Coexistence Topics in the News
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Coexistence Topics in the News features media stories that exemplify the successes and challenges to coexistence faced by individuals, communities, and decision makers on the local, national, and international level. The stories presented are intended to contextualize the abstract notion of coexistence with  real world examples. They illustrate the range of issues that may fall within the sphere of coexistence, the questions and challenges raised, and how stakeholders have chosen to manage them.
TOPIC: Democracy in West Africa
On July 11, 2009, in a historic trip widely recognized as acknowledgment of Ghana's great strides in consolidating its democracy and building peace within its borders U.S. President Barack Obama traveled to this nation as his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa. The visit drew the attention of other African nations and the world to the potential of good governance and inclusive political processes to contribute towards national unity, stability, and economic progress.
In a speech before the Ghanaian parliament President Obama urged Africans to reject the 'strongman' mentality that is so common among African powerbrokers, and embrace practices of good governance, rule of law, and democracy. President Obama stated:
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"Development depends upon good governance. That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. That is the change that can unlock Africa's potential. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans . . . Africa doesn't need strongmen, it needs strong institutions."
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Referring to the violent conflicts that pervade the continent, he pressed for the rejection of identity politics and support for principles of coexistence between members of all societies.
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"Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at war. But for far too many Africans, conflict is a part of life, as constant as the sun. There are wars over land and wars over resources. And it is still far too easy for those without conscience to manipulate whole communities into fighting among faiths and tribes.
These conflicts are a millstone around Africa's neck. We all have many identities - of tribe and ethnicity; of religion and nationality. But defining oneself in opposition to someone who belongs to a different tribe, or who worships a different prophet, has no place in the 21st Century. Africa's diversity should be a source of strength, not a cause for division."
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Coexistence International’s work focuses on these precise questions of social inclusion as a foundation for strong democracies, the promotion of diversity and difference, and the creation of institutions that are inclusive of and responsive to all members of society.Â
CI has published several documents relevant to the issues President Obama sees as critical to Africa's future, and that explore the intersection of good governance and coexistence. Papers related to our work in West Africa may be found here.
Key excerpts from the President's speech are available here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8145999.stm
TOPIC: Same-sex Marriage
This article captures the complexities of the polarizing topic of same-sex marriage from various perspectives, raising questions about how differing sides may choose to coexist. Both sides defend their position by citing the concepts of equality and freedom.
For a homemaker in a heterosexual marriage, same-sex couples must demonstrate that their relationship benefits society in the same way as “the authentic, natural institution between a man and a woman”. A same-sex couple in a civil union seeks the same death benefit as a heterosexual marriage, but finds that they are excluded because of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. “You can’t be separate but equal,” said one woman in the civil union. A conservative think tank argues “people are willing to be tolerant . . . what they don’t like is being told they are going to be forced to accept something” while the New Hampshire governor demands that religious freedom of dissent for churches and their employees be included in legislation legalizing same-sex marriage.
The article includes the voices of both sides and reveals the challenges of coexistence when a society grapples with an issue that has the potential for profound social change.
Related CI publications include:
What is Coexistence and Why a Complementary Approach?
TOPIC: International Migration
Migration within and between countries poses challenges for the migrants themselves, host communities, and local and national governments. There can be tensions over cultural norms and traditions, difficulties in communicating, and competition over resources. In times of economic crises these tensions can be exacerbated without the necessary supports to respond effectively. The following articles provide examples of two such cases.
In the early part of the 20th century, as the Japanese economy was in decline and the Brazilian economy suffered a labor shortage, many Japanese moved to Brazil and other parts of South America, bettering their search of new opportunities. These migrants became known as Nikkei. In more recent years, as Japan faced its own labor shortage and the Brazilian economy weakened, many decedents of the original Nikkei raised in the Americas returned to Japan to seek employment. Currently, with the global economy in steep decline, Nikkei returnees find themselves socially excluded from Japan's insular culture yet at the same sharing in the countries economic woes. This radio broadcast examines the dilemmas facing unemployed Nikkei in Japan, and the reactions of Japanese host communities and the Japanese government to the situation.
The global economic downturn presents significant changes and challenges to perhaps every segment of American society. One particularly vulnerable group affected by the downturn is that of refugee populations who fled war to find sanctuary in the US, and now face unique challenges that raise significant coexistence issues for the communities where they reside. This story highlights one such community, Burlington, Vermont, explores how the economic downturn has exacerbated the problems and concerns common to refugee populations, and shares how the people and government of Burlington and Vermont choose to respond to this situation.
Related resources include:
CI's publication What is Coexistence and Why a Complementary Approach?
The Cultural Resources Center's website, including their Refugee Backgrounders and Cultural Profiles series.
TOPIC: Education
CI understands education as a key change agent and one of the main instruments through which a diverse society can address inter-group relations. If education policy is not sensitive to the issue of social cohesion and does not incorporate the perspectives of key stakeholders, it can be divisive and alienating, contributing to injustice and violence. The two stories highlighted here offer examples of how coexistence and education can intersect with one another in practice.
Coexistence describes societies and relationships that embody equality, values diversity, recognize inter-dependence between people and groups, and disdains the use of violence to resolve unhealthy conflicts. Though often spoken of in terms of intergroup relations, coexistence ultimately begins at the interpersonal level. As such, possessing empathy for someone else is critical to building coexistence and creating a culture of inclusion.
This story describes a national trend in the United States towards educating school-aged children on how to be more empathic. It details the efforts of one particular school district that was concerned about the levels of social exclusion practiced by its students.
While these efforts are focused locally and on the inter-personal level, educators in this school district see larger implications. “[They] see the lessons as grooming children to be better citizens and leaders” and as the Middle School principal states, “We’ve done a lot of work with human rights . . . but you can’t have kids saving Darfur and isolating a peer in the lunchroom. It all has to go together.”
While recognizing education is an opportunity to model and instill positive coexistence, educators also have a primary responsibility to serve the educational needs of all students. Finding a balance is of course not easily done, and for the divided community in this article the two objectives appear mutually exclusive. As one teacher states, “Are you going to focus on educating them, or socially integrating them?”
Related CI publications include:
Publication: What is Coexistence and Why a Complementary Approach?
Publication: Education Policy in Multi-Ethnic Societies:Â A Review of National Policies that Promote Coexistence and Social Inclusion
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