A number of UW professors discussed the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks and where the U.S. should head from hear in an open forum Thursday titled, “The U.S. in a Changed World: Where Will We Go After September 11, 2001?” sponsored by the International Institute.
Professor David Trubek, the moderator, opened the forum explaining that the purpose of the forum was to share ideas.
“We are not here to give you a carefully scripted answer but to explore complex issues.” Trubek said.
Professor Michael Barnett, director of the international studies major, spoke first about the situation in the Middle East, which he said is exacerbated by political issues such as stagnating governments that are corrupt political regimes. He also said social issues, such as the decline of welfare services, health services and poor education, add to the problem.
Barnett also said he feared the United States would not be able to differentiate between terrorism and legitimate opposition.
“The problem with making agreements with countries [like Egypt] is that it allows the United States to come in and wipe out not just terrorism but legitimate opposition.” Barnett said.
Bruce Cronin, UW political science professor, spoke on the implementation of the U.S. Anti-Terrorist coalition, created in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the United States. Cronin said the United States created this coalition, instead of working with the United Nations, which may limit methods of retaliation and targets.
“The problem isn’t terrorism, it is the private organizations using terrorism as a weapon,” Cronin said.
UW economics professor Charles Engel explained the difficulties in predicting what will happen to the global economy in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.
“Usually we can look at the past for ideas, but the events of Sept. 11 are unique,” he said.
Engel said, although the economy slows in times of trouble, there is little reason to be worried.
“We tend to underestimate the self-correcting mechanisms of the economy.” Engel said.
Engel finished his presentation explaining why he focused solely on U.S. economics in a global discussion.
“The U.S. needs to be a catalyst in economic stimulation,” Engel said. “Major economies like Canada and Mexico depend on us. Argentina is on the brink of disaster right now, it needs the U.S. economy.”
UW sociology professor Gay Seldman, spoke on the importance of foreign aid.
“In the 1950s we understood that aid to developing countries would help make democratic voices be heard,” Seldman said. “By returning to that [ideal] we could still the voices of Anti-American rhetoric in the Mideast.”
UW professor Anne McClintock was the final panelist, giving a statement entitled, “Masculinity and Other War Zones.” McClintock spoke on the role of women and gender dynamics in this war, as well as the reasons the United States should not engage in war. McClintock called the war “morally, legally, and strategically unsound” and said it was not in the best interests of the American people.
“If the deaths in Afghanistan should be described as collateral damage,” McClintock said, “then we should see those who died on Sept. 11 as collateral damage as well.”
After the panel’s opening statements, the floor was opened to the audience, who expressed a wide range of opinions about the terrorist situation.
Lou Janowski, of the International Division of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and retired diplomat, expressed approval of ground that was covered at the forum.
“I think by the end we were starting to get into the complexities. There is so little that we know about Afghanistan and the world,” Janowski said, “Obviously none of [the panelists] claim to be experts on Muslim terrorists. They had an impossible task for what they are trying to do. I share their opinion that there are no easy answers.”
This forum was one in a series planned in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.
To access this forum online, or for more information on future forums, go to www.wisc.edu/internationalinstitute.
