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A Multi-Polar World.December 6th, 2008

Globalization, a force that has been shaping the political andcommercial world for most of our working lives, is entering a new

and more complex phase. It is no longer a concept exported to theemerging world by the traditionally dominant economies of theWest. Emerging economies have grasped globalization, packaged itup, and are, every day, sending new versions of it back to the West.(William D. Green, Chairman CEO, Accenture)

This is a typical statement of the business community. Thiscommunity has realized the changes that have come upon our worldbecause companies are more integrated and involved into thechanges brought up by globalization than other parts of society.Schools and universities are not as quick to get along with thechanges. Many schools and universities and their academic teachersare still more integrated into their communities, so they do not seethe changes as they can be experienced in the businesscommunities. History for example is mainly taught, In particular inschools, on a national basis. Germans learn German history, Frenchlearn French history and so on. The world has changed but not theway students learn about the world. The new term to characterizethe changes of the past twenty years is: Multi-Polar World. It meansthat the West is no more the center of this world and that Westerncountries dont dominate world politics any longer. With the rise of

Asian countries beginning with Japan at the end of the 19th century,South-Korea, Taiwan, Hongkong and Singapur during the 1960s and70s, then China since 20 years and nowadays India, world economyslowly begins to change. Asia becomes more and more important.But why should it matter to students in Europe?

There is a simple fact, we all know from our life experience. If I wantto understand another person, I have to know something about hishistory. I will ask such a person many things about where he is from,what he likes most, why his character is shaped the way it is. Thereis no difference when it comes to other countries and cultures. With

no knowledge about the history of another country/culture I am likean empty bottle. I just have no idea how to understand what isparticular or different or what we have in common. Learning aboutother countries in a new Multi-Polar World means that I am betterprepared for the new world I am living in.

Many Websites promote exchanges on the basis of individuals in thesense that they share personal values like music, films etc. Butthere is another site to each of us. We are also part of a country anda culture and we can reflect about what we learn who we are.

Opening up to other students, to become curious about what theylearn and study, read their papers bring us closer to each other.

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Knowledge exchange does not start in school or university or islimited to that. Internet technology gives us the opportunity toexchange directly our knowledge with the knowledge of others. Wedont have to wait for government instruction or new teachers to getinvolved in our new world. It depends on us and our curiosity.