No.191 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　2002.11.27

How I Feel About The US Rejoining UNESCO
Eiji Hattori, Professor at Reitaku University, Advisor to Meguro UNESCO Association

On September 12th, President Bush declared at the beginning of his general speech at the United Nations General Assembly that the United States would restore its membership of UNESCO. It was as though he was responding to the appeal to the US citizens that our president, Ms. Reiko Kato, made in her article for “Meguro UNESCO Short News” (June 2002 issue of the English version). We are very pleased with this.

　The United States should join UNESCO again, but only as a member state. It should not participate in the UNESCO activities as a world dictator nor a placeman, but as a world citizen.

　The US gave three reasons for its withdrawal from the organization in 1984. The first one was the “politicalization” of UNESCO. The US criticized the Mr. M'bow led UNESCO for its tendency to favor the Soviet Union, with which Third World went along. This formed an automatic absolute majority to the disadvantage of Western nations. The second reason was “new world information order”, or a concern that the correction of one-way information flow might lead to blackout of news. The third one was mismanagement by the then secretary general, Mr.M'bow.

　The first point became obsolete after the self-demise of the Soviet block in 1990. The second point became unfounded when Director-General Maillol froze the measure. The third issue was resolved thanks to the decisive organizational reform that Mr. Koichiro Matsuura had been working on since he assumed the post of Director-General. I think he made a great contribution.

　Therefore, the conditions of the US rejoining UNESCO have been met. However, the US citizens’ ignorance and indifference in general, despite its $60 million annual contribution, have hindered a comeback.

　I wonder why the Bush administration, which clearly revealed unilateralism in complete contrast with the internationally cooperative posture shown by the Clinton administration, decided to rejoin UNESCO. The answer to the question is the shock caused by the 9.11 attacks, when the US in aghast recognized the necessity of corporation from the international society. UNECSO in particular is a place where international opinions are created.

　The US can join in forming world public opinion as a friend of the world. However, this can be done when the super power abandons hegemonism, and humbly listens to the opinions of minorities and those who do not share the same sense of values with it.
　