The Distance

During my first weeks of class we have already touched on topics in the fields of sociology, history, political science, economics and especially philosophy. International Relations seems to be heavily theory based, and one of the dominant theories, if not the dominant theory historically, is called realism. I bring this up because one of the tenets of this theory is that human nature is ultimately egotistical and self-interested, above all else. I don't happen to agree with this, and either do a lot of other theories....and I bring it up because I want to reflect a little bit on human nature in relation to my trip and my intentions moving forward.

To be clear, I would never claim to have any sort of understanding of a universal characteristic of 'human nature.' However, operating within the very very limited world of my personal experiences (lived, read, seen, heard, etc.), I think I have come across something that mayyyyyybe everyone wants to do: travel. During my trip, and throughout my life, I have not met anyone who would not like to travel. I think this has desire has its roots, perhaps, in a deeper shared desire of us humans, to seek and ideally experience the 'new.' We fulfill this desire in many ways: through books and stories, new clothes and other material items, meeting new people, listening to new music, creating new art, and a million other ways. One example I like is that as babies, we go from a fast crawl to a very slow, awkward and sometimes painful walk....in name of the 'new'. How do you typically fulfill this desire for the new? And, how would you most want to fulfill it? I think one common answer to the second question may have big implications for fostering better relationships around the world, and possibly offer a catalyst in the pursuit of peace. Stay with me....

My guide in the beautiful hilltop natural reserve in Quito, Ecuador. The activist and organizer for 'carnivores anonymous' in Medellin, Colombia. The woman cleaning the Plaza Presidencial and one of the police officers guarding it in La Paz, Bolivia. The gentleman who beat me in travel checkers on a bus in Guatemala. The elderly fellow I shared ice cream with at a plaza in old Cartegena, Colombia. All of these people and many others all expressed a very strong desire to visit Chicago. Chicago, and everywhere else.....the sentiment was to travel and know other places.

Most powerfully for me was a conversation I had with Fransisco in Guaranda, Ecuador in the middle of the party during carnaval. After covering my face with powder, he turned serious for a moment. Very directly and simply he asked me, "why can you travel here, but I cannot travel to your home?". He was not really expecting an answer. This unfairness is not lost on anyone, be us illiterate campesionos, highly educated street vendors, doctors, etc. To me it is in some ways a tragic scene to see us foreigners, mostly from the 'North', enjoy and explore the natural beauty of these countries as we unconsciously pass by a majority of people who will never have these experiences, although they exist in their homeland. I was among those who create this tragic juxtaposition. I will never forget peeling potatoes with Julia, a very sharp 80+ year old Peruvian woman, telling me about the beauty of Machu Picchu and then explaining that she has never been able to visit.

(However, I believe that the not so tragic aspect of foreign visitors is when a cultural exchange where strong inter-national and inter-cultural relationships are built. More on that later...)

I guess I agree with Jared Diamond in claiming 'geographic luck,' to explain the developmental differences between countries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel:_The_Fates_of_Human_Societies.) However, these differences still persist in a highly globalized and hyper-connected world because we still live separate from one another. I am American and Fransisco is Ecuadorian...upon birth we are entitled to different domestic rights and opportunities. As an American, a lot of my identity is confined to my national borders. His unfair misfortune does not even have to exist for me. But why?

Through my initial studies on some of the other larger theories used in International Relations, such as Liberalism, Critical Theory and Constructivism, I have come across concepts such as 'global civil society,' 'internationalism,' and 'cosmopolitanism.' One argument claims that when nations become more interdependent, mainly in economic terms, not only do we have a great material incentive not to go to war, but the people in the interdependent countries will gradually come to know one another and become conscious of shared interests, values and ultimately an identity. This would lead to a sense of 'global citizenship' (internationalism/cosmopolitanism) of mutual recognition and understanding, where Fransisco's problem would then be my problem...leading to greater global equity and fostering greater peace (peace not only as the absence of war and structural violence, but the fulfillment of all basic human needs).

I like the theory, but my critique would be that although we have strengthened commercial exchange and interdependence (just look at where your t-shirt came from), the direct 'cultural exchange' between peoples of different nations is still very rare, and mainly takes place in the corridors of commerce by highly educated and wealthy people, mostly white and mostly male. So we rely on these people we do not know to give us information about the 'others.' This makes us especially vulnerable to misinformation, misconception and fear when those privileged few want to make the 'other' look a certain way to perhaps help their agenda. Even if they are giving us their honest portrayal, it is through their perspective and interpretation, one that is certainly different than the diverse array of perspectives and interpretations that would be found through the immense diversity of people in our societies.

Enter the concept of 'citizen diplomacy.' A lot of people, including myself, ask ourselves what we can possibly do, in short, to promote peace around the world. Although obviously just one strategy to complement many others, I find 'citizen diplomacy' an interesting and compelling answer to this because it is work that can be done by us individuals. I find it fundamental to building global peace.

So, what is it? The US Center for Citizen Diplomacy defines it as: "the concept that the individual has the right, even the responsibility, to help shape U.S. foreign relations, “one handshake at a time.” Citizen diplomats can be students, teachers, athletes, artists, business people, humanitarians, adventurers or tourists. They are motivated by a responsibility to engage with the rest of the world in a meaningful, mutually beneficial dialogue." Of course I don't see Citizen Diplomacy as just helping 'U.S. Foreign Relations,' but everyone.

Entonces, by traveling abroad, in whatever fashion, and building relationships with 'others' from different countries through shared experiences, we can act as 'citizen diplomats' building cultural bridges between different peoples and places...eliminating and undermining fear and harmful misconception...building the family I talked about in the 'We Drink Their Coffee' blog….in fancy terms that I like: expanding our 'emotional identity' to include those people who don't happen to live within our national borders, and accordingly extend to them our hearts, empathy AND civic voice. Then we can bring back these experiences to our friends and family, and share a new perspective on the people/place visited.....and so the snowball grows.

Another great thing about citizen diplomacy, is its effect on social relations at home, as we realize the 'distance' that exists between us and our neighbors....be them next door or in a different part of town. How would your life change if you saw things through their eyes...included them in your emotional identity?

So, how can we develop greater levels of 'citizen diplomacy?' I don't know, but I hope to further investigate and possibly take this on as my thesis. Fransisco has an idea of a lottery, where depending on how many people are in your town, X amount of the town residents are selected to travel somewhere for a given amount of time, and upon return to the town share their experience with other town residents. Especially for those countries where international travel is not accessible to most people, I really like this idea. So, as I look for other strategies to promote these direct, shared intercultural experiences I will share any great ideas and insights that I find. In the mean time, let me know if you have any ideas, suggestions, critiques, etc.

I have spent so much time on this because I really think that we can harness this shared desire (of the new and travel) to create a better world. ‘Citizen diplomacy' can act as a catalyst to creating stronger local, regional, national and international understanding/relationships....for peace!

I End this long blog with a THANK YOU:

Thank you everyone for reading my blog and sharing this experience with me. I always look forward to your comments as they keep my reflective AND connected to you all throughout my sometimes lonely trip. Thank you to those friends who connected me to locals along the way. Thank you to all of those many people during my journey who pointed me in the right direction. These were people on buses, in the street, at mini markets, etc. and they were essential to my trip. Thank you to maps. Thank you everyone!

Having said all of that, my blog is not dead. My intention is to post every two or three weeks about my life in Bs. As., and of course I will reflect on the interesting ideas I come across in class, at cultural centers, at 'el cine', during conversations with strangers in plazas and not so strangers after 5v5 indoor soccer matches, etc.

Nos vemos, eh?!