Women and Security: Sweden’s Nordic Center on Gender in Military Operations

On March 14, 2013, in Sweden, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

Engaging women in security and peace-keeping is critical to advancing global stability and a safer world. Women are among the most affected by violence during conflict periods and have some of the most nuanced knowledge on how to generate peaceful consensus within their communities.  As former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in December 2011 at a speech in New York:

“From Northern Ireland to Liberia to Nepal and many places in between, we have seen that when women participate in peace processes, they focus discussion on issues like human rights, justice, national reconciliation, and economic renewal that are critical to making peace, but often are overlooked in formal negotiations. They build coalitions across ethnic and sectarian lines, and they speak up for other marginalized groups. They act as mediators and help to foster compromise. And when women organize in large numbers, they galvanize opinion and help change the course of history.”

In this spirit, on 22 February 2013, the Swedish armed forces signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Headquarters, Supreme Allied Command Transformation (HQ SACT) and Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) that formalizes Sweden’s Nordic Center for Gender in Military Operations (NCGM) as lead for gender education and training by designating it as the Department Head (DH) for all NATO- led curricula concerning gender.

The cooperation established by this MoU will allow open participation from NATO, NATO nations, nations participating in Partnership for Peace (PfP), non-NATO/non-PfP nations and International Organizations / non-Governmental Organizations (IO/NGO) in accordance with NATO policy for NATO accredited courses.

As the NATO DH for gender education and training, the NCGM, will have many roles/responsibilities, but three of the highlights are as follows: (1) NCGM will translate operational requirements into education and training objectives within the subject of gender and related programs, modules and courses; (2) NCGM will establish training standards to which the NATO gender program courses will adhere; (3) NCGM will collaborate with both HQ SACT and SHAPE to ensure courses and curricula conform to NATO requirements.

This is good news for Sweden and NATO! This MOU culminates almost one year of coordination between SACT, SHAPE and the Swedish armed forces/Ministry of Defense. Sweden long ago recognized that if any Peace Support Operation (PSO) was to be successful that it would demand a comprehensive approach that involves the entire population: men, women, boys and girls. The area of gender perspectives has traditionally been neglected when planning, executing and evaluating PSOs. When ensuring the implementation of gender perspectives, the need for training and education is crucial. That is the reason that Sweden established the NCGM and then had its opening ceremony on 24 January 2012. It is just another example of Sweden’s “moral authority” that is recognized around the world.

So, congratulations to Sweden and the NCGM for their designation as Department Head for all NATO-led curricula concerning gender!

Tagged with: • • • • • • •
 

To a great 2013!

On January 14, 2013, in Sweden, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

Ambassador and Mrs. Natalia Brzezinski

As a new year emerges with a very snowy January, Mark and I could not be more excited for what we know will be a new dynamic, fun and interesting year at U.S. Embassy Stockholm.

It’s still slightly surreal to imagine that we’ve been living in Stockholm for over a year now. My mind still conjures up vivid memories of our late night November arrival in 2011 with an exhausted, colicky toddler, two parents with the stomach flu and suitcases full of clothes that we quickly realized were not warm or waterproof enough for the very cold winter wonderland we arrived in. The city was frigid but the Embassy community could not have been warmer and kinder. As we stumbled around town in the darkness trying to find a grocery store or figure out where Strandvagen was, Swedes and Americans alike could not have been more helpful and genuinely kind and receptive.

Looking back on our first year, I’m amazed by all of the fresh and creative initiatives the Embassy accomplished and the diverse set of exciting visitors we received. A top highlight was the visit by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  We also received one of the largest Senate delegations ever to Sweden led by Swedish-American U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson.  Additionally, we welcomed U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, U.S. Ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer, the legendary Paul Simon and Yo-Yo Ma and two sets of brilliant American Nobel laureates among many others. I know that I have grown personally and learned so much from following the lead of the talented U.S. Embassy team.

Our engagement flowed naturally and productively due to their hard work and also a sense of shared values that provides the basis of the strong American-Swedish relationship. A common commitment to democracy, innovation, sustainability and environmentalism, transparency and true partnership injected a special positive energy into the all of the goals and efforts by the U.S. Embassy. Through the Centennial celebration of Raoul Wallenberg, we were able to underscore the value of not being indifferent in the face of adversity and evil. It was extremely moving to be able to collaborate with the Swedish Foreign Ministry and other Swedish partners to celebrate Wallenberg.

