ERIN SCHUTTE

Even though the former Prime Minister of the Britain is in his second year as a professor at Yale University, it’s not every day that its students have the opportunity to sit down for a Conversation with Tony Blair.  That is why hundreds of students and members of the Yale community lined up outside of Battell Chapel on Yale’s campus for over an hour in order to secure a ticket to see Tony Blair and Ernesto Zedillo, another professor at Yale and Mexico’s former president.

Yale President Richard Levin moderated the conversation between Tony Blair and Ernesto Zedillo, which focused mostly on the topic of globalization.  Both men agree on many aspects of globalization, but each brings an interesting center of focus to the greater issue: Blair focuses on the religiosity of globalization while Zedillo specializes in economic globalization.

Tony Blair believes that the biggest question facing globalization in the 21st century is whether there will be open or closed dialogue between varying religions, and whether the rise of religiosity will be used as a force of good or ill in the future.  Ernesto Zedillo, while not contradicting Blair, suggested that the economic crisis is what seriously threatens globalization at the moment.  “The big challenge is to overcome crisis and to retain economic growth.  There needs to be immense international coordination…there needs to be agreement and basic understandings for economic and financial regulation,” Zedillo emphasized.

Politics quickly became the topic of conversation between the leaders, and Blair brought up the challenge of how the West can get the rest of the world on board with globalization.  “Globalization only works when there is a sense of justice,” Blair stated. Zedillo raised a similar question: “How can we persuade nations to open up to globalization when we are in an uneven and unjust place?” Both men agreed that in order to conquer this challenge, international leaders must discard current “correctional politics” in exchange for long term policy that will help build up good governance throughout the developing world.  In addition, there must be safety nets for those adverse to globalization to begin with.  “We must compensate,” said Zedillo.

Aside from globalization, Blair and Zedillo shared their thoughts on many other internationally pressing topics, ranging from climate change to the Barack Obama’s first year in office.

With the United Nations Climate Change Conference taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark this week and next, both Blair and Zedillo gave their projections for the outcome of negotiations.  “We will see progress,” Zedillo began warily.  “We will get an agreement in Copenhagen with important elements that constitute a meaningful first step in the right direction, but it won’t be a perfect agreement.”  Zedillo is skeptical of the timeline, and believes that it will take a few years in order for there to be a large impact of the negotiations taking place now.

Blair describes climate change as a “tough political challenge” and highlighted the difficulties of nations such as China and India who are on the direct path of industrialization. “Even if Britain completely stopped emitting greenhouse gases, China’s growing industries and demand for coal fire would diminish those positive effects on the environment in just eighteen months.”    As for what is feasible, Blair suggested that, “We should get the best agreement as we can in Copenhagen, and then review those commitments a few years down the line.”

When asked about Barak Obama’s performance in the global political theater throughout 2009, Blair applauded Obama’s first year in office and suggested that America’s president has impressively balanced “listening and leading”—the two most important things a politician can do, according to the former prime minister.  Specifically, Blair commended Obama on his improved relations with Egypt as well as his recent decision to send additional troops to Afghanistan.  “Just because it is difficult we are supposed to walk away?” he inquired.   He concluded this subject with a personal reflection.  “Once you leave office, you should never forget how hard it was to be in office.”

The conversation spanned several serious topics, but each of the leaders’ unique wit and light humor kept the audience engaged.  More than once during the event the chapel, filled to capacity, broke out in applause.  The moderator’s last question was aimed towards Tony Blair. “What’s your prediction for the final score of the US/Britain soccer game during the World Cup next summer?”  And as expected of the true Brit, Blair said that he is looking forward to Britain’s victory.