While protestors in Istanbul build barricades from paving stones and the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Demonstration passes, the UN is beginning discussions to update the Millenium Development Goals, which expire in 2015. Delegations to the UN lack the media attention of the battered Turks, but their work may be just as significant–there is a key connection between the development goals and the protests that have swept the globe in the past few years. The Millenium Development Goals have succeeded, and protesters struggling through teargas is the smoking gun of modernization.

Established in 2000, the Millenium Development Goals are eight sets of goals designed to combat global poverty through economic development, accessible health care, primary education for boys and girls, and partnerships for global development. While many of the goals remain unfulfilled, especially health-related benchmarks, the number of people living below the global poverty line of $1.25 a day has dramatically decreased. Many are praising free markets and liberalism for the rise of the developing countries, including states where economic prosperity has preceded political liberalism. Asia saw the most significant improvement between 1990 and 2015, responsible for bringing nearly 650 million people out of poverty through its meteoric economic rise.

As developing states rise out of poverty and develop a middle class, the political structure begins to change. According to Richard Inglehart and Christian Welzel in the article “What We Know about Modernization: How Development Leads to Democracy,” published in Foreign Affairs in 2009, economic development leads to modernization, which is the socialization of advanced political systems. Inglehart and Welzel write, “Modernization makes people more economically secure, and self-expression values become more increasingly widespread when a large share of the population grows up taking survival for granted.” Nothing says self-expression like a good protest–the Turkish protesters are reacting against increasingly traditional government policies instead of secular.

Do protests in Turkey indicate that economic success has led to a socialization of democratic principles? Turkey’s secular system and economic success seemed to make Turkey a model state for developing countries, yet under Prime Minister Erdogan, the AK party has become increasingly authoritarian. Islamist policies have alienated the secular parties, leading to the clash over this past weekend. Prime Minister Erdogan was democratically elected, and remained one of the most popular leaders in the region. What remains to be seen is how he will respond to the protests. If he continues to be antagonistic toward secularization, things could get interesting.

If Turkey’s success has led to its turmoil, that leads us to the question of the next set of development goals. Will continued economic development, focusing on Africa especially, lead to a new wave of protest movements? What about states where we see economic development but have yet to see political change, such as China? As the UN seeks to push poverty farther into the corners, we may see a rise of political unrest. If these movements are growing pains, they may actually be an encouraging sign of modernization.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

It is amazing how quickly this week has passed! It has been an incredible combination of sight-seeing and high-level briefings. We’ve all learned a great deal – and have heard some different perspectives on some of the challenges Germany and Europe face.

The pace of the first part of the week continued. On Thursday, we spent the day in Potsdam visiting historic Cecilienhof, Sansouci (the site of the Potsdam Conference negotiations after World War II), and the Haus am Wannsee (where mid-level Nazi leaders plotted the “Final Solution”).

On Friday morning, the group enjoyed briefings with foreign service officers from the Economic and Political Sections at the U.S. Embassy. And in the evening, we had a closing dinner with former U.S. Ambassador to Germany, John Kornblum.

The take-away:

What’s the take-away after a week in Berlin measuring the pulse of contemporary Germany? Here are three brief observations:

1. Berlin is looking forward to hosting President Barack Obama in mid-June – just a week before the 50^th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s 1963 visit to Berlin and his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech. This will be Obama’s first official trip to Berlin since he took office in 2009. He has been to Germany twice during his first year as president and was in Berlin as a presidential candidate in 2008.
2. In the run up to the September 22 German parliamentary election, German politics are worth watching. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel is seeking reelection and a third four-year term. There seems to be little doubt that she will continue in her role as Chancellor. However, questions abound concerning the make-up of the governing coalition.Merkel’s conservative Christian Democratic Party will need a coalition partner to govern. Their current coalition partner – the Free Democrats – have fallen from nearly 15 percent in the last election to roughly five percent in opinion polls. Smaller parties such as the Pirate Party (which espouses greater internet freedom) and the new euro-sceptic Alternative for Berlin (which advocates a return to the Deutsch Mark) may siphon off some votes from the current coalition government. Taken together, the contraction of the Free Democrats and the rise of new parties may make it difficult for the current government to remain in office.

