Page 15 - CSA Speaker Bulletin March 2019 | CSA Celebrity Speakers

CSA SPEAKER BULLETIN POLITICS
A generation later, the America First
Committee opposed US intervention
in Europe’s war. Again, the war came
to America.
Once again, the West is divided,
autocrats are in the ascendancy, and
the peaceful world order is giving
way to narrow interests, short-term
transactions and zero-sum games.
“We cannot deny
that, geopolitically,
the world is on fire.”
Malign states are stepping in to
exploit the divisions, and to occupy
the vacuum we leave behind.
If Russia sees the world as a chess
board, China sees it as a game of
Monopoly. Yet many in the West
continue to see it as a game of
Scrabble – where words seem to
count more than actions and interests.
Our values are important. So it is time In 2019, the Alliance of Democracies
we made a stand for them – at home
and abroad.
These values will be tested in
elections across the democratic
world, from India to Canada, critical
elections in Ukraine, and seminal
elections in the European Union.
In Europe, we must end the self-
defeating spiral of division between
the core and the periphery; Eurozone
and non-eurozone; East versus West;
large states versus small states.
We must find a formula that is
respectful of our differences, yet also a citizen, I will continue to do all I can
considerate of the desire of some to
integrate further.
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And we must understand why people Anders Fogh Rasmussen,
are so often rejecting the political former NATO Secretary
centre for populist forces. Yes, General and Prime Minister
populists give simplistic and often of Denmark, has been
undeliverable answers to complex at the centre of global
questions, but their claims rarely lack and European politics for
a grain of truth. over three decades. In
2017 Anders founded The
Mainstream political leaders have Alliance of Democracies,
not shown robust solutions to today’s which is dedicated to the
challenges: from managing migration advancement of democracy
in a way that maintains public and free markets across the
support; through to adapting today’s globe. He is also co-chair of
open market global economy so that the Transatlantic Commission
it delivers for all, and not just for on Election Integrity. He
bankers and multi-nationals. recently wrote about the
divisions facing the world
In 2019, we must try harder to and how we must work harder
show why freedom, democracy, to defend our hard-won
open markets and multilateral standards of democracy and
cooperation deliver peace, progress international order.
and prosperity for everyone. These
principles are not perfect - no man-
made system is - but they are far
preferable to the alternatives.
Foundation that I founded will
continue to make this case, and
will work not only to strengthen
our democracies, but to promote
democracy abroad.
“It is time we made a
stand for values – at
home and abroad.”
Defending our freedom is not just
about issuing statements, or warm
words. It is about uniting around our
common ideals and taking actions to
defend them; and shining our values
into the dark corners of the world. As
- and I hope you will join me.
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