Fostering International Engagement Key to Addressing World Challenges
Fostering International Engagement Key to Addressing World Challenges
Ambassador Dr. Peter Wittig,
Ambassador of Germany to the United States of America
Nearly 100 years ago, at the end of the First World War, the World Affairs Councils were founded in the spirit of fostering international engagement. We can be grateful for the unique role they have played in promoting an informed debate on international affairs. Then as now, the world demands a global education. Our greatest challenges today, be it international migration, eradication of poverty, or climate change, transcend borders, are by definition shared by the world community.
A global education, however, is more than gaining knowledge of the world. It is about developing a compassionate global perspective: openness to other ideas and cultures, sensitivity to differing ways of life. It is a prerequisite for peaceful relations between nations and also for individual liberty. It is based on the philosophy that we should educate the whole person, rather than merely prepare for a specific job. At the same time, expertise in international affairs can open doors to economic opportunity. Gaining knowledge of international issues makes one better prepared to compete in a global labor market; overseas work experience is invaluable for leadership in international business.
