CSM piece on America-World relations, today

I have a big piece in the CSM today that urges Americans to build a relationship with the rest of the world on the basis of strong commitment to the ideals of human equality and nonviolent problem-solving. (It’s also here.)
If you go to the CSM website’s version, you can even here the audio of an interview my editor, Josh Burek, did with me on the subject.
My book gets a nice mention there.
In the article I note that human equality is a fundamental American value, and that the UN, which was a great American creation, is built on the ideas of equality and nonviolent problem-solving.
The piece is a gentle critique of the whole discourse of American “leadership”, which is the dominant discourse in Washington today. (How to regain it, after Bush has squandered it, etc.) Actually, if I’d dealt with the issue more thoroughly I would have noted that “leadership” can be exercised in a number of different ways and certainly need not involve the “leader” in question throwing its weight around. Moral leadership, shared leadership, and leadership that is dedicated primarily to effective team-building are all much more useful concepts of “leadership”, as such.
Anyway, tell me what you think…

13 thoughts on “CSM piece on America-World relations, today”

  1. ‘In the article I note that human equality is a fundamental American value’ with great respect that seems from an outsiders view to be a little self referential given the many nations that have done far better than the US at establishing equitable societies. In fact, the current reality is that such a large country, which is seen to be failing badly in civic development, is more a source of anxiety than inspiration around the world.
    As far as ‘leadership’ goes, and also support for the UN, no. The world sees the US as terminally and absolutely hopeless in its foreign affairs dealings. A source of danger, and not a help. The best thing that Americans can do is concentrate on fixing up their own internal issues.

  2. That was a WONDERFUL piece, and so needed. The whole concept of American Exceptionalism, that the US is the world’s best and brightest, has been thoroughly disproved as can be seen by those with any perception at all, is resented by the other peoples of the world, and needs to go into the trash can of history.

  3. “Human equality is a fundamental American value” ?
    Hillary Clinton just recently bragged that she will “obliterate Iran” !
    No one in the American media questioned her remarks, to the contrary she was seen more positively in the light of her comment.
    God might or might not damn America, but Hillary self absorption might obliterate the world to get her the presidency .
    This candidate is will not comfort the rest of the world if and when she replaces Bush. Same green buck.

  4. American Exceptionalism is a goal. It’s an idea of what we have to work for. If there was no idea of American Exceptionalism, well then I don’t think I would care a bit about whatever U.S. government policy have to be. If the U.S. is just like everyone else, then it’s no big deal for the the U.S. to conduct an amoral realpolitik policy, just like everyone else. But according to American Exceptionalism, the U.S. is supposed to be the “Greatest Country in the World” in terms of freedom, democracy, and prosperity. So when the government betrays this ideal, we then have to work to change it, to keep protesting until the policy reverts to that ideal. Much the same way as with Helena’s comment about human equality: the U.S. has many social problems wherein humans are treated unequally, but she still calls human equality a fundamental American value. That fundamental nature motivates us to make reality conform to that value. In American Exceptionalism, I find my inspiration to work to correct against all social injustices in the U.S.

  5. America-World relations?

    THE US war in Iraq has strengthened its strategic position, especially in terms of key alliances, and the only way this could be reversed would be if it lost the will to continue the struggle and abandoned Iraq in defeat and disarray.

    strategic analysts. Mike Green holds the Japan chair at Washington’s Centre for Strategic and International Studies and was for several years the Asia director at the National Security Council.

  6. Inkan,
    The subject is US foreign relations, and Helena is suggesting that the US should have a policy of dealing with other countries as equals rather than as subordinates (my word), stressing human equality and mutual respect. Do you disagree with that?
    This would be a change in policy for the US, because of American Exceptionalism, which isn’t a goal, unfortunately it’s a reality. American Exceptionalism has been historically referred to as the belief that the United States differs qualitatively from other developed nations, because of its national credo, historical evolution, or distinctive political and religious institutions. The difference is often expressed in American circles as some categorical superiority, to which is usually attached some alleged proof, rationalization or explanation that may vary greatly depending on the historical period and the political context.(Wikipedia)
    The fact is that there are many other countries in the world with a higher standard of living and more democracy, and all countries (except Israel) are less belligerent than the US. They all resent Americans acting like the USA is the “Greatest Country in the World.” It isn’t, in qualitative (not economic) terms.
    Nobody wants the US to be “just like everyone else.” That’s impossible. In fact it’s fair to say that none of the 190 countries in the world is like any other. Isn’t that wonderful? It is possible to be different without being superior. Other countries manage it. Helena’s suggesting that the US manage it also.

