage shared monies to do things that national governments and international organizations lack the will and resources to do individually . A globally funded initiative to develop sustainable energy resources for ALL countries might be more cost effective and help us to move away from the current zero-sum energy policies that will undoubtedly lead to greater international confrontation.
Finally, if we are serious about nurturing a global consciousness among average Americans, we must do so by leveraging the mass media and popular culture. Imagine the value of having American superstar wannabes taking on Chinese, African or Bangladeshi amateur singers (singing in multiple languages) in a popular and globally broadcast TV show called "World Idol." How about Condoleezza Rice taking on Ban Ki-moon of the U.N. in "International Jeopardy," or a new reality show called "Inside the U.S. Embassy in Tehran," that is a joint production between the United States and Iran?
To confront the daunting challenges ahead we need to accept our failures and begin to chart a new path forward. Most importantly, we need to immediately engage Generation X, Generation Y and Generation Next to join the graybeards and find our way at a time when it appears we are stumbling badly on the world stage. It's not only time for new thinking and policies, but time to find new leaders who have answers where current leaders have none.
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| Paul Lamb is the Principal of Man on a Mission Consulting and a Next Generation Fellow with the American Assembly at Columbia University. |
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©2007 OhmyNews
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 Comments Note: Kindly refrain from personal attacks and profanity. |
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1. Fredy
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Anderson , 2007-08-31 14:12
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