The Foreign Service Journal, September 2018

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2018 17 TALKING POINTS Talking Points for U.S. Global Leadership F ormer Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman offered five “truths” to help explain to the American public why U.S. global leadership matters in a July 20 op-ed posted by YaleGlobal Online. “During almost three decades as a member of the U.S. Foreign Service, I was privileged to play a modest role in the design and nurturing of what many call the ‘liberal rules-based international order.’ Today, that order—created by Americans and our allies and friends and supported and upheld by U.S. mili- tary and diplomatic power—is under attack at home and abroad,” Grossman writes. “As a diplomat, I learned that how one describes things matters. The words ‘liberal rules-based international order’ mean nothing to 99 percent of the Amer- ican public. …. The urgent challenge is to convince a larger audience that the international system the United States created and defended remains a crucial foundation of Americans’ wealth and power. “Those who believe that America remains a powerful force for good in the world must now make this case in new, more forceful ways. Instead of further exhortation to support the ‘liberal rules- based international order,’ here are five ‘truths’ to use in public: “America’s global power and influ- ence are good for Americans . Our economy grows and our country is safer when we have a strong military and strong diplomacy to keep and expand that power and influence. “America is more powerful and prosperous when there are clear rules and we set them. How many Americans want to live in a world where China or Russia sets the rules—or there are no rules at all? That’s what happens when America leaves a leadership vacuum. “America’s power and influence are multiplied when we work with other countries. We need likeminded friends and allies who can assume some of the burdens of global leadership and together solve problems that even the United States can’t manage alone. An isolated America is a less successful and secure America. “America is better off having more democracies in the world rather than more autocrats and dictators. A world growing in freedom is a world where Americans can advance U.S. interests and enjoy greater peace and prosperity. “Americans are richer when America is the world leader in the global economic system. Estimates are that more than 41 million U.S. jobs are connected to trade with other nations. American workers are not afraid of com- petition, so long as it is fair and provides benefits to all.” W hile the world grapples with ever-changing migra- tion patterns, Vox Borders offers human stories from geographical and political borders around the world. The first season’s six short videos (each approximately 12 to 15 minutes) highlight some of the daily struggles at six borders, including Haiti-Dominican Republic, Mexico-Guatemala and Russia-Arctic. Vox journalist Johnny Harris went to each region to do on-the-ground research, bringing the border to the viewer with a video and a brief written introduction to the issues of the region. Says Harris: “Borders can encourage exchange or insti- gate violence. They can provide refuge, or they can crimi- nalize those who cross them. Borders symbolize a nation’s anxiety about the world, and as political leaders regulate the lines on the map, there will always be human stories at the mercy of those choices.” The series shows viewers what life is like for residents of the border regions. In one episode, Vox shares the story of North Koreans living in Japan while remaining loyal to the North Korean regime. “This isn’t a story about a physical border,” the website notes.“North Koreans living in Japan experience a much less visible kind of border, one made of culture, tradition, history and ideology.” The show recently started its second season fromHong Kong, where producer Harris sought out locals to contribute ideas for places, stories and connections in the area. Season One episodes can be found at https://www.vox. com/a/borders. The first two episodes of season two can b e found at Vox Borders on YouTube and Facebook. SITE OF THE MONTH: VOX BORDERS