Gorbachev wants to see world working together

Global change advocated by former Soviet president

      Former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev outlined his suggestions for confronting security issues, poverty and the global environmental crisis during his Monday night lecture at Millett Hall.
     Miami’s Business Dean Roger Jenkins highlighted Gorbachev’s historic role in world politics.
     “Mr. Gorbachev is here to reflect on the personal courage, the conviction and the wisdom that international leaders must demonstrate to preserve the democratic ideals in an ever-changing world order,” Jenkins said.
     Jenkins detailed Gorbachev’s accomplishments, including being named Time Magazine’s Man of the Decade in 1990 — the same year he won the Nobel Peace Prize. Jenkins quoted former      President Ronald Reagan who extolled Gorbachev as “ a living example of the power of possibility.”
     Gorbachev’s walk to the stage elicited a standing ovation.
     He stood at the podium looking strong and confident. The speech was translated by Pavel Palazhchenko, who has worked for Gorbachev since 1985.
     In his lecture, Gorbachev outlined the steps he took to obtain the presidency of the Soviet Union. He was educated at the School of Law in Moscow and worked as a lawyer for only seven days. He then advanced through the Soviet Communist Party to become a member of its central committee. The presidency followed.
     Gorbachev spoke heavily on the need for change throughout the world.
     “All of us need to work together to address problems of security, poverty and global environmental crisis,” Gorbachev said.
     Gorbachev also spoke at length about the lagging economy in Russia when he took over. His plan known as “perestroika” was a reconstruction effort for Russia’s economy. Gorbachev is noted as saying he wanted a change, but “it could not be changed over night.” The steps provided success because it “brought about the democratic process.”
     Gorbachev also shared his view of world politics.
     “We have to maximize the positive tendencies and slow down the negative tendencies; This is what we tried to do,” Gorbachev said. “World politics today is lagging behind rapid changes in the world.”
     Gorbachev is critical of the politics happening in various places across the globe. He discussed the Islamic world, saying that it was “an important reality that was ignored for years.” Although he maintains this stance, it should be noted that he remains upbeat and supports change.
     “We have seen things that shouldn’t have happened. This is something that divides the world,” Gorbachev said. “I am still an optimist. We need to act.”
     The speech was part of the Jack R. Anderson Distinguished Lecture Series spearheaded by      Miami’s Richard T. Farmer School of Business.

The Oxford Press, October 28, 2005