   A return to a Grand Coalition – of the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats – seems most likely. Some analysts and observers believe this is not ideal because Germany will stagnate. Others feel that this is the best-case scenario for Germany at this time.

   One additional factor is how the Green Party will fare. They have been rising in the polls – and could serve as “king maker” to the conservative Christian Democrats or the more liberal Social Democrats.

3. My sense is that the group left Germany with more questions about the future of Europe than they had when they arrived. One speaker talked about the challenge of “managing the relative decline of Europe” vis-à-vis rising powers, but almost all of the speakers talked about the strong role Germany plays within Europe and on the world stage. There are many questions about the future of Europe – and specifically the role France will play. Many of the speakers talked about a “sputtering” Franco-German engine although these two countries have been at the core of Europe’s postwar development.

All in all, lots of food for thought as we digest a week of new experiences and opinions…

by Dr. Steven E. Sokol, President and CEO, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

It has been a great week so far! On Sunday, we began the trip with a walking tour of the area immediately surrounding the hotel in historic East Berlin. We ventured over toward the west to the Brandenburg Gate by walking down the impressive boulevard Unter den Linden.

On Monday, the walking continued. We passed through a square with my favorite “monument” on our way to the German Historical Museum for a quick survey of 2000 years of German history. The square is Bebelplatz and this is where on May 10, 1933, a massive book burning by National Socialist students took place. Works from great authors such as Thomas Mann, Erich Maria Remarque, Heinrich Heine, and Karl Marx were taken from the library of the Humboldt University and burned. Altogether some 20,000 books were burned. The memorial is an underground library with empty shelves which one can view from above through a thick plate of glass.

Over lunch, we met with the head of the German Council on Foreign Relations, Dr. Eberhard Sandschneider, for a discussion of Germany’s place in the world. After lunch we headed to the German Foreign Office for briefings with the Coordinator for German-American Affairs and the Coordinator for Dialogue among Civilizations. In the first session in the Foreign Office, participants learned about the strong ties between Germany and the United States – and specifically the new U.S.-EU free trade agreement, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). In the second meeting, we discussed Germany’s relations with the Muslim world as well as immigration and integration in Germany.

On Tuesday, we started the day with a briefing at the Atlantik-Brücke – a non-profit founded in the 1950s to promote deeper ties between Germany and the United States. We met with two young “transatlanticists” who personify the next generation of young leaders. We ended the day with a special briefing about German energy policy with the head of ecologic.

The group spent most of the day on the famous Museum Island looking at artifacts from around the world – including the Pergamon Alter and the Gates of Babylon.

On Wednesday, the group learned about the Third Reich and the Cold War. We had the opportunity to explore Checkpoint Charlie and the Topography of Terror. In addition, we saw Daniel Libeskind’s Jewish Museum – which traces the history of Jews in Germany and Europe – as well as Peter Eisenman’s Holocaust Memorial.

Over lunch, the group met with Europe-expert Ulrike Guerot for a discussion of German and European politics, the euro crisis, and Franco-German relations. In the afternoon, we met with foreign policy expert and politician Hans-Ulrich Klose who also gave us a tour of the Reichstag building.

by Dr. Steven E. Sokol, President and CEO, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh

May 11, 2013

The biggest surprise on arrival is the amount of construction in the heart of East Berlin and the heart of West Berlin.

After German reunification, Berlin was often referred to as a “city of cranes” because of all the construction taking place. Over 20 years later, cranes are still a fixture on the skyline.

by Dr. Steven E. Sokol, President and CEO, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh

May 10, 2013

 As I buckled in for the flight from Newark to Berlin, I found myself wondering what the coming week will bring. Berlin is a city I know well – having lived there before, during, and after the Wendi. Even after I left Berlin to move to New York City in 2002, I was back in Berlin at least four to six times a year – and in a good position to regularly measure the pulse of contemporary Germany. But, it has been three years since I was last in Berlin.

