The Shared Societies Project: Democratic Leadership for Dialogue, Diversity & Social Cohesion Building a World Safe for Difference WHY SHARED SOCIETIES? THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENT Roma citizens expelled from France... Brutal attacks on Christians in Pakis- Shared societies generate economic dividends. By harnessing the skills, strengths tan... Violence against women in Ciudad Juarez... Ethnic clashes in Kenya... and talents of their entire population, shared societies create safe and prosperous Bloodshed between Han Chinese and Muslim Uighurs... Headlines everyday communities. Shared societies foster a productive and dynamic environment to tell us of identity-based conflict north and south, east and west. maximize the economic contributions of all individuals, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, language, gender, or other attributes. As communities become ever more inter-twined and intercultural – ninety percent of the world’s countries have at least a ten percent minority – lea- Therefore, shared societies enjoy better prospects for economic wellbeing which we ders face the challenge of building and maintaining social cohesion in their understand is achieved by sustained economic growth with equity, and gains for all communities and countries. How they respond to social cohesion differs can be better applied in a socially and environmentally sustainable way in a shared from leader to leader, but one element remains true for all: They need op- society. tions and tools to address this challenge. Research and practice show that societies are most likely to be peaceful and prosperous when leaders and citizens recognize and celebrate the value of diversity and actively build an GROUNDED VISION • ACHIEVABLE GOALS inclusive, shared society safe for difference. The Shared Societies Project has identified four key conditions if individuals and groups are to feel that they have an equal place in the society in which A ‘shared society’ is a socially inclusive and cohesive society. It is stable and they live: safe. It is where all those living there feel at home. It respects everyone’s • Democratic Participation dignity and human rights while providing every individual with equal oppor- • Respect for Diversity and the Dignity of the Individual tunity. It is tolerant. It respects diversity. • Equal Opportunity • Protection from Discrimination. “In my own country, we realized that our problems could not be solved Here’s how the Project set out to achieve this vision: without people and leaders working together to create a shared society... I congratulate the Club of Madrid for taking the lead on this Making the case, clearly and unambiguously: drawing on the unequalled important matter to build shared societies and a world made safe for experience, resources and convening power of Club de Madrid Members, difference.” the Project asserts that overcoming identity-based divisions and building shared societies is urgent and critical; there are moral, social, political and Nelson Mandela economic arguments for inclusion. Promoting partnerships and commitment: document and share policy and LEADERSHIP FOR SOCIAL COHESION practice examples that show the imperative and benefit of social inclusion; A shared society is constructed and nurtured through strong political lea- provide leaders with the incentives and means to act to advance shared dership. Most leaders if given the arguments, options and tools, would pre- societies; collect, develop and share econometric data showing that social fer to lead on behalf of all their citizens and build safe, inclusive societies inclusion improves a society’s economic wellbeing. where all feel equally a part of and contributor to society. Providing leaders with the right tools: drawing on the unequalled experience, Leaders can and must lead the way to actively promote policies and prac- resources and convening power of Club de Madrid Members, provide tices that respect and celebrate diversity; reduce the hate, hurt and humi- leaders with the incentives and means to act to advance shared societies. liation that undermine human dignity; and create opportunities to bring Document and share policy and practice examples that show the imperative diverse people together around common projects and goals. and benefit of social inclusion; collect, develop and share econometric data showing that social inclusion improves a society’s economic wellbeing. ACTION • RESULTS The Club de Madrid More than 85 Former Presidents & Prime Ministers Working for Shared Societies Visit our Blog and The Shared Societies TV: The Club de Madrid, whose Members possess more than two millennia of collective political experience, is uni- quely positioned to help leaders around the world lead for social inclusion through its flagship