Posted on 04/10/2013 8:55:47 AM PDT by Welchie25
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair addressed a packed arena at Loyola University Maryland April 9 on the challenges of political leadership in the face of globalization.
“The challenges of political leadership today are probably as difficult – if not more so – than any point in time I can remember,” Blair said.
Blair’s presentation was the inaugural Hanway Lecture in Global Studies, supported by H. Edward Hanway, chairman of Loyola’s board of trustees.
In a 20-minute lecture, Blair said the “chief characteristic of the world today in my view is the scope, the scale and the scheme of change.”
“Things are happening very fast,” he said. “Very often, the best short-term politics are in collision with the best long-term policies. The single toughest thing for leaders is to make sure they’re following the policies that are right for the long-term interests of the country rather than simply giving in to the pressures of the short-term politics.”
Blair spoke at Loyola a day after the death of the Baroness Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s prime minister from 1979 to 1990. He called Thatcher “a genuine and true defender of liberty.”
“There are very few political figures that end up not just changing the political landscape of their own country, but the world, and she did that,” he said. “I think it’s right that we mark her passing with great respect and pride.”
In a 30-minute question-and-answer session following his remarks, Blair responded to submitted audience queries on topics ranging from his efforts to resolve conflict between Israelites and Palestinians and reduce poverty in Africa, to the issues of climate change and international involvement in Syria. He also answered questions of a personal nature, including one on his conversion to Catholicism after he left office.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicreview.org ...
The challenges of political leadership today are probably as difficult – if not more so – than any point in time I can remember,” Blair said.
REALLY? SERIOUSLY?
Ever hear of Nazi Germany and the Axis Powers Tony?
Another clueless liberal.
He stood by GWB. That’s all.
Global Studes, huh?
So... that’s the branch of political science which illustrates why neither Britain nor the United States matter anymore in global affairs, eh?
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