World Affairs Council of Philadelphia > Programs > Speaker Events

Site Map | Privacy

Home

About Us

Special Member Programs

Past Speakers

Education

Travel the World

Careers

The World Affairs Council of
Philadelphia is an affiliate of
the World Affairs Councils
of America

Larger Font |

Smaller Font

The End of Dictatorship is not the Beginning of Democracy

Editor of Newsweek International outlines major challenges of globalized world

Sam Ballam, of sponsor Cooke & Bieler, presents gift

WAC president Buntzie Churchill and Vice President Claudia McBride with Dr. Zakaria. WPO/YPO partnered with the Council for this event.

Dr. Fareed Zakaria cautioned the United States to examine its spending, tax cuts, and educational practices if America wants to play a major role in the 21st century. Speaking before a sellout crowd of 500 people on Tuesday evening, October 11th, Zakaria said it is naïve to expect an instant democracy to rise from the ashes of the defunct regime of Saddam Hussein. But a drawn-out, costly war could rob America of the resources it desperately needs to remain competitive in a globalized world where scientific savvy, willingness to work, and low labor costs characterize more and more people outside the United States, especially in China, India, Brazil, and South Africa. He suggested that the training and retraining of American workers should be the next "G. I. bill." Zakaria added that "short-term pain for long-term gain" through rigorous education in science, math, foreign languages, and global cultures could catapult the younger generation from complacency to competiveness.

View more past programs...