  8. “In the article I note that human equality is a fundamental American value…”
    Well, this should come as a huge surprise to many Americans and certainly the rest of the world. Equality of black and white? Equality of native Indians and white invaders? Equality of Latinos and white suburbanites? Equality of blue color workers and the aristocratic elite? The statement must be a joke, right?
    No matter how hard Americans try to be objective, deep down they feel they are superior and their values are supreme. Arrogance is an American characteristics. Even though most Americans can’t read and write properly, have no clues about the world around them, never read a non-junk book, believe earth is flat and that everything was created 6000 years ago, and numerous other serious shortcomings, they still feel they are the crown achievement of human species.
    Why don’t you leave the rest of the world alone to chose whatever values they decide is good for them? Why is it that you insist on imposing your values on them? Leave them alone. Many of them have several thousand years of cultures and history and care nothing for your values.

  9. that the UN, which was a great American creation, is built on the ideas of equality and nonviolent problem-solving.

    It was no longer now its dead Helena. weakup you still in dream that things come back its all over, as Iraqi representative to the United Nations Security Council Muhammad al-Duri last words he siad “The Game its Over now”

    “Liberation.” That’s what they called the invasion of Iraq. At one point I thought this would mean being treated like a citizen of the world again after years of war and sanctions. I was wrong.

    “You know, we are unwanted wherever we go,” I remember telling my brother that day he applied for the visa to Bangladesh. “It’s like we’re a virus.”

    IRAQ: Walls closing in for Iraqi travelers
    looks like Iraq after invasion covered with”smallpox blanket”!

  10. Anyone who travels, as I just have, on a book tour in the U.S., will return to Asia with two conflicting impressions. First, the openness of the American mind and a willingness to listen to foreign criticisms; second, the remarkable ignorance in America about the new world it has created. This has generated a curious paradox. The U.S. has done more than any other country to change the world. Yet it is one of the nations least prepared to handle the world it has changed.

    Washington needs to show that, despite its enormous power, it will not attempt to dictate how other nations organize their economics and politics, but will welcome into the international system those who have their own sense of tradition, history, and the natural order of the world, even if this is very different from that of the U.S. The danger is that Americans will be mental prisoners of their benign intentions, convinced of the innate superiority of their own institutions and beliefs, and unable to see that their own dominance is as likely to breed resentment as admiration. It is time that the U.S. became more aware of this risk.

    Kishore Mahbubani, dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, is the author of Beyond the Age of Innocence: Rebuilding Trust Between America and the World

  11. Salah, thanks so much for the link to the Mahbubani piece. As you may recall, he’s someone I admire very much, but I’d missed that article.

  12. Helena,
    With pleasure and thank you to let me comments here.
    I did read Mahbubani piece long time ago in fact I bookmark the article, what interested me is he speaks truly about American mindset.
    Reading/talking to many some American and others, I was reach to a conclusion as same as Mahbubani who did put in very clear plan English.
    BTW, Mayada al-Askari (here book Daughter of Iraq) she writing very nice in Kitabat (Arabic Text) from time to time, she is also mentioned in one of her writings the ignorance of Americans those on the ground in Iraq.

  13. Thanks Don Bacon:
    “That was a WONDERFUL piece, and so needed. The whole concept of American Exceptionalism, that the US is the world’s best and brightest, has been thoroughly disproved as can be seen by those with any perception at all, is resented by the other peoples of the world, and needs to go into the trash can of history”
    I live in a place (Philippines) where every foreigner is called ‘Americano – Hey Joe!’ .
    It used to be good, but it isn’t any more. I conspicuously display an Irish flag these days.
    You’ve lost the plot, lads, so get real and start to behave like the French.
    Turn Iraq and Afghanistan into USA Metropolitan Territories. Then you can get them to contribute to the next ‘Coalition of the willing’ just like Palau or the Marshall Islands.
    It’s a shame though, that US America’s biggest ’embassy’ on earth keeps on getting hit by mortar bombs from upset locals.
    Invite them for coffee, and tell them to stop.
    regards
    Richard

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