The World Forum on the Future of Democracy panel on globalization, “Are America’s Founding Principles Relevant in a Global Age,” was moderated by Walter Isaacson, president and CEO of the Aspen Institute. The panelists were: Choi Young-Jin, the South Korean ambassador to the UN; Stephen Heintz, president of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund; and Kumi Naidoo, secretary general of CIVICUS, a global coalition of civil society organizations based out of South Africa.
Should the United States look to the constitutions of other countries as potential guidelines for amendments, or should it have faith in the longevity of its own documents, which have lasted more than two centuries? Many people think that the longevity of a country is proof of the strength of its founding documents. Naidoo points out that many consider the South African Constitution the best in the world, building on the lessons of all worldwide democratic institutions that came before it. He argued that as society changes, it is important to revisit our founding documents and principles.
What do you think? Many of the contemporary documents guarantee social freedom left out of the Constitution and Amendments, such as healthcare, education, welfare, and gender equality. Maybe it is time to think about a Bill of Rights for the 21st Century .
Are there values that are fundamentally incompatible with democracy? Heintz says no, but context is important. Democracy takes its roots differently and it looks different in different places. It’s important to have patience as democracies develop, and it is important to realize that democracy cannot be exported, it can only be imported.
If that is the case, what does it say about the United States’ limited, but consequential, attempts to export democracy? In a few weeks, we will speak about the rights and obligations of countries to intervene in the affairs of others. Heintz argues that democracy promotion should not be one of those criteria because it will not be successful. What do you think?
Does democracy have a universal value? Is it ever legitimate to have close relations with countries that limit democracy internally, such as Pakistan? Choi argues that it will never help the spread of democracy by turning one's back on a country. Even in the case of North Korea, he said, the best solution is engagement.
What is the right mix of realism versus idealism as the United States engages in international affairs? Is diplomacy always the best solution? What is the appropriate response to a country that is a partner internationally but a tyrant on the homefront?
How has globalization changed the principles of democracy? To Choi, globalization risks making democracy irrelevant if it cannot succeed in addressing problems of interdependence. Global warming, international health concerns, trade, these are the important transnational issues, more so than war and peace. If we can’t address them through global democratic institutions, then this undermines the very idea of democracy.
As governments grow more capable, their responsibilities tend to increase. There was no widespread call for health care in the 18th century because there was no ability to provide it. Today, nearly every democracy holds health care as a civil right. What other provisions should the government insure now? How might those change in the coming years?
And finally, are democratic principles still applicable at the transnational level? According to Heintz, there are certain issues that no one country can handle, not even the most powerful country in the history of the world. We should consider the need for international institutions with authority that trumps national sovereignty in certain areas. Choi disagrees on the need for supranational sovereignty, unless we face a catastrophic global event, such as a large comet or perhaps a Martian invasion.
Are problems like global warming the climatic equivalent of a giant comet about to crash into the Earth? If it is such an imminent threat, how do we gather people together not just to think about, but to act on global issues?
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