The last time I was in Berlin was June 2010. Now, I am going back to Berlin in the run up to the September election to lead a tour for the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia.

I’ll be spending a week with 15 Americans from across the country who want to learn more about Germany’s past, present, and future. In addition to seeing the sights and visiting museums,  we’ll have meetings with parliamentarians and opinion leaders as well as policy briefings at the Federal Foreign Office and the U.S. Embassy.

As I prepare for the week-long trip, I wonder what will have changed since I was last in Berlin…

From a political standpoint, it will certainly be an interesting time to be in Berlin:

President Obama will make his first official state visit to Berlin in June – just one week before the 50^th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech. Obama was in Berlin before he was elected, and he has been to Germany since becoming president, but he has yet to visit the nation’s capital in his current capacity.

German federal elections are four months away. A lot can happen between now and September, but our group will have a chance to delve into the emerging trends. And, this election could be very interesting. Although Angela Merkel still enjoys strong support, there is some criticism of her handling of the euro crisis. The Christian Democrats’ coalition partner – the Free Democrats – have slumped from nearly 15 percent of the vote in the last election to five percent in recent surveys. (Five percent is the minimum threshold for representation in Parliament.) Meanwhile, the Green Party has increased to 15 percent in opinion polls. And, a eurosceptic new party – Alternative for Germany – has emerged as a wild card that may weaken Merkel’s chances of reelection by siphoning off votes from the center-right. This could leave an opening for the return of a left-leaning government of Social Democrats and Greens.

The debate over the future of the euro – and the future of Europe – rages on in Germany and across Europe. And, U.S.-European free trade is a hot topic with negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) going at full steam.

Our delegation will certainly have lots to talk about…

by Dr. Steven E. Sokol, President and CEO, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh

May the first has often been a date of celebration beginning in Pagan times to commemorate the beginning of spring, rebirth and fertility. As Christianity spread and its saintly cannon grew, May 1^st became the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker, the patron saint of workers. Now it has become a day for workers’ rights protests around the world. The modern side of May Day began with the Haymarket Square Riot in Chicago on May 4^th, 1886. During a labor demonstration calling for an eight-hour workday, someone in the crowd threw a bomb at the police who returned fire on the crowd. At least eight people died as a result of the Haymarket Square violence. Eight protestors were convicted of the bombing despite a lack of evidence against them. They became martyrs for the labor movement, the only positive side of what many viewed as a set back for workers’ rights in the US.

Although the modern May Day activities began because of events in Chicago, wide-spread activism fell out of favor during the Cold War due to its association with the USSR, communism and the Far Left. President Eisenhower declared the day to be known as Law Day in the US in order to increase awareness of the merits of America’s legal system. In the 1920s, the day was used to celebrate patriotism and loyalty to the US. Neither of these days are considered official public holidays, so schools, banks and federal buildings remain open.

In July 1889 the Second International, an international association of socialist parties and trade unions, officially declared May Day an international working class holiday. Beginning in 1890 and spreading around the world – reaching Russia in 1891, China in 1920 and India in 1927 – May First has been a commemoration of the events in Chicago and an opportunity to call for further labor reforms and is a public holiday in most countries.

Even in countries that have now adopted the modern meaning of the holiday, traditional events and celebrations still take place. As a kid growing up in Nottingham, England, I have many fond memories of visiting the county fairground on May Day. There was often more going on, but I remember happily dancing round the Maypole with my friends tightly clutching a colorful piece of string and getting dizzier with every circuit. The Maypole is a carry over from Roman times when Rome’s citizens would go out into the woods, cut down a tree, and decorate it with flowers and ribbons in honor of their goddess Flora, goddess of flowers and the spring. For a brief time, during the Interregnum, when Oliver Cromwell was in power the May Day celebration was banned, but it returned with the restoration of Charles II in 1660.