In 2013, I’m looking forward to continuing my work in promoting diversity, youth engagement and women’s empowerment but also looking for new ways to be supportive and open within our community. Despite having a relaxing and lovely time over the holidays with my family in Chicago, Mark and I could not be happier to be back to a place and a set of people that we feel are home to us now.

Our daughter set the tone in this regard by voicing a near daily desire to go back home so she could “speak Swedish and go to dagis” to the chagrin and heartbreak of her grandparents!!

Among my many resolutions, one of the priorities is learning Swedish this year. In that hopeful vein, Gott Nytt år och God Fortsättning!

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • •
 

An American State and the US Embassy Working Together to Build American Jobs

On June 21, 2012, in Mark, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0
From left to right: Sweden’s Ambassador to the USA Jonas Hafström, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and US Ambassador to Sweden Mark Brzezinski. US Ambassador to Sweden Mark Brzezinski joins Sweden’s Ambassador to the USA Jonas Hafstrom in welcoming Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell to Sweden to promote trade and commerce.

 

President Obama and Secretary Clinton have been clear:  Economic Statecraft and commercial diplomacy are a priority for every section in our Embassy.  The overlay between the commercial context and the strategic context has never been closer.  It’s about building jobs and conveying American values.  Every single job we create is a step in the right direction.  This is why US Embassy Stockholm is so pleased to welcome Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell to Sweden.

Ambassador Brzezinski and Governor McDonnell at the US Embassy reception for American and Swedish business leaders.

An American state’s CEO can be a deal closer, can convey better than most the unique combination that a state can offer in terms of infrastructure, tax benefits, public education and other qualities can combine to create a perfect opportunity for a Swedish investment in America.

 

Swedish Ambassador to the United States Jonas Hafström flew in for the Governor’s visit, and the Swedish Embassy in Washington collaborated in a highly effective fashion to make the case for Swedish investments in the United States.

US Embassy Stockholm’s commercial section (led by the able Frank Carrico) worked for months with the State of Virginia’s Economic Development office to develop a program whereby the Governor, his Secretary of Agriculture, and the state’s office for travel and tourism could meet with Swedish executives in banking, building and construction, infrastructure, agriculture (from wine to wood pellets), aerospace and defense, truck vehicles, industrial parts, logistics management, offshore windmills, biotech equipment, legal and accounting services, and travel and tourism operators to make a strong case for an investment in America. Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in The Hague, along with AmCham Sweden and SACC-USA, also helped pull in decision-making executives with strong interest in Virginia. Very important for the Governor’s visit was the work of our Embassy Public Affairs Section in setting up an interview with Dagens Industri, the Wall Street Journal of Sweden. Results from the visit will be followed carefully by Embassy Stockholm.

With Virginia’s Finest: Ambassador stands with Sergeant Chris Clark (left) and Master Trooper Dave Johnson (right), both with the Virginia State Police Executive Protective Unit

Governor McDonnell and the First Lady of Virginia Maureen McDonnell met with business titans in Stockholm, including Jacob Wallenberg, a distant cousin of the famous Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg (who chose not to be indifferent during World  War II and saved thousands of Hungarian Jews).

The Governor also travelled to Western Sweden to the city of Gothenberg, where he met with Regional Governor Lars Bäckström and the Volvo Group CEO Olof Persson.

Building jobs and economic growth is a full time job – I was very pleased our Embassy’s Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) section worked so well with the Governor’s office and the Swedish Embassy in Washington to ferret out business leads.  We live in a globally interdependent economy, and building jobs and trade between countries can be advanced ably by state governors.

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • •
 

Secretary Clinton’s Historic Visit to Sweden

On June 7, 2012, in Mark, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

Secretary of State Clinton being introduced to Embassy staff by Ambassador and Mrs. Brzezinski

Natalia and I have been in Sweden for less than seven months, but I honestly can not think of any other period of time in my life more packed with excitement than this first half-year in Stockholm.  We have had the time of our lives, and literally every day has been unforgettable.   But just when I thought it could not possibly get any better…the Secretary of State comes to visit!  What an incredible honor – and what an amazing recognition of the importance of our friendship with Sweden, and the high value our most important leaders place on this relationship.  This was the first visit to Sweden in more than 30 years by a U.S. Secretary of State, purely for the purpose of enhancing, deepening, and honoring the relationship between our two countries. And that’s what made it historic.

