President Bill Clinton believes “inclusive tribalism” is key to solving conflicts

[This press release was issued on Friday, September 7 during Concern's 50th Anniversary Conference, Resurgence of Humanity: Breaking the Cycle of Conflict, Hunger and Human Suffering]

The 42nd US President was speaking to a packed hall at Dublin Castle for Concern Worldwide’s 50th anniversary conference, ‘Resurgence of Humanity: Breaking the Cycle of Conflict, Hunger and Human Suffering.’

President Clinton, who said he had witnessed Concern’s work in Haiti and on the African continent, said: “The Irish peace process and the work of Concern is rooted in both our common humanity and our notion of what I would call inclusive tribalism. We are all tribal. 

“Our common humanity is the most important thing. In an interdependent world, we have to decide which is more important, our differences or our common humanity. We must expand the definition of ‘us’ and shrink the definition of ‘them.’ 

“When you think about Concern, it’s basically Ireland at its best, even though it is increasingly global. 

“It’s about inclusive tribalism, inclusive economics, inclusive social policy, inclusive politics.

“Average people who feel stuck in their own lives don’t have enough space left to be generous to others. It’s not a good time. There is literally no final defeats or victory. This is a demon you have to battle your whole life.”

President Clinton praised Ireland for its overseas humanitarian work and the multicultural diversity of its capital, Dublin.

He said: “Ireland is the only country in the world that every single day since the United Nations was formed after World War Two, has had a citizen in some country trying to help people who needed help because they were poor or repressed because of conflict. No other country in the world can say that. 

“There is something in your DNA that makes you feel connected to the rest of the world.

“You go down a street in Dublin and it’s so diverse that you may as well be in a street in Manhattan. And yet you don’t feel anything like the sense of uncertainty you see in some parts of America or some places [in the UK] where they voted for Brexit. 

“In the end, like the songs you sing and the things you live should not be defined by the colour of your skin, the creed you worship or anything else.”

Concluding the conference, Concern’s Chief Executive, Dominic MacSorley, thanked all attendees and said: “In order to see real change there must be a fundamental shift of thought and action.  

“Twenty million people facing starvation is not fake news, it is an obscenity, especially because it doesn’t have to be the way. We have the knowledge, the technology and the early warning systems to prevent it happening.

“When the status quo is wrong, it is always right to be radical. I don’t just mean our voice. Denunciation is easy, but radical in our way of thinking, our ambition and our action. If we are to see an end to hunger we must challenge the inevitability of violence, and deliver on the promises to those most in need of a safer, fairer world.”

He added that Ireland was in a prime position to mobilise action for a much-needed international resurge of humanity: “one that prioritises diplomacy over militarisation, the hard graft of negotiation over dropping bombs.”

For more information, please contact Kevin Jenkinson at kevin.jenkinson@concern.net or on 0863582886.