The other – and to my childhood mind, less important – trappings of the holiday included Morris dancing and Jack in the green. Morris dancing is an English folk dance usually involving six to eight people interacting with each other. Some variations of Morris dancing can include handkerchiefs, wooden sticks and swords. The Jack in the green is someone dressed head-to-foot in flowers, sprigs and garlands on a conical frame and who looks like topiary. The Jack of the green often parades through the town with other revelers. This began as a way for chimney sweeps, who created the elaborate costume, and milk maids, who create individual displays of spring involving conical hats of silver and flowers, to raise money. As May First is the beginning of spring, it is also the end of a chimney sweeps employment as few houses will be lighting a blaze through the summer months.

Certain cities in the United Kingdom have their own May Day traditions; the most famous of these is Magdalen College bells that toll across Oxford at dawn on May First, known in the city as May Morning. Many Oxford students go out May Day eve and continue reveling to dawn as they wait to hear the Magdalen College bells and choir. This can be seen and heard here.

Learn More:

May Day Around the World (The Atlantic)

May Day Demonstrations and Celebrations Around the World (The Telegraph)

May Day Is Not About Maypoles: The History of International Workers’ Day (The Guardian)

Jack-in-the-Green (Hastings Traditional)

Law Day in the United States (Time and Date)

Loyalty Day in the United States (Time and Date)

The Brief Origins of May Day (Industrial Workers of the World)

Glossary of Events – May Day (Marxists.org)

By Elizabeth Martinson, World Affairs Council Intern

]]> http://worldpittsburgh.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/may-day/feed/ 0 worldpittsburgh Morris Jack-In-Green http://worldpittsburgh.wordpress.com/2013/04/19/19/ http://worldpittsburgh.wordpress.com/2013/04/19/19/#comments Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:26:07 +0000 worldpittsburgh http://worldpittsburgh.wordpress.com/?p=1287 ]]>

Here at the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, we try to call awareness to pressing foreign affairs issues, especially in countries often sidelined for more “breaking” news. Just earlier this month our Latin America Regional Seminar at Fox Chapel Area High School showcased key developing issues – and the region’s integral role in the world. In this month alone, Latin American countries headlined major news stories on several occasions, most notably for the passing of Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez.

Since his failed coup in 1992 that ultimately led to his instatement as President two years later, Hugo Chavez was known for his unconventional policy ideas that were spurred by his history as a military paratrooper. He led Venezuela with a similarly adrenaline-fueled rigor. In brief, Chavez rewrote the Venezuelan constitution, poured federal money into social programs and haphazardly paved a road for his country in the global spectrum as a leading socialist nation. Although he projected power via public consent and election, Chavez endured a tumultuous first decade as president. In 2002, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans surrounded the presidential palace demanding his resignation. His efforts for security were diminished when the army refused to follow orders to confront the protestors. Instead, Chavez resigned and was replaced by a conservative business leader. Shortly thereafter, the self-appointed right-wing leader attempted to abolish Chavez’s constitution which consequently caused the army to switch sides again and reinstate Chavez in office. From its beginning, his presidency was dramatic and inconsistent.

Chavez reaped support from the lower socioeconomic communities within the country while simultaneously spurning the rich. He further established Venezuela’s role and his socialist ideals when he acknowledged relationships with Cuba, Iran and other globally ostracized countries. He imposed “oil-diplomacy” that introduced Venezuela as a leading participant in the global oil trade, creating competition with the United States. Funds generated from the revived oil industry were not completely redistributed to public needs. Moreover, despite efforts to improve living conditions for the lower classes, crime rates increased dramatically during Chavez’s presidency, especially in poor slums. As a result, most positive achievements during Chavez’s presidency are marred by speculations of control, corruption and overall discontent. If anything, Chavez was a controversial leader, who led with charisma but executed tasks with suspicious agendas.

What is in store for Venezuela?