Swedish-American relations have never been stronger or warmer.  Literally as the Secretary landed on the coldest day in Sweden in decades, the warmth of Foreign Minister Bildt and his wife ,who joined Natalia and I in greeting the Secretary on the wet tarmac, was palpable and set the tone for the entire visit.
Sweden is in the very front ranks with us in direct engagement with the immediate global problems we all confront. Our Swedish hosts were both honored and very pleased the Secretary travelled to Stockholm. They welcomed Secretary Clinton with the same enthusiasm that the staff and families of US Embassy Stockholm did. We are so proud of our Secretary of State, and we are proud of the American – Swedish relationship which her visit deepened and honored.

A Powerful Global Partnership Based on Shared Values

As Secretary Clinton said, Sweden is – and has long been – one of America’s top partners and one of our oldest friends.  Importantly, Sweden brings its diplomatic heft and its development expertise to nearly every corner of the globe.  When it comes to global priorities, whether it is Afghanistan, Iran, counter-terrorism, global economic reform, humanitarian assistance, the Swedes are right by our side.  It is a relationship based on shared and deeply cherished values, values which we and Sweden are both committed to protecting.

At the recent NATO Summit in Chicago, the U.S. warmly welcomed Sweden as one of NATO’s strongest partners, standing with us in Afghanistan as we begin the transition to full Afghan responsibility for security by 2014, as well as working for the betterment of the Afghan people into the future.  In addition, Sweden offered NATO the use of its Nordic Center for Gender in Military Operations, which further demonstrates the strong and positive relationship between Sweden and NATO.  Secretary Clinton recognized this important offer in her remarks in Stockholm with the Swedish Prime Minister Frederick Reinfeldt and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.

Working Together To Keep The Internet Free

The Secretary also noted the close cooperation we share with the Swedes when it comes to protecting Internet Freedom.  She applauded Sweden’s leadership on Internet Freedom issues, stressing that those rights belong in the Internet as much as they do in the “real” world.  She also commended our Embassy for maximizing our social media platforms, and in particular for our our work in reaching out to Swedish bloggers.  As we all know, Foreign Minister Carl Bildt is a prolific blogger himself.  So when he

complimented our embassy’s use of social media as a model for his own ministry to follow, it was high praise indeed! And when it comes to all of the large challenges that know no boundaries, such as climate change, or gender equality, or Internet freedom, it is true that Sweden is not just on the front lines, but leading.  And I am greatly appreciative for all of that work, and look forward to enhancing it in the months and years ahead.

Dealing With Climate Change Together

Personally, I’m delighted that Secretary Clinton also chose to focus on climate and the environment during her visit. Sweden and the U.S. have a strong partnership in this area — both countries are initiators of a global coalition to address short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs). Secretary Clinton joined Sweden’s Environment Minister Lena Ek and H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria at an event launching the coalition’s global awareness-raising efforts, and in her remarks she said: “Few people actually know about the impact we could have on global warming if we aggressively target short-lived climate pollutants.  And fewer still know that many cost-effective solutions already exist and are just waiting to be broadly implemented.”

To bolster the efforts led by Sweden and the U.S. to raise awareness about SLCPs, Secretary Clinton announced a global contest to find the most creative ideas for raising awareness of short-lived climate pollutants and the work that must be done to stop them. You can find details on the contest at www.unep.org/ccac.

It was so terrific to have the Secretary visit Stockholm and to spend some time with our Embassy team and their families.  Our Meet and Greet with Embassy staff and families was warm and uplifting, and reflected the respect and admiration our Secretary of State has for public service.  That she took time for photos with our Marines, our Embassy’s kids and all of us will long be remembered.  As the father of a young daughter with a wife joining me in a commitment to women’s empowerment, it was inspiring to have Secretary Clinton visit Sweden, as she is a global leader on this and many other issues.  In Sweden she finds a willing and capable partner which shares our values, as Sweden’s government today has more women ministers than men, including a female Minister of Defense.  Tack så mycket (“Thank you so much” in Swedish) Madame Secretary!!!!

