My apologies for acting (in electronic form) like one of my great-aunts
who's known for clipping newspaper articles to send to people by the
envelope full, but here's another AP newswire article that I thought this
list might find interesting to discuss, dealing as it does with the idea of
"progressive governance," the new term for what used to be called (oh so
long ago, like, um, last year!) the Third Way . . . Any comments? In theory?
In practice? In how good theory can become good practice?
Cheers,
Becky
-----Original Message-----
Subject: World Leaders Address Prosperity Gap
World Leaders Address Prosperity Gap
.c The Associated Press
By COLLEEN BARRY
BERLIN (AP) - President Clinton, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and a dozen
world leaders endorsed a set of broad principles Saturday meant to
distribute more evenly the fruits of the burgeoning global economy: wealth,
technology and jobs.
The conference on "Progressive Governance" - the new buzzword for the
attempt to balance pure capitalism with pure socialism - expanded a core
group of six nations that met in Florence in November to include poorer
countries trailing behind in an age of rampant globalization.
The leaders addressed that growing gap during the three-hour session,
announcing three programs that wealthy nations will pursue at the next
summit of the Group of Seven biggest industrial powers and Russia. They are:
spreading educational opportunities, closing the technology gap and fighting
infectious diseases, especially AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
"We don't believe that you can have social justice and deal with all these
other challenges we face unless you have effective, progressive government
that makes the most of the new economy and deals with its rough edges and
difficulties as well," Clinton said.
"We don't believe in just laissez-faire economics but we don't believe that
government alone can solve these problems or just ignore them," he said.
The rather grandiose goal of the conference is to improve citizens' lives by
focusing on issues once considered mostly domestic - but which increasingly
bind nations in the complex global economy - such as immigration, education
reform and job creation.
"People want to live in a community, not merely work in a market," the
leaders said in a final statement.
Schroeder said that entailed promoting "common values, democracy, social
cohesion and the fight for human rights and against racism and
anti-Semitism."
The final document contained a number of broad pledges, including one sought
by Latin American participants for stronger regulation of financial markets
that have wreaked havoc on their economies in recent years.
South African President Thabo Mbeki said developing nations understand and
welcome the markets but want a voice in determining the rules.
"We need a global democratic system of policymaking," he said.
The leaders also stressed the need for new international social agreements
to promote "an idea of community" worldwide, to coordinate the fight against
unemployment and to create a climate that encourages the development of
technology and entrepreneurial spirit.
The conference - held in a former East German government building decorated
with stained glass windows honoring workers - is the most serious attempt by
liberal leaders to take a coordinated stab at solving problems outside of
traditional international forums that often exclude poorer countries.
The leaders are also trying to address the critical problem of how to apply
common solutions to a collection of nations with vastly different economic
resources and social concerns.
"The problem is not just with resources. The problem is how can we forge
cooperation," said Chilean President Ricardo Lagos.
Besides the United States, Germany, Canada, France and Italy - which all are
members of both NATO and the G-7 - the conference included leaders from
Sweden, the Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile,
Argentina and Brazil. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a leading proponent
of the movement, also known as the "Third Way," skipped the conference to
stay home with his 2-week-old son, Leo.
"Progressive Governance and the Third Way are pro-family," Clinton said.
AP-NY-06-03-00 1135EDT
Copyright 2000 The Associated Press.
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