Shared Societies www.clubmadrid.org/sspblog Project. Here’s how it’s being done: www.youtube.com/user/SharedSocietiesTV PROJECT CO-CHAIRS • Club de Madrid Members de- • Club de Madrid Members and in- • Leaders in cities, regions and • Valdis Birkavs veloped and endorsed a Vision, ternational experts have gathe- countries around the world are Prime Minister, Latvia (1993-1994) Rationale, Call to Action and Ten red good policy and practice inviting collaboration with the • Chandrika Kumaratunga Commitments, or policy and worldwide through case-study Project. Club de Madrid Mem- President, Sri Lanka (1994-2005) practice action areas, with ac- missions and research, including bers have held elected office, • Cassam Uteem companying options; which has the economic arguments. The understand what leaders face, President, Mauritius (1992-2002) been sent to more than 5000 result: a Toolkit for Leadership and can support their peers with policy makers and is provoking on Building Shared Societies. experience, trust and discretion CLUB DE MADRID MEMBERS OF THE PROJECT WORKING strong interest and support. in countries such as South Africa, GROUP Kyrgyzstan and Peru. FORMER PRESIDENTS • The UN, World Bank, Inter-Ame- Joaquim Chissano, Mozambique • Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, Iceland • Alpha Oumar Konaré, rican Development Bank, Afri- Mali • Milan Kucan, Slovenia • Ricardo Lagos, “We really have no other alternative. We either Chile • Ketumile Masire, Botswana • Rexhep can Union, OAS, OECD, IMF and Meidani, Albania • Benjamin Mkapa, Tanzania others are taking up the langua- learn to get along and respect one another -and • Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro, Cape Verde not define each other by negative reference- whi- • Jorge Quiroga, Bolivia • Mary Robinson, ge and concepts in their work. le celebrating our diversity, or we are finished.” Ireland • Jorge Sampaio, Portugal • Alejandro Toledo, Peru • Vaira Vike Freiberga, Latvia • Civil society leaders are begin- Bill Clinton President of the United States of America (1993-2001) FORMER PRIME MINISTERS ning to use Shared Societies con- Abdulkarim Al-Eryani, Yemen • Sadig Al Honorary Chair, Club de Madrid Mahdi, Sudan • Kim Campbell, Canada • Philip cepts to encourage political lea- Dimitrov, Bulgaria • Lionel Jospin, France • ders and hold them accountable Wim Kok, the Netherlands • Zlatko Lagumdzija, Bosnia & Herzegovina • Anand Panyaranchun, for work on social inclusion. Thailand • Petre Roman, Romania • Jennifer Shipley, New Zealand • Hanna Suchocka, Poland EXPERT ADVISORY PANEL Genaro Arriagada • Jóhanna Kristín Birnir TOOLKIT • Sean Carroll • William Easterly • Mounira FOR LEADERSHIP ON Fakhro • Mari Fitzduff • Yash Pal Ghai • Ashraf Ghani • Ted Robert Gurr • Fikria Harrouch • SOCIAL COHESION Steen L. Jorgensen • Will Kymlicka • Amin Maalouf • Clem McCartney • Sarifa Moola • Ernesto Ottone • John Packer • Bhikhu Parekh • David L. Philips • Timothy Phillips • Ebrahim Rasool • Necla Tschirgi • Ashutosh Varshney • Designed as a compilation Sergei Zelenev of best leadership policies and NETPLUSS practices that promote social cohesion, Teresita Deles • Kinga Göncz • H. Muhammad this interactive DVD provides leaders Jusuf Kalla • Sir John Kaputin • Juan Fernando López Aguilar • Beatriz Merino • Roelf Meyer • with ample examples and David Miller • Baroness Nuala O´loan • Ebrahim arguments to lead towards Rasool • Yaga Venugopal Reddy social cohesion PARTNERS Alan B. Slifka Foundation • Canadian International Development Agency • City of Rotterdam • Comunidad de Madrid • Dr. Scholl Foundation • European Commission • Gobierno de Cantabria • Government of Norway • Hunt Alternatives Fund • United Nations Democracy Fund • Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung 10 COMMITMENTS The following Ten CommitmentsFOR are SHAREDkey policy SOCIETIES areas which are essential features of a PROJECT TEAM shared society. Leaders are encouraged to commit to them. They can serve as a check list Carlos Westendorp to review policy areas in which a state has made progress or where more work remains Secretary General to be done. [email protected] Rubén Campos Program Coordinator [email protected] I. Locating responsibility of social cohesion within government structures Clem McCartney II. Content and Policy Coordinator Create opportunities for minorities to be consulted [email protected] Carla Fernández-Durán III. Program Officer Monitor structures and policies to ensure they are supportive of social cohesion [email protected] IV. Ensure the legal framework protects the rights of the individual V. ABOUT US: Deal with economic disadvantages faced by those discriminated against The Club de Madrid is an independent non-profit VI. organization composed of more than 85 demo- Ensure that physical