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
 

Global Symposium on Women’s Entrepreneurship

On June 1, 2012, in Natalia, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

(From left to right) United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Sweden Sheikha Najla Alqassimi, Professor Mary Barrett from the University of Wollonkong, K. Shelly Porges, Senior Advisor leading the State Department’s Global Women’s Initiative and Mrs. Natalia Brzezinski

This morning I had the privilege of moderating a fascinating panel on women’s entrepreneurship. The dynamic speakers included K. Shelly Porges, Senior Advisor leading the State Department’s Global Women’s Initiative, the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Sweden Sheikha Najla Alqassimi, and Professor Mary Barrett from the University of Wollonkong.

The global symposium was organized by the Swedish non-profit organization, ESBRI, and served as the inaugural event for the coming year’s work aimed at creating a global knowledge and action network for enhancing women’s entrepreneurship with a theme of women’s entrepreneurship as both an economic force and a societal force to change society and contribute to sustainable growth.

Secretary Clinton has said: “talent is universal, opportunity is not.” This is the guiding principle behind the Global Women’s Business Initiative and a way of leveling the playing field to create opportunity for women around the world in entrepreneurship. This office utilizes policy and public-private partnerships to educate women on how to start a business, create programs to monitor their progress and facilitate support networks. See more information on the Global Entrepreneurship Program here.

The theme of the panel was deciphering a global outlook on different forms of entrepreneurship occurring around the world and how to maximize that potential. Cultural norms are critical to implementing these policies, and the challenges that women face in the Arab world are incredibly different that those in Africa or Australia. This is why having such a disparate group of women provided a very rich context for those of us listening. I found it fascinating hearing Ambassador Alqassimi discuss the burgeoning movement toward enterprise by middle class women with a lifetime’s worth of meticulous savings who want to join the marketplace, or the young generation of Emirati women who are increasingly more educated than me and craving a professional life. Professor Barrett’s assessments of Australia having equal numbers of men and women participating in entrepreneurship were also eye-opening.

However, one universal problem seemed to be a lack of confidence among women in every nation. According to statistics from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2010 Women’s Report less than half–47.7 percent–of women believe they are capable of starting a business, while well over half–62.1 percent–of men believe they are capable. One thing is crystal clear: if you don’t believe in yourself and your own ideas, no one else will.

It is essential to provide women with role models who can describe their varied journeys to success and show other women that their dreams too can become reality. I passionately believe this is the moment for women to finally break through the glass ceiling, partly because of the incredible global leadership promoting this issue by women like Secretary Hillary Clinton, but also because people, in particular the young generation, are sick of the “old way of doing business” and are demanding equal opportunities for all.

The full participation of women in the global economy is vital to prosperity, political stability and sustainable development. With female leaders like the ones mentioned in this blog, as well as male leaders such as Magnus Aronsson, the President of ESBRI, I am confident the new generation will be the women’s generation.

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • •
 

Global Award for Entrepreneurship

On May 17, 2012, in Natalia, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

Yesterday Mark and I attended an interesting luncheon held for the winner of this year’s International Award for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Research, Professor Kathleen M. Eisenhardt from Stanford University.

Professor Eisenhardt was celebrated for her prescient and extensive research in corporate entrepreneurship, primarily identifying factors that keep entrepreneurial ventures innovative and successful in varying and rapidly changing markets.

In her fascinating keynote speech, Professor Eisenhardt determined that swift decision-making based on an analysis of 3-4 alternatives and an ability to be nimble and adapt to change quickly are critical for a thriving entrepreneurial enterprise. Another interesting point she made was that the best businesses learn to operate on the “edge of chaos”— incorporating a solid structure of rules but not being too rigid— a concept she compared to “being the parent of a teenager” who has to be closely watched but not overly regulated.

According to Eisenhardt, the most effective management teams are very diverse, with a mix of genders, ages and ethnic backgrounds. This is very much in line with Secretary Clinton’s focus on promoting more women in business leadership.

Studies done by the World Bank and United Nations report that strong market growth among European companies is most likely to occur where there is a higher proportion of women on senior management teams. According to research by Forbes Magazine, firms with more women on their boards outperform their rivals with a 42% higher return on sales, 66% higher return on invested capital and 53% higher return on equity.

