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Page 13 of 82
What to Make of Collective "Wisdom"
February 18, 2009
The definition of wisdom is: "The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting." A corollary is "the sum of learning through the ages". It is this second definition that applies to the myriad ways in which countries act on the international scene. But most of the time this "learning through the ages" manifests itself more in terms of their ancient rivalries and prejudices than what could be termed actual "wisdom".
American collective wisdom emphasizes problem-solving and often shows a certain arrogance in terms of their lack of faith in other country's ability to safeguard common interests. Hence, their do-it-yourself foreign policy. That is the reason why, instead of devising a far-reaching binational solution to the problems associated with our common border, they simply build a fence. And it's not just a "Mexico thing". As Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano pointed out recently, she considers that the northern frontier presents a greater terrorist threat than ours. The implication is that US-Mexico border "solutions" will be coming soon to a province near you.
Mexico's lesson vis-à-vis the US relates to its 19th century war and loss of territory. That's why Mexico's opposition to Iraq was especially earnest (Fox's ill-timed and opportunistic TV address notwithstanding). Mexico really does not believe in foreign intervention and really does believe in the right of nations to self-determination. Unlike other countries whose anti-Americanism was mere posturing, Mexico's collective wisdom held that the invasion was fundamentally wrong.
Mostly, however, the nature of politics is that it is easiest to appeal to a country's most vindictive instincts. Hugo Chávez has just proved how easy it is to manipulate even what is considered a middle income country with a large educated class. What is it that the Venezuelans have learned from history? That it is better to entrust your future to a corrupt despot than to a corrupt democracy.
Although there are certainly many signs of wisdom in several country's foreign policies, no one country can be said to be "wise". That is, always discerning, and thinking long term. American wisdom includes its foundational emphasis on the Rule of Law, fairness, and personal freedoms. Mexican wisdom highlights respect, tolerance and the right to self-determination (which often runs into the wisdom of intervention for humanitarian reasons).
European wisdom regarding the need to use integration as an antidote to warfare is due to their interpretation of the causes of the two World Wars that took place on their soil. The European Union, which benefited dramatically from early American prodding and financing, is perhaps the most visionary project in international relations. Nevertheless, this genuine collective wisdom does not always translate into an end to the petty power-playing that often characterizes individual European countries when pushing their self-interest on the international stage.
Despite the fact that international relations remains a Hobbesian domain of individual interests and often self-defeating realpolitik, it is still worth understanding the collective wisdom of a people. It is important to identify what lessons, no matter how twisted, they have learned from history.
Karma chameleon
Tibetan belief in cause and effect has meant that there has been no Intifada there, despite the attrocities committed during the Chinese occupation. This is, perhaps, the only reason why they were not completely wiped out, despite the fact that nearly 30% of the total population was killed. The flip side is true in the Middle East, where Arabs believe that Christians and Jews were able to invade their turf because they were weak and divided. For that reason, their cruelly quixotic campaign to show "strength" through Ultraviolence will probably only end with a dramatic paradigm shift. Jews, who having been victims of violence and persecution might have drawn other conclusions, have instead interpreted history as a Darwinian affair, making them obsessed with firepower and military chutzpah. The lack of true collective wisdom in the region represents one of humanity's saddest, and potentially most tragic, conflicts. Imagine the prosperity of a united Palestine-Israel using Jewish science and technology and Palestinian youth and energy? Not gonna happen.
North America is curious in how it reacts to the history that is happening to it. Americans build walls, but economic and social integration is very much a fait accompli. Canadians try to ignore Mexico when dealing with the US, but many of our issues are already inextricably linked. Mexico still spends too much of its time lamenting American influence when nearly a quarter of Mexicans people of Mexican descent live in the US and nearly everyone yearns for an American lifestyle. It seems that, despite centuries of living side-by-side, our collective wisdom is anything but. Granted, that's just par for the course on the international relations circuit.
For the latest thought-provoking article by Agustin Barrios Gomez please go to our Opinion Column page
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