Public Diplomacy is Everyone’s Business
- Mental Callisthenics with Vujko Ilko
By Oksana Bashuk Hepburn
Vujko Ilko’s mental callisthenics - discourses on Ukrainian matters - has moved across the border. He’s been participating in a symposium dealing with the presence of foreign political influence in the States - out of country but not out of politics - and wants to tell me about it. We do lunch.
“Vujku, how did it go?”
“The whole event was delightful. The speakers were knowledgeable, the audience interactive and the subject matter close to my heart. Best, it reconfirmed that with young people like the ones participating, the country is in good hands. You know, sometimes I despair at where all this is heading.”
“All this? What countries?”
“Well, all; especially Ukraine.”
“I didn’t think this was a specifically Ukrainian-themed event.”
“You’re right but I spoke to it; another handled the Muslim community in the United States. There were many references to the Jewish lobby.”
“And?”
“All are interested in getting their message out; public diplomacy, it’s called. The Muslims have 30 million folks in the US, that’s ten percent of the population. And surprising to me, they have some of the highest buying power in America. However, they are not all that well heard.”
“Like us?”
“Well, yes. We’re only 5 % in Canada. The Jewish vote is smaller but much more vocal.”
“Vujku, isn’t it smaller in the US too?”
“The count for 2011 was 6,588,065 in the US - that’s 2% of the population. The Muslims have 10%.”
“So what constitutes the clout?”
“The symposium tackled this. The emphasis needs to be on “re-educating” opinion leaders. It means influencing the process in every possible way, starting from the smallest and working up the ladder to the politicos.”
“This requires a lot of resources, both human and financial. And you’re saying the Muslims have both but don’t use it?”
“One of the speakers explained it beautifully. He said when he played football at college, the other team’s players were much bigger. The coach would send them out on the field saying: ‘Remember each of those guys has twenty pounds on you.’”
“Meaning his team had to play smarter?”
“Exactly.”
“So take me through the steps of influencing. But I must leave shortly as I have a meeting.”
“It’s practised all around us; in spades. You educate people in ideas like you do with products. You repeat and repeat. You spread the word. You extend your reach. You use all of the instruments of communication at your disposal - written, radio, TV, social, word-of-mouth, speeches, visits. And you don’t let anyone you’re trying to influence go until you have their support or at least empathy. You do it in groups and one-on-one. You proselytize.”
“You’re saying everyone needs to be in on this. That’s quite a challenge in our community. Many have opted out or ‘letting the next guy do it’.”
“Yes. And, it looks, like the Muslims had a similar disengagement situation but are coming around. Let me illustrate. The two big issues in our community are the Holodomor, specifically its treatment in the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and Canada’s relations with Ukraine. Correct?”
“I’d say there are others, equality with French and English in Canada, for instance, or the long-history of preferential treatment of women and others, but okay “Unc”, go for it. What learning did the symposium generate on Holodomor?”
“At our community level there is a general understanding of the tragedy. Ukraine’s post- independence policies recognized it as a national genocide and so have some other countries, including Canada. There are annual November commemorations and some inroads into school curricula, but the ten-million-starved genocide does not have the global reach of the Holocaust. Established, mainstream organizations are not engaged, even most of our own, are not engaged.”
“OK Vujko, five minutes. How to advance the issue?”
“Practise outreach. Extend the circle. Let folks in. Include rather than exclude.”
“Some will argue this is being done.”
“The proof is in the pudding. A few weeks ago, Minister Moore, the Minister responsible for the CMHR - a hot topic for us, right? - held an open meeting in Winnipeg. Guess how many people showed up? And quess what sharp and difficult questions concerning our issue Holodomor’s place in the Museum were asked?”
“I’m waiting.”
“Sixteen in total and one question from a reporter about the divisive nature of preferential treatment.”
“This is not good.”
“Indeed. It means that we’ve got a long way to go before we can say we’re educated in the issue, engaged in its resolution and influencing powerful folks to help us make things happen.”