In addition to the luncheon, Professor Eisenhardt has spent the past several days discussing her findings with students, policymakers and government officials in order to promote goals of innovation and enterprise within Sweden.

The award is sponsored by the Swedish Foundation for Small Business Research (FSF) and the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Nutek). In 2008 the Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN) joined FSF and Nutek to become the third partner in awarding the Prize.

We were so proud that an American woman won the prize this year, and it was such a privilege meeting her. Congratulations Professor Kathleen Eisenhardt! Go Stanford!

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • •
 

Values-Based Leadership

On March 26, 2012, in Natalia, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

Photo: Andreas Wanitzky

 

Last week I was incredibly honored to deliver the keynote speech at a conference on “values-based leadership” organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Sweden in cooperation with the French Chamber of Commerce. I had the privilege of speaking with an accomplished panel of business leaders from companies like Facebook, as well as Maud Olofsson, former Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden and a pioneer in promoting women in business and politics.

 
My speech focused on the values of the Millennial generation—those born after 1980— and how those values will affect the future dynamic of the workplace and alter conventional leadership structures.

 
Understanding the identity of a generation is essential to understanding where our ever-globalizing world is going. Young people today comprise the most connected dimension of global society, and in much of the developing world the bulk of the population is under the age of 30. In the Middle East, nearly 65% of the population in some countries is under the age of 24.

 
This is an activated group looking for authentic, selfless and transparent leadership, and driven by a quest for a compelling personal narrative grounded in social responsibility and global experiences, a sense of work-life balance and a professional home with a greater purpose beyond just profit-margins.

 
Categorizing an entire generation is an enormous and potentially Sisyphean task. There are always exceptions to every generalization, and the beauty of the human condition is its diversity. But I gave my best, studied assessment and we had a vibrant conversation that touched on what qualities future leaders will have—high emotional intelligence, cultural sensitivity, a capacity to anticipate change and openness—and how to most effectively promote women to leadership positions in business.

 
My hopeful prediction is that women will take the lead in the Millennial generation. For the first time in American history women are outnumbering men in terms of college degrees and master’s degrees by close to double, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Because they grew up in a post-Feminist period and were educated in the 1990s when the “self-esteem” movement hit grade schools in America— Millennial women truly believe they can be leaders in society.

 
What these young women need to continue their professional development is mentorship. This is something Ms. Olofsson emphasized, as well as several other panelists. Projecting successful role models is critical to giving young women the self-confidence to take innovative risks and go for the promotions or professional challenges they may feel are out of their grasp.

 

This is not about cutting men out of the equation, but leveling the playing field so there is a relatively equal balance of men and women in leadership positions. A healthy gender balance has been proven to be the most effective formula in leading companies.

 

Promoting commercial, people-to-people ties and gender equality in the workplace was a common thread woven throughout the week. In addition to the conference, we hosted two separate roundtables on these topics. Sweden and America share many common values, and bringing people together to brainstorm and debate is one of the most productive ways to inspire and facilitate progress. It is something we look forward to doing much more of in the coming year!

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • •
 

Convening for women’s empowerment

On March 22, 2012, in Mark, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

One of the best things about serving as US Ambassador is the ability to bring inspiring, diverse sets of people together to speak openly and work on the challenges of the day.

That’s exactly what happened this week at our residence, where my wife and I hosted a roundtable on the topic of Women’s Business Leadership.  Our main speaker, Maud Olofsson, is a path-breaking leader in this realm and a long time partner and friend of the United States. She is the former Swedish Deputy Prime Minister.  She is also one of just two European women, along with Cherie Blair, to be invited as a leader to Secretary Hillary Clinton’s ground-breaking International Council on Women’s Business Leadership.  On that Council, she chairs the “leadership” sub-committee.

The goal of the Roundtable was for Ms. Olofsson to give a readout on the inaugural meeting of Secretary Clinton’s Council which occurred in late January. Olofsson said she returned inspired by the enthusiasm and will in the group: “Secretary Clinton is serious, she really wants to change things!”

What ensued was a vibrant discussion among women of all ages and cultural backgrounds, from the private sector and the public sector, mothers and wives and grandmothers, passionately debating the merits of quota systems, the need for extensive childcare programs, cultural sensitivity when it comes to gender issues, and many more topics. It was a conversation that could’ve lasted far longer than two hours. I was one of only two men there, and I was inspired by the strength and talent in the room!

