Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

COLUMN: Will studying abroad make you liberal?
By Landon Zinda
The Gustavus Weekly (Gustavus Aldophus College)
01/03/2007

(U-WIRE) ST. PETER, Minn. — Study abroad. If there's one thing you get from this article, it should be that. Everyone says it will change your life, but what does that really mean? What in your life will change? One point that conservatives seem to have willingly conceded is that liberal ideals translate better for an international audience, and that their plans for the future benefit other nations better than conservative plans. When I became a conservative, I did so because I believed that conservative ideals would benefit all people. My study abroad experience in South Africa changed me — but did not affect my underlying political beliefs.

International education isn't a new approach, but has been steadily growing as a way to gain a greater understanding of the world. Undergraduate emphasis on international education, including a new initiative by Harvard University President Lawrence Summers, has been an effective way of placing students in a global context. Studies claim these programs increase "worldmindedness" in the students who participate in them, such as the one conducted by Robert Boatler of Texas Christian University. But what is worldmindedness? Many words used in international education literature are purposely vague, and actually say nothing at all.

The American political spectrum does not translate well internationally. For this reason, many people who support a humanist, anti-capitalist approach to international politics refer to the study abroad process as the beginnings of being "worldly minded" or a "global citizen." Neither of these terms are essentially bad, but they have been hijacked by those who believe the "correct" view of the world is not interested in national benefit.

Carol Bellamy and Adam Weinberg, CEO and vice president of the School for International Training, the company who ran my study abroad experience, believe the government must do more to promote global citizenship: "One of the greatest challenges for a student today is how to live as a responsible citizen in a globalizing world. Today's interconnected world cannot afford bystanders or passive participants." What is a responsible citizen? Am I "passive" if I believe the US is currently on the right path?

When I was in South Africa, I was often questioned by some of the fellow students since I was the only conservative on the trip. As time went on and we learned the history of repression in the area, some of the more ignorant students would ask if anything had changed my political beliefs.

At first I defended myself and my opinions, but over time I realized that these students were showing the same bigotry and single-mindedness that they expected of me. Are their values and beliefs so fragile that one event could overturn their entire past? Why did they expect this of me? When I returned, I received similar questions.

I didn't wake up one day and decide I liked George Bush because he is so popular. Politics is the practical implementation of underlying beliefs. Studying abroad has a major impact on your life — but to let it turn your whole world into upheaval shows the lack of forethought in your own opinions. In fact, my stay in South Africa convinced me that trends toward a democratic and capitalist nation are the best ways to improve the lives of local South Africans.

Conservatives should not be afraid of discussing international development — it should be their strong suit.

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