Diplomat Richard Haas speaks on the state of democracy in the US

| Staff Writer

President emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations Richard Haas speaks about democracy and his new book. (Jamie Nicholson | Student Life)

Veteran diplomat, author, and president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, Richard Haas spoke on campus about the state of democracy in the United States as part of the Elliot H. Stein Lecture in Ethics, April 1. 

The event was hosted through the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, and the Institute’s executive director Stephanie Kurtzman moderated a dialogue regarding Haas’ new book, “The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens,” and his views on democracy in the U.S. 

The event opened with an introduction from former Congressman Richard A. Gephardt, current President and CEO of Gephardt Government Affairs. Gephardt spoke about Haas’s book and lessons from his time in Congress. 

“His book, “The Bill of Obligations,” is, to me, one of the most important books that’s been produced in years,” Gephardt said. “My experience in self government and democracy and being in Congress for all those years convinced me over and over again that the key to the country is the people.” 

Junior Jahselyn Medina, a Gephardt Institute Civic Scholar, then spoke about her experiences with the Institute and what she has gained from the program as someone who grew up in a single-parent and limited-income household. 

“I was upset about not being able to understand why or how these governing bodies could create laws and policies that directly target and attack under-resourced communities,” Medina said. “The Civic Scholar program has provided me the opportunity to develop my civic skills and leadership training skills and has allowed me to transform that helplessness into hope.”

Haas and Kurtzman then took the stage, beginning the conversation with why Haas has turned his attention to the U.S. as a foreign policy expert in his new book. 

“The greatest national security threat the United States faces right now is what’s going on inside,” Haas said. “The reason I’m so worried about what’s going on here is that it’s this combination of a full foreign policy inbox and a domestic political reality.” 

Haas discussed further why he thinks a focus on obligations is important. 

“The premise of the book is that rights are central to the American experience,” Haas said. “The whole idea is that we imagine or rebalance citizenship, not just thinking about rights, but thinking about obligations. What I put forward is essentially my thinking about what these obligations need to be. My hope is that we start a conversation like we’re having here today.” 

Kurtzman expanded on his point about obligations and asked what we can do to best educate the next generation to be ready to engage in those obligations. 

“One, we should educate Americans about American democracy. I’d like to see a movement to get civics in our schools. I’d like it to become a requirement in middle school or high school,” Haas said. “I’d also like to see greater involvement in public service. This is a country founded on ideas; we have to get those ideas out there back in circulation, and we have to make them real.”

Haas spoke about how he hopes to see attitude changes in American culture. 

“Getting informed, getting involved, bothering to vote, being civil to one another,” Haas said. “Last but not least, valuing the country before political parties or your own personal ambitions. If this democracy is going to last another 250 years, or even another two or five years, it’s going to be because we, the people start acting in ways that are consistent with what democracy requires.”

Kurtzman then asked what are the warning signs that democracy is at risk in America, and Haas spoke about cynicism. 

“If democracy doesn’t deliver, people will grow cynical about democracy. They will become very open to alternatives,” he said. “I can see some young person saying I can see what democracy has done to me, but I don’t see what it’s done for me. I worry about that. Americans are disillusioned.”

Building off of that question, Kurtzman asked Haas what he would say to young people who are cynical about democracy. 

“When democracy works, it delivers in ways that no other form of government can even come close to competing [with],” Haas said. “Second, yes American democracy is in trouble, but get involved and fix it. You have a stake in it. At a minimum, you should be getting informed and voting.” 

Kurtzman followed up by asking Haas what role institutions of higher education play in building and sustaining our democracy and how they can do better. 

“The most important thing colleges and universities can do is to make themselves great laboratories for democracy, where we train and we give people a chance to play it out, but I don’t think universities need to be voicing democracies,” he said. 

After the event, first-year student Harlem Taylor spoke about his view on the role of civics in school.

“I registered for the event because I wanted to learn more about the state of democracy in America,” Taylor said. “As a St. Louis Fellow with the Gephardt Institute, I think that promoting civic engagement in school is a necessity because it’s an integral part of a balanced adult life.” 

Kurtzman asked Haas if we are balancing our self-interests and obligations to the international community effectively. 

“If you look at the polls, most Americans would say that we’re doing too much in the world,” Haas said. “But our problems aren’t from how much money we spend but how we spend it. Even if we were to spend more here at home, unless we spend it intelligently, we don’t necessarily have more to show for it.” 

Kurtzman brought the conversation back to the U.S. government, asking Haas if he thinks the government’s level of civility is different today or if we are seeing a different side of it because the media casts more light. 

“I think American society is less civil. There’s been a coarsening of American society, especially with the anonymity of social media,” he said. “I think it’s unfortunate, not because it’s not nice, but because it’s really counterproductive.” 

The next question was a student submission asking what advice he would offer for maintaining passion in a bureaucratic environment. 

“Government is filled with examples of undertakings. Government is so pervasive that if you want to affect things in your community, government is the best vehicle to do it,” Haas said. “One of the great things that government gives you is scale. When you succeed in government, you can often have an impact…” 

Kurtzman asked another student submission: describe your philosophy in life and advice for young people. 

“When it comes to thinking about careers, give yourself a break. Don’t put pressure on yourself that your first job can be your life’s work,” Haas said. “Give yourself a decade to explore, and then you have the next thirty or forty years to give back…” 

The last question presented by Kurtzman was what gives him hope when there are lots of reasons for us all to feel discouraged about the political landscape. 

“The power of innovation. I feel really good about technology. I have zero optimism about what diplomacy is going to accomplish on climate change, but I have great optimism about what technology will accomplish,” he said. “I worry, but worry doesn’t mean I’m defeatist. It gives me a sense of urgency.”

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