Talking It Over

When Alexis de Tocqueville came to the United States in the early 19th century, he observed that volunteer organizations, philanthropic associations and community groups had already become a hallmark of American citizenship and a distinctive part of our national life.

I thought about de Tocqueville's reflections on American democracy during my recent trip to Central Europe and the Baltic region. All of the countries I visited spent decades under communist rule. But today, they are newly independent. Their people are embracing democratic reforms and free-market policies, and seeking to regain their place in the Western democratic family.

There were many hopeful signs of democracy at work in the seven countries I visited. Free and fair elections are becoming the rule. Privatization is underway in most places. And with few exceptions, citizens can voice their beliefs without fear of government retribution.

All of these developments bode well for a reunited, democratic Europe. But democracy is not just about institutions; it's also about democratic values becoming part of people's hearts, minds and everyday lives.

That's why I was so encouraged to see the same phenomenon at work in Central Europe that de Tocqueville discovered in America more than a century ago: a sense of civic responsibility that encourages people to get together at the grass-roots level to solve problems and shape their own destinies.

In Estonia, I visited a local clinic that is the first in the country to offer a broad range of health services for women. I also had the chance to meet with representatives of non-governmental organizations involved in promoting civic education — not just teaching children the values and lessons of democracy but teaching teachers, business people, elected officials and ordinary men and women who are the lead actors in any free society.

In Hungary, I met with representatives of an organization that is helping the Roma — or gypsy — community overcome obstacles to education, employment and political participation.

In Slovakia, caring and involved men and women told me of their efforts to encourage citizen groups and volunteer activities in the face of government resistance.

In the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania, I met with volunteers and organizations working to safeguard the environment, promote the full participation of women in society, establish a free and independent press, and create a climate in which small businesses can flourish.

In many cases, America and Americans — in government, the private sector and non-governmental groups — are supporting these local efforts financially and with people on the ground.

What we are working for is much more than just tangible results. Through these partnerships, we are creating an ethos of responsibility, caring and initiative that is essential to democracy's survival and success. In short, we are creating an alliance of democratic values — an alliance based on the shared belief that no democracy can thrive without an engaged, informed and vigilant citizenry.

This is important because whether we live in new democracies or old ones, we face unavoidable challenges in the 21st century: the challenge of keeping the peace in a world where ancient hatreds are slow to die and new ones are too easily born; the challenge of giving all citizens the chance to fulfill their God-given potential and participate fully in the life of their countries.

These challenges are compounded because of the historical moment in which we live. It is a time of rapid economic change, increasing global competition and scarcer resources — a time when families in every country are burdened by the pressures of the mass media and consumer culture; when the gap between rich and poor is growing wider; when personal identity and work are tied to globalization and high technology; when women continue to be relegated to the margins of society in too many countries; when ethnic pride and national citizenship are too often viewed as mutually exclusive.

Democracy gives us the capacity to cope with these challenges. But democracy can only flourish in the post-Cold War era if we are able to convey the values underlying it — the values of opportunity, responsibility, community and respect for human dignity.

What I saw in Central Europe and the Baltic region was democracy being built from the ground up. What a promising sign that is for the future of Europe — and for nations and people everywhere who care about freedom and democracy.

COPYRIGHT 1996 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.