Ms. Olofsson gave us a detailed account of “facts and figures”, as she likes to say, that strongly make the case for engaging more women in business and entrepreneurship. This is not charity for women; women are an educated, skilled demographic that is necessary to bring into the workforce for the sake of economics and growth. An aging demographic will put an enormous strain on the workforce in Europe, and the full potential of the workforce must be engaged to sustain this. Women are also an asset. Extensive research has shown that the most effective and successful executive boards and leadership teams are the ones with an equal balance of men and women.

Many women emphasized the role of childcare in “liberating” women in both wealthier Western nations and developing nations. The truth is that the work women do at home is not accounted for in GDP, not acknowledged and not compensated. If women were freed from that to some extent, they could contribute that amount of productivity to the economy. It has also been shown that when women make the money, they prioritize their children’s educations and that is the first thing they spend their profits on. Empowering women in business will empower the future. And women need help at home to accomplish that.

Beyond childcare, one idea that is the brainchild of Ms. Olofsson is the hugely successful “Ambassador’s Program”, which she initiated as Minister of Enterprise. This program, focusing on showcasing female “role models” and entrepreneurs and sending them  to schools around the country has been emulated by 22 European countries now. The most important and simple things to create change is being a role model, Olofsson emphasized. And the idea of finding these kinds of strong female role models in every country in the world, and showing women in countries where they are still being repressed that it is possible to be independent, to make your own money and to start your own business is the key to this initiative.

The event ended with 25 women connecting, sharing stories and promising to reconvene with more ideas. I hope this is just the beginning of a long set of meetings.

Tagged with: • • • • • • •
 

Internet freedom

On January 30, 2012, in Mark, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That people all over the world are taking to the Internet to voice their interests and concerns is something that the U.S. and the Obama Administration see as a positive force in the world. This is why we take the issue of Internet freedom so seriously and why the President and Secretary of State Clinton have made the issue of Internet freedom a vital part of U.S. foreign policy. I urge everyone to read Secretary Clinton’s excellent speech on Internet Freedom.  It is in everyone’s interest that as many voices and opinions, ınterests and concerns, be heard as possible.  The Internet and technology are providing an ever growing forum for this positive development.

In the past two weeks, there have been a couple of events generating positive discussion.  One of those events was a talk by Bill Lynn, former US Deputy Secretary of Defense, The Future of War: Cyberdefence and Defence Restructuring, at a seminar organized by Folk och Försvar and the Swedish National Defense University.  I recommend watching the replay, because modern free societies need to talk about protecting digital infrastructure in an open, honest and realistic way.  Bill Lynn is a particular expert on how the US is tackling this relatively new challenge.

Secretary Clinton has emphasized that the importance of the universal human rights of freedom of expression, assembly and association apply online as they do offline.  Last week, Assistant Secretary Posner said at the State of the Net conference, ” No deed is more evil — or more noble — when it is committed online rather than offline… You can’t beat up and gag a peaceful protestor and you can’t jail her for a blog post criticizing a government policy, either.”   If there was any question whether America is serious about protecting people’s rights online, this statement stands as a clear testament.

Important questions are being raised by private industry, civil society and the tech community about the balance between freedom of expression and the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the digital realm.  These are some of the same challenges we have faced in the analog world before, some for centuries, and they are solvable when we have all the stake-holders sitting at the table working toward lasting partnerships.  The embassy is strengthening our partnership with Sweden as the emphasis moves from agreement to action, and focus turns to Internet Freedom for Global Development at the Stockholm Internet Forum April 18-19.  I’m excited about this event and the potential to make freedom and openness on the Internet an economic and social development priority.

All of these discussions and actions around cyberspace and the role of the Internet in our lives demonstrate one simple but important principle: the Internet itself is an exceptionally effective tool for this public debate.  So it’s perhaps fitting to see, after so much effective use of the Internet to break down barriers in repressive countries, the lively discussion and activism by individuals in the US and Europe over these very questions of online expression, piracy and security.  In the words of theorist Marshall McLuhan, who predicted the web some 30 years before it existed, “the medium is the message.”

Tagged with: • • • • • • •
 

To a great 2012!

On January 11, 2012, in Mark, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

As the new U.S. Ambassador in Sweden, I can’t tell you how enthusiastic I am about the coming year.  I want to share with you some of the events the Embassy is organizing, but first an anecdote.

