The Virtues of Quiet Diplomacy

This chapter discusses the benefits of quiet diplomacy in comparison to open diplomacy, focusing on the highest levels of the international system. It examines the different types of diplomacy and provides historical examples. The authors argue that although secret diplomacy is never ideal, it is sometimes necessary for the safe resolution of international crises. Further, open diplomacy—something Woodrow Wilson explicitly demanded in his Fourteen Points—has certain downsides that must be acknowledged, especially in the era of cyberhacking and mass manipulation of public opinion. The chapter concludes by pointing out that there must be a balance between openness and secrecy, as certain negotiations must remain confidential to ensure international security.

The Global Challenge of

This chapter addresses the lack of adequate global infrastructure and the limits imposed on global growth, prosperity, and quality of life. Inadequate infrastructure causes loss of lives, constrains economic progress, and exacerbates climate change. To address the infrastructure gap between what is being constructed and what is genuinely required, the author proposes the creation of a development fund, which will require international collaboration and cooperation, to make available a substantial amount of capital and dedicate it to projects that contribute to the betterment of society. This development fund will not only improve infrastructure but also enhance the quality of many lives.

Food Security

This chapter presents a history of food crises to illustrate the need for greater food security, and it urges government leaders to learn from the past and take action when the next inevitable crisis arises. Six priorities for action are presented, recognizing the roles of violent conflict, water, weather patterns, inequality, women, and waste reduction. While considering these factors, organizations must partner to ensure that food systems are sustainable and productive, providing nutritious and safe food to populations around the globe. For this system to work, collaboration among all participants is crucial.

A Twenty-First-Century War on Poverty

Using Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points as a foundation, this chapter highlights poverty and wealth inequality to illustrate the problems inherent in uneven economic advancement. Governmental assistance and private philanthropy are not doing enough to address poverty, so the author proposes the use of impact investing, blended finance, and shared value partnerships to promote investment and business opportunities, even as these mechanisms take into account social and environmental costs. The chapter concludes by underscoring the importance of these flexible business models to tackle the large-scale challenges faced in the twenty-first century.

Protecting and Promoting Health in an Interdependent World

This chapter discusses the shortcomings of the current global health regime and proposes a new framework based on Woodrow Wilson’s ideas about global interaction and responsibility. The authors explain how critical it is to establish a successful new system, given climate change, microbial evolution, and the current political landscape. The proposed system must resolve the tension between national sovereignty and national interdependence, while also improving response time and investing in long-term solutions. The authors conclude that these guidelines can be met by introducing engaged pluralism and ambidextrous leadership.

“Don’t Do Stupid Shit”

This chapter uses a quote by Barack Obama to outline how foreign relations in the twenty-first century, especially for great powers such as the United States, should be handled with deftness, caution, and prudence. It emphasizes the idea that people often take action without knowing the consequences. The authors highlight the need for wisdom, patience, and restraint in important political situations and argue that Obama’s diplomatic approach provides a good model when considering a new strategy to replace approaches that have proved ineffective, counterproductive, or disruptive to what remains of the international order Woodrow Wilson helped forge.

Hacked but Don’t Know It

This chapter discusses cybersecurity in an era when everyone is constantly using the Internet. It highlights the importance of research to ensure that information stays safe while users are on the Internet. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are proposed as possible avenues to securing cyberspace. However, much is still unknown, and collaboration among individuals in different fields is important to advance the research in cybersecurity. The author calls for greater investment in the training of future cyberpractitioners at all levels of expertise.

Introduction

This section introduces readers to Woodrow Wilson and the magnitude of the global problems he faced as World War I raged—eventually with formal American participation—with no clear end in sight. More than a statement of war aims, Wilson’s Fourteen Points were a full-throated call for a new world order, one capable of surmounting the inherent problems that had plagued society and international affairs for generations. So profound were Wilson’s words and so great his legacy that historians no longer ask whether subsequent presidents were or were not Wilsonian in their foreign policies and worldviews. We ask how Wilsonian were they? The introduction also previews the fourteen solutions humbly offered in Wilson’s honor for our own times.

The State of the Future

This chapter calls for a renewal of social democracy in the United States, in line with the successes of other more Wilsonian states around the world. The author chronicles the creation and development of the nation-state to explain its importance in governance, as well as some of the ways American governance is failing to live up to the promises of its history and potential. The chapter proposes that government is not the problem but can instead be part of the solution. Relating this idea to the Trump administration, the author concludes by arguing that reassessing the state’s role and purpose in society can promote American democracy, prosperity, and security.

The Global Economy

This chapter begins by exploring some of the most upsetting financial crises in recent memory and then proposes potential “shock absorbers” for the global financial system. Greater globalization and built-in redundancies are needed if we want to avoid replicating the problems of the past, and psychological resilience is required to navigate future problems. The authors propose synthetic and invasive stress tests of current financial institutions to identify possible instigators or fissure points for future financial crises, and they urge government officials to publicly acknowledge that some financial crises may be unavoidable. These mechanisms cannot completely eliminate crises, but they can better prepare the system for recovery.