ICLTD Home | Email | Introduction | History | Theory | Distinctions | Projects | Services | Links | Contacts

WHAT IS THE THEORY BEHIND ICLTD?

Whether it is the controversy surrounding America's obligations to the International Monetary Fund, payment of back dues to the United Nations, NATO expansion or engagement with Africa, pollsters and pundits have observed the Public's and its legislature’s relatively low regard for international affairs and foreign policy issues. Efforts to raise the level of engagement have failed, generally, to affect more than a small portion of the population. While America's relative geographic isolation from the rest of the world is one contributing factor, certain other factors are also important: One, is the Public's lack of contact with foreign policy elites such as policy makers and academic experts in the international relations and international business fields. Two, is the existence of a paralyzing over-abundance of information that intimidates non-experts and further discourages them from becoming more engaged with international issues. Finally, there is no forum for non-experts to engage in research, to present and publish their views and/or to obtain information on a personalized basis -- a situation that further isolates the Public and discourages engagement in the foreign policy debate. The ICLTD's approach to outreach seeks to fill these gaps by providing individuals, schools, professional, civic and religious organizations information in a responsive and supportive manner, and thereby promote a higher level of interaction between these parties and foreign policy professionals whose exposure to the Public may otherwise be limited.

Rather than mass-produce programs, the ICLTD has chosen to target populations selectively with the idea of developing materials and strategies that can promote interest and engagement on an individual as well as a community basis. Although the ICLTD expects to target many different audiences over the long-run, in its first few years, it is focusing on engaging young people at various educational levels. The objective is to reinvent the way world education is taught and in the process develop educational materials and technologies that will not only promote a higher level of knowledge and understanding about world events and trends but a higher level of interest in international problem solving.

Back to ICLTD home page.