A New Perspective On International Institutions

Today was intellectually inspiring. Full of new ideas and new concepts that have challenged my views on the refugee situation, how hunger in the world could be tackled and international institutions.

First in the morning, Dr Bartels started today’s eight-hour lecture with the question: Why are refugees coming to Europe – not another state or union?
My view: Europe has not figured out the best way to cope with people who come from another part of the world. That’s why many humans living in fear due to their environment and who have hopes of their own, search for a place of peace in Europe. Europe is currently the nation with most unconditioned love for the outsider.

Secondly, I also learnt a new concept of hunger.
The greatest deal that was done through the WTO was the implementation of protection over intellectual property. Developed countries have an advantage; undeveloped countries – as potential users of the property – will lose. In return of this unfair state a free trade of cloth and food was established.

Until now, only cloth became free-trade products. Prices for cloth for developing countries were reduced. Today, nearly every human could afford a usual dress, but not every person could sleep without hunger. The free trade of food was not established until today. This is the promise the developed countries have to fulfil to make the undeveloped countries engage in new negotiations. To overcome hunger is possible like it was possible for offering everyone in the world cloth. For the present, the ball is in the court of the developed countries. They have to fulfil what they have promised.

Thirdly, Dr Bartels created a new perspective on international institutions as well. An insightful moment I wouldn’t have missed: Every international institution – the European Union or the WTO – is a chance for a national government to create enduring change by outsourcing the legislation process and make law dependent on other nations or – otherwise – to blame not working settlements on the superior power.

This view on international institutions is a typical Cambridge teaching method, according to some personal talks with Dr Bartels. Students here are challenged on a daily basis to go back to the core concept, think beyond it and apply the broader idea in the “real-world”. A winning path that more education institutions should follow.

Cambridge teaches not only fantastic knowledge; it teaches how to be an outstanding thinker!

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