Venezuelans head to the polls on April 14th. Current Vice-President, Nicolás Maduro, has the sympathy vote and is in control of major finances needed to win elections. Meanwhile, his opponent, Mr. Henrique Capriles, is governor of Miranda state and maintains some support. However, public polls estimate Maduro’s numbers are currently double Capriles’. The choice is a difficult one and Venezuelans are aware that both candidates are seemingly incompetent. As the Venezuelan currency’s value diminishes, crime rates rise, and overall public demeanor suffers- it becomes more difficult to determine the outcome of this upcoming election. Who will win? And more importantly, will their victory even matter? Or is a Venezuelan revolution inevitable?

More information…

For more information on this exciting, unfolding election, join the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh on April 1 at 12pm  to welcome our guest and esteemed speaker, Miguel Diaz, as he analyzes and interprets Venezuela’s future. Further details can be found on the following link:

After Chavez- What’s next for Venezuela?

by World Affairs Council Intern Marissa Gaab

For those of you who are not aware, today (March 8) is International Women’s Day. The official United Nations theme for this year’s International Women’s Day  is “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women.“

According to statistics provided by the UN, many women today still face dire situations:

• Up to 50% of sexual assaults are committed against girls under the age of 16.
• Globally, 603 million women live in countries where domestic violence is not yet considered a crime.
• Up to 70% of women in the world report having experienced physical and/or sexual violence at some point in their lifetime.
• Over 60 million girls worldwide are child brides, married before the age of 18.

Here are some resources and articles to help you learn more about women’s issues and International Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day – Main Page (United Nations): This is the main page with links to information about IWD 2013.

International Women’s Day – History (United Nations): The UN provides a chronological history of International Women’s Day, dating back to the first celebration in 1909 in the United States.

International Women’s Day – Statement from the Secretary General (United Nations): “As we commemorate International Women’s Day, we must look back on a year of shocking crimes of violence against women and girls and ask ourselves how to usher in a better future,” begins Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

A Promise Is A Promise – Facts and Figures (United Nations): This .pdf highlights some shocking statistics about women worldwide, in support of Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s UNiTE campaign to end violence against women.

International Women’s Day: This website serves as a hub for sharing International Women’s Day information, events, news and resources.

International Women’s Day Resources: A variety of IWD resources including toolkits, videos, art, articles, and more.

#ShesTheReason (Huffington Post): A great slideshow of photos (scroll down) to see how International Women’s Day is being celebrated around the globe.

Why We Celebrate International Women’s Day (CNN): Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, shares her opinion on the importance of International Women’s Day. She states, “It’s a chance for so many people to move beyond ‘celebrating’ and take action to create meaningful and sustainable change for women and girls.”

7 Ways Women are Still Falling Behind on International Women’s Day (Forbes): “Today is a good day to take a look at the many ways [women are] still struggling to reach equality.”

10 Phenomenal Ways to Celebrate International Women’s Day (Mashable): Now that you have learned about the history and importance of International Women’s Day, what is there to do? Check out this list of 10 great ideas.

Are there any websites or resources we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments!

]]> http://worldpittsburgh.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/international-women-day/feed/ 0 worldpittsburgh International-Womens-Day http://worldpittsburgh.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/humanitarian-aid-training-locally/ http://worldpittsburgh.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/humanitarian-aid-training-locally/#comments Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:53:01 +0000 worldpittsburgh http://worldpittsburgh.wordpress.com/?p=1270 ]]>

Are you interested in human rights, activism and humanitarian work? Look no further than the Steel City’s own La Roche College!

Local Pittsburgh University, La Roche College, is offering an innovative, unique summer training program aimed at eager college graduates hoping to work in the Emergency and Humanitarian Aid field. Their two week Global Development and Humanitarian Aid Training Program will develop participant’s understanding of human rights and humanitarian contexts, principles and laws in this modern, ever-changing world.

This program entails: Two-week online pre- and post-trainings, providing initial assessment, orientation to key concepts and ideas, and program follow-up…

Followed by: Two-week intensive on-campus training, using simulations and other applied skills training, field visits to humanitarian aid organizations, RedR UK training, and guest lectures by experienced professionals

Application Requirements include:

1. College Degree
2. 2 References
3. Essay & Application
4. Resume

For more information on this program visit: http://www.laroche.edu/humanitarian/