This campus is no stranger to student activism. Yet we are constantly reminded by our hippie-cohort parents in acid-flashback induced "When I was your age … " ramblings that our involvement in today's issues is supremely lacking compared to generations of old. Our university is accused of exchanging its trademark of renowned radical activism for an image of radical drinking habits, or so the reputation goes.
Whether or not you buy into our student body's alleged tip towards apathy, there's no doubt that the scope of issues attracting student involvement has indeed changed. In an increasingly interdependent world, international issues have been thrust to the forefront. Globalization, though setting the stage for personal and corporate prosperity, has unavoidably left indigent and disadvantaged populations behind in a cloud of inherent poverty and inevitable violence. The expanding digital divide continues to isolate those with ample access to resources. Over four million fleeing victims of conflict are displaced around the world with no permanent homes. Malnutrition rates in poor regions are reaching epic proportions. Rapid advancements in health care have yet to discover a solution to the AIDS epidemic. Child slavery, prostitution and soldiery are rampant in third world nations. Over a billion people are unable to read a book or write a letter. New revolutions creating fresh and convenient opportunities for diplomacy have not eradicated leaders' instinctive urges to use the hammer or the sword.
Fresh off the anniversary of an event that exploded tensions between two cultures and spawned a dangerous rush of xenophobia, we remember that chauvinism, racism and misapprehensions still plague the world, inspiring deep resentment that generates inhumane acts of systematic oppression, the murder of innocent civilians and crippling wars.
No conflict is purely regional today, nor imperils only one group of people. No issue can be considered a problem of the weak and the timid, a burden only the victims have to bear. No longer can prosperous nations avoid responsibility in the tribulations that plague other regions. As interdependence unravels state sovereignty, as borders become porous and human security takes preference over national security, as the fate of one nation becomes more dependent on the fates of other nations, the development of global-minded leaders is vital. In a time of interconnectedness, the ability to work at a global level — whether in business, politics, economics, development or other professional fields — is becoming a necessity. Misunderstanding remains as the proverbial barrier to harmonious interactions between different groups of people. This is why global exchange is so relevant in today's world, serving as the force to break through cultural barriers, the anecdote for the poison of closed minds.
This is what AIESEC-International believes. Built out of the rubble of a destroyed, post-WWII Europe, AIESEC founders were visionaries who developed diplomatic innovations. They focused on the need for international understanding, through the exchange of young people between the worlds' nations, as a means to prevent future conflict. Today, AIESEC is the world's largest non-profit student run organization, with chapters in 91 different countries and over 700 universities, composed of over one million members and alumni. AIESEC has become a platform for future leaders in business, politics, economics and development. We provide students opportunities to develop new skills, participate in international internships and create cultural exchange experiences for their peers.
As university students, we are all part of a small, privileged group with the capacity to reach beyond our local scope and have a real impact on the world. We have a duty to utilize the resources that allow us to deepen our connections and relationships, open up our hearts and our minds and become aware of the far-reaching effects of our actions. Whether or not market realities compel cooperative trade with other nations, or domestic needs require interaction with regions with resources, or political progress induces pervasive diplomacy, international cooperation cannot emerge without the presence of global leaders. How do we rescind historic tensions that are the origins of so much conflict today? How do we change the perceptions of those who manifest their hatred into hostile words and violent actions? How do we challenge people's assumptions and promote true diversity in instinctively segregated communities? In a world consumed with developing states and economies, we must put a greater emphasis on developing the individual — this is AIESEC's aim.
Many classify enthusiasm, passion and idealism as ignorant immaturity common of college students, qualities that cannot exist in the "real world." Perhaps this reveals that only young leaders — whether directly connected with the "real world" or not — possess the unhindered passionate idealism necessary for transforming the global environment and fusing civilizations. Desiring world peace in today's troubled times is not solely reserved for Miss America pageant participants. Everybody needs to believe in something. For many infected by the plagues of today, hope is all they have. In AIESEC, that's all we need. If opportunities for global leadership, international experiences and personal development interest you, attend an AIESEC informational session this Thursday, Sept. 22, or Monday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m. in Grainger Hall. Join those who share your visionary passion for the world's future.
The rest is up to you.
Adam Lichtenheld ([email protected]) is a sophomore majoring in political science and African studies. He is the vice president of AIESEC-Madison.
