archibugi

We’re 15 in class, only 5 are women. We used to be 16, but one man chickened out- he’s a sit-in, a Linguistics Major. Said he didn’t know anything about International Governance and Democracy and just wanted to satisfy his curiosity. He was probably drowned by the flood of information. We might have touched on a lot on the first day. Maybe he’s yet catching his breath. Haha. Well, what did he expect, it’s an intensive course. What should be discussed in 15 sessions is squeezed in a week.

I can’t blame the drop out. I must admit the professor’s a bit demanding. His readings were voluminous and exacting- definitely not for beginners. Though I must say I was impressed at the lecturer’s selection of materials. He wanted to cover a vast scope of topics which reflects his extent of knowledge. His texts were meaty. I could see that he’s like brushing elbows with the great thinkers in his field. His name was imprinted on the title of some of the essential readings, either as co-author or sighted for his comments. He must have a reputation at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

For some reason I found myself a bit jumpy in his class. Maybe I was intimidated by him. I mean he seem so young. (and mighty good-looking, too, if I may add.) I think he’s only in his thirties- and already he’s been publishing theoretical books about international relations and political economy. He said he’s into this ambitious research- I think it’s about cosmopolitan democracy or the legitimacy of international organizations or something in that line.

His English wasn’t perfect. It’s his third language. He’s half German, half Italian. He explained the IR theories as if he’s imparting to the class how his day went- boring as usual. Haha. His indifference was charming. Maybe it’s just me but I found it quite interesting how one perceives globalization as a myth when I, in contrast, can sense it everywhere.First day was all his. That’s four and a half hours of him, talking- with only a few interruptions whenever some smart aleck pops in some mind-boggling contradiction in the theory he’s expounding on.

I was pleased with my peers- they all seem mature and informed. I got a lot from their inputs. It’s amazing how diverse minds from different worlds produce varied perspectives.

The multi-cultural class composition truly enriched the exchange in viewpoints. My classmates came from various regions in the globe - a state in transition from the former USSR, from a European Union-member country, from an African state, from China, Japan and Indonesia. (I feel the need to specifically mention these three Asian countries. I do not subscribe to the delusion that ‘All Asians look the same.’)

Everyone value everyone else’s opinion. In the forum, a fellow from a developing country has as much right to speak as the fellow from a super-power. Hegemony is abhorred.
Openness and tolerance guide the argumentation and debate that followed every presentation.

Grievances from neighboring Indonesia against imperial Japan were frequent. China and Uzbekistan, though not really in collision, weren’t also in harmony. Hungary and South Africa fit in satisfactorily in the persona of a dual citizen. A German married to a Japanese was most concerned about sovereignty issues. (How time has changed!)

Truly, in such an atmosphere, one is forced to consider things in a broader perspective.

Therein, I was as much a voice from the tiny Philippine archipelago as I was a citizen of the world.