Thinking Ahead to a Future in Politics
by Malgorzata Steiner on April 15, 2009 in Features
I don’t know about the news coverage you watch, but when I watch the news, politicians do not strike me as a productive or likable class of people. They also appear, by definition, to be male. When I watch these politicians and hear about their behind-the-scenes dynamics, I doubt whether I ever want to be a part of it.
But then, I think, politics is not simply about joining a political group. It is about change and working towards something you care about. Politics does not need any more candidates who believe they were born to run or inevitably belong to the political world. We have enough candidates like this. What politics needs is a dose of outrage, from candidates who, while reluctant to enter politics, are compelled by a desire to resolve pressing issues and alleviate social ills. While the laws of politics seem engraved in stone, a lot can be changed.
The world is facing complex problems for which nobody seems to have an answer. We need leaders and politicians to assemble people from different backgrounds and with different lenses to tackle these challenges. The success of President Obama’s campaign demonstrates that people are ready to get involved in a new type of politics – one that requires participation, vision, competence, and compromise. And women, who have a less vested interest in the status quo, are well positioned to champion these changes.
I cannot imagine a higher calling, a more relevant way of living one’s life, than to help shape a society. As such, I hope to one day serve my country and advance the most visionary and successful development project in human history – European Integration. Although the European Union does not lack experts, it needs to revive the dialogue among its citizens and strengthen its democratic foundation. A strong Europe would not only better serve its citizens, but provide a model for uniting nations around the world.
For me, the Oval Office Program serves several important functions. First, participating in the program has helped me become comfortable with the idea of running for office. This is important, particularly when everything seems to caution against it. Second, it makes the black box of politics look more transparent, clarifying what it takes to run for office. This is what many women and men who aspire to create a change in their societies need. To be put to good use, good ideas and energy need to be supplemented with effective tools and strategies. Third, the Oval Office Program provides a broad network of women politicians – an invaluable resource for aspiring program participants.
While not everything about the program is applicable to foreign students, the campaign tools and strategies it teaches can be used not only in the U.S., but in foreign elections as well. Armed with these strategies, a new set of invaluable skills, and a phenomenal network, I suppose the question I should be asking is,
Why not run?
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