Alicson posted this query a while ago, but I only got around to responding to it now. If I had the time and resources to do whatever I wanted, what would it be?
I would put my time and resources into creating an institution that would be able to draw scholars and policy-makers from around the world into one place. Effectively, I want to develop a forum by which those with the knowledge, those with the money, and those who can make things happen are under one roof. More than that, those individuals/organizations would all able to find common ground in which to make things happen efficiently to best help those that need the help.
I want to be able to link the Development Aid specialist working in Latin America with her counterpart in Asia to see what is working and what isn’t. I want to be able to link up the individuals working on micro-banking in India for the Oxfam Foundation with the people working on possibly similar projects for Americorps in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps should be able to link up with people a world away to compare strategies, discuss ideas and establish common grounds with places and peoples who would otherwise view them as an “other”.
Policy would be affected, but on a larger level, significant change would develop because of the establishment and the strengthening of links and bonds.
An institution that connects scholars and policy-makers from around the world would have the broader effect of establishing understanding of different cultures and ways of thinking.
Globalization has backfired somewhere along the line. Instead of feeling like a global community, it seems as if the relgious, ethnic, and cultural lines are being drawn deeper into the sand. Instead of growing closer together, I feel as if being Japanese or Chinese; Muslim or Christian is more important than it ever has been. While the events of 9/11 were terrible, the rhetoric since then has consistently been between “us” – the good guys – and “them” – the freedom haters.
I refuse to believe that it’s that simple, and the point of the Institution would be to establish as many links between ourselves as possible. I’m not a peacenik, nor am I so naive as to think that all wars can be stopped and that life is about flowers and singing about the clouds. However, I do believe that wars tend to be based on lack of understanding of the other side. Being able to establish a forum for policy-makers, scholars and others to speak and to understand each other becomes more and more vital as the years pass by.
The goal of the institution would be to develop as many linkages as possible on as many different levels as possible between different nations, cultures, and peoples. I believe by developing strong ties in business, finance, culture, education, language, history, politics and understanding one will be able to achieve Alexander’s Reach – establishing a unified people and culture through amalgamation of different peoples and cultures. Literally being able to understand the other…by being the other.