Olli Rehn Interview: Conversations with History; Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley
Page 7 of 7
If students were to watch or read this interview, what advice would you give them in preparing for the future, especially if they're interested in either politics or U.S.-European relations?
I think, first of all, it is important to have an open mind to events outside your own country. Try to study Europe or the U.S., depending on from which continent you come, or if you come from Asia, the same story. That's one thing.
Secondly, I think it is important to construct your own conceptual framework or your insight as to how would you want to build, to evolve. What are your principles of building a safer and more prosperous, and more ecologically balanced world?
Thirdly, I guess it is important to remind everybody that if you are entering into politics, keep in mind the Tip O'Neill saying that, "all politics is local" and keep a good attachment with your constituents. But at the same time, try to avoid the trap of populism and stick to your principles.
One final question. As somebody who's both an academic, has moved in policy circles, but who has actually gone out to listen to the voter, and, as Lyndon Johnson used to say, to "press the flesh" with the voter, what conclusions have you drawn about theory and practice; that is, studying politics versus actually doing it?
There are two different discourses, in a way. First of all you have the political science intellectual discourse, which perhaps is deeper, and in some sense is more honest. And on the other hand, there is the political discourse in the sense of politics rather than policy, where you have to accept certain laws of politics -- how you speak to the people, how you simplify, how you make sound bites. In my view, it's okay if you do that as long as you keep the first discourse in mind, so that you keep the policy principles close to your heart, but at the same time understand how politics function in the real world.
I guess what makes it possible to survive being in both worlds is principle.
I think principle, and the fact that you have to understand a certain difference between these two different worlds. It's not very easy to combine them. You can't do that forever. At some point, you have to choose, because in your public appearance, you have to be either a strong, skillful, sometimes tactful politician, or you have to be an intellectually honest political scientist or academic.
On that note, I want to thank you very much for being here today and giving us a sense of the day-to-day work of Finnish politics, but also its long-term concerns. Thank you.
Thank you very much. It's always a pleasure to be at Berkeley. It's a very international place.
Thank you very much. And thank you very much for joining us for this Conversation with History.
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