Exchange Opportunity
19th New Generation Seminar
The Global Economic Crisis: Impacts and Responses in Asia
October 4-18, 2009
Honolulu, Hawaii ♦ Seoul, Korea ♦ Hanoi, Vietnam
Background Information
Each year, the East-West Center (EWC) identifies participants from the younger, rising generation of leaders from the United States and Asia Pacific for this two-week intensive educational and dialogue program developed around a thematic focus. The purpose is to help create a better-informed younger generation of leaders who have a greater understanding of regional issues and challenges. The New Generation Seminar (NGS) also provides these younger leaders with a network of counterparts throughout Asia Pacific and the United States upon which to draw as they rise in their leadership positions. Since its launch in 1988, a total of 277 participants from 25 Asia Pacific countries and the United States have participated in 18 NGS programs.
The Freeman Foundation has funded the New Generation Seminar program for the past thirteen years, since 1996. Through this funding, the East-West Center covers participant air and ground travel expenses, meals, lodging and other per diem expenses related to the two-week period of the program.
The East-West Center seeks nominations for participants from a variety of organizations and individuals: U.S. Embassy public affairs or cultural affairs offices in Asia Pacific; the Japan Center for International Exchange in Tokyo; the American Council for Young Political Leaders, and the New Generation Seminar alumni.
We also accept direct applications from individuals. Self-applicants access the program through our website: www.eastwestcenter.org/ngs.
Nominations/applications are accepted from February to April, with selections made by mid-May. The New Generation Seminar is a competitive process; a selection committee at the East-West Center makes the final selection of participants.
Participant Criteria
The 19th New Generation Seminar will involve 12-14 participants aged mid-20’s to late 30’s, 8-10 from Asia and 4 from the United States. The program seeks to engage “communicators” and “leaders,” those individuals who are in a position to shape and influence the views of others. An important selection consideration is demonstrated leadership in current and/or past positions, and the potential for future leadership. Most often these individuals are leading through active engagement in the political processes of their countries. Past participants have included members of national, state or provincial government assemblies or ministries, young mayors or governors, city council members, up and coming members of political parties, leaders of political party youth wings, political advisors and other elected officials. The NGS also welcomes leaders from civil society organizations, media, business and law.
The NGS is not geared toward academics, researchers or individuals who are specialists in the program theme; rather it seeks to engage leaders with broad-based policy knowledge, responsibility and influence who can benefit from learning about a range of Asia Pacific issues in addition to the program theme.
We try to balance gender representation and also strive for diversity of ethnic, religious, regional representation and political party entities from each country. Preference is given to Asians who have had little opportunity for travel to the U.S. or other parts of Asia Pacific; likewise we generally select Americans with little or no Asia Pacific experience. Thus individuals from foreign ministries or international relations “think-tanks” are not strong candidates. Fluency in English is required.
Program Agenda
The New Generation Seminar program provides an avenue for dialogue and interaction among the participants through formal meetings as well as informal after-hour social activities. The first week of the New Generation Seminar is held at the East-West Center in Honolulu and consists of briefings by EWC research staff on key issues in the region such as economics, security, international relations, energy resources, population, health and environment, as well as sessions directly related to the seminar theme. The Honolulu program also includes visits to the U.S. Pacific Command and Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, a half island Oahu tour and an opportunity for each of the participants to share with the group a topic of interest/importance to him or her. Each participant is asked to give a short presentation on a topic from his or her country as a means for participants to learn from one another about the region and to stimulate discussion.
The second week of the program involves one week of field travel to either the Asia Pacific region or the United States mainland to enhance participants’ knowledge of a specific theme. Past themes have included: environmental issues, responses to 9/11, challenges of religious diversity, security and leadership, health issues, disaster risk reduction, education challenges for the 21st century, and the politics of globalization. This year’s program will focus on “The Global Economic Crisis: Impacts and Responses in Asia.”
19th NGS Program: “The Global Economic Crisis: Impacts and Responses in Asia
The world is facing what may be the first truly global economic crisis. The financial meltdown that began on Wall Street has become a crisis that reaches deep into the globally integrated financial and trading systems, posing very serious challenges for countries around the world. Asia’s vastly diverse economies have experienced the fallout in different ways, all of which are testing political, economic and social structures across the region.
The 19th New Generation Seminar will provide an opportunity for policy and decision-makers from Asia Pacific and the United States to develop a comprehensive perspective of how the financial crisis is affecting regional economies, how countries are responding nationally, and what countries are doing together. Participants will travel to Korea and Vietnam to compare the challenges and policy responses in two Asian countries representing different stages of economic development and different political systems. In Korea participants will examine how the crisis has affected a newly industrialized economy that has been one of Asia’s success stories since the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Vietnam offers a view of the impact on an emerging economy that has had the second highest growth rate in Asia for several years, but still remains a developing nation. Meetings and visits will expose participants to a wide range of perspectives from government, private sector, labor, academia, civil society and the media to better understand the causes, consequences and future implications of this unprecedented challenge to the global economy.