 
After I was confirmed by the Senate to be Ambassador to Sweden, I had the opportunity to ask former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright for her advice on what makes a good Ambassador.  Her wise response was illuminating:

First, good ambassadors “don’t take themselves too seriously” [Good advice, and not just for Ambassadors!]

Second, she said, the way America is viewed around the world is changing and can be shaped positively by a dynamic embassy team that listens and learns and engages in a humble and inclusive way with the people and government of the country in which they are posted.

As Ambassador, I take that advice to heart, and as I plan our agenda for 2012 I am working with my embassy team to engage with the government and people of Sweden in way that helpfully interprets American priorities, policies and perspectives.  And a great agenda is beginning to materialize.
In 2012, Sweden will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Raoul Wallenberg, a diplomat whose efforts to save Hungarian Jews from the Holocaust clearly demonstrate the importance of not being indifferent.  He paid with his life for that commitment.  It will be our mission at U.S. Embassy Sweden to advance the American – Swedish relationship in a way that honors that legacy.

 

At the U.S. Embassy, we have formed an internal cluster to think how best to celebrate the basic values Raoul Wallenberg stood for.  One excellent recommendation that emerged from our team – and that we will implement in 2012 at an appropriate time for planting – is to plant a horse chestnut tree in honor of Raoul Wallenberg.  That strain of tree is famous from the legacy of Anne Frank, as it was a horse chestnut in the center of Amsterdam which she mentioned in her diary.  The tree will be endowed with a Raoul Wallenberg plaque.  It will serve as a living symbol of Wallenberg’s legacy that we hope will inspire future generations of both Americans and Swedes to protect basic values as a universal imperative.

 
Sweden now holds the rotating chairmanship of the Arctic Council.  Since the United States is a member of that Council, we at U.S. Embassy Sweden are enthusiastically working with Sweden to advance our common goals of protecting the environment and conserving the Arctic’s biological resources while promoting economic cooperation.  At the end of January I will travel to Jokkmokk in the northern Norbotten province of Sweden to attend and speak at the Jokkmokk Winter Conference.  It will be my goal to convey at the conference my deep personal passion for protecting the environment and biodiversity, and to listen and learn from other attendees on how we can work together to address climate change and its effects in the Arctic that are threatening the future of the North.

 
In 2012, we will be working hard to tactically implement Secretary of State Clinton’s vision of Economic Statecraft.  The Secretary has been eloquent in articulating the overlay between the commercial context and the strategic context.  Deputy Secretary of State Tom Nides also crystallized it when he said “We are living at a moment when economics is at the heart of what it means to lead in this world.”  I and the Embassy team will focus on a multi-pronged strategy when it comes to Economic Statecraft:  promoting public-private partnerships especially when it comes to socially responsible causes, and bringing in U.S. trade missions to promote business to business relationships.  In the coming year, our embassy will also work on a variety of initiatives designed to partner with Sweden to promote anti-bribery and anti-corruption overseas.  With the Arab spring, the timing has never been more ripe for engaging young people and women in entrepreneurship, sharing best practices and transferring American and Swedish values of openness and transparency.

 
Also on our agenda early in 2012 we are focusing on military ties as a top priority, because Sweden is a role model for what it is to be a helpful NATO partner.  The United States salutes the valuable contributions of Sweden in Afghanistan (where Sweden has over 500 troops) and in Libya, where as part of the coalition the Swedes deployed eight aircraft for reconnaissance purposes.  I am very pleased to say that in January we will welcome former Deputy Secretary of Defense Bill Lynn to Stockholm.  Our embassy is partnering with the Swedish think tank “Folk och Försvar” to host a lecture series, and Mr. Lynn will be presenting a lecture discussing cybersecurity and defense restructuring.  As Mr. Lynn wrote in a 2011 article in Foreign Affairs, “cyber technologies now exist that are capable of destroying critical networks, causing physical damage, or altering the performance of key systems. In the twenty-first century, bits and bytes are as threatening as bullets and bombs.”  It promises to be a fascinating discussion.

 
So we are just thrilled with the beginning of 2012 – and hope you are too — as they say here in Sweden “Gott Nytt År!” – Happy New Year!

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
 
« Previous Entries