State stands to gain with global approach

There's worldwide interest in the U.S. presidential race, even if some of the candidates seem less interested in the world.

Just this week, for instance, anti-free-trade positions helped both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump triumph in the Michigan primary. (And throughout the campaign, Hillary Clinton's calling card as secretary of state has been downplayed or used in attacks against her.)

Next up was Trump's latest nativist statement. "I think Islam hates us," he told CNN.

So maybe it's no wonder that on Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lamented to "60 Minutes" that "having a little more of an awareness of what's going on in the rest of the world, I think, is what many Canadians would hope for Americans."

Awareness of the world has been the mission of the Minnesota International Center for the last 63 years. And for every month of the last five years, this column has included an introduction of "this month's Minnesota International Center's Great Decisions dialogue."

This month, the dialogue is about the center itself — or at least its name change to "Global Minnesota." And more broadly, the benefits that becoming more engaged with the world can bring Minnesotans.

The new name reflects an enduring mission, said Carol Engebretson Byrne, president of Global Minnesota. She noted that the organization will continue to be one of the top five hosts of State Department international visitors, one of the top 10 World Affairs Councils in America and have the top Great Decisions program.

After all, regardless of trade debates, globalization will continue apace, while immigration has hit highs not seen since the Ellis Island era. And while foreign policy has often been eclipsed in the campaign, crises will test the new president — and the country.

"A wise U.S. foreign policy is based on a well-informed and engaged public," Engebretson Byrne said. And beyond diplomacy, there's everyday life. "We live in an interdependent world," she said. "We cannot live in isolation, we are not an island, we have to know about the world if we want to not only compete, but live a whole life."

This holistic approach is shared by Peter C. Hawthorne, vice president of corporate strategy and development at Cargill, who's also chairman of Global Minnesota's board. "Minnesota is well-connected with the world, and our health and welfare as a community is directly tied to our engagement globally," he said.

Hawthorne said this is certainly the case commercially — not just regarding Cargill's concentration in agribusiness, but also in so many other sectors where Minnesota multinationals have contributed to state exports more than doubling over the last 20 years, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

But Hawthorne also noted how globalism has contributed to education ("We are effectively exporting educational services by hosting so many international students") and human resources ("Access to this [international students] talent pool is an important element to our continuing growth").

These skills are needed in a state undergoing dynamic demographic change, said Eric Schwartz, dean of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Schwartz, whose international stints at the United Nations and the State Department give him a unique global view of Minnesota, said that "this increasing diversity and the globalization of this diversity is an inevitability. Are we going to do it in way that builds community cohesion? … You have to embrace the changing identity of your community, keeping what is vitally important while accepting change to sustain and strengthen your community. There is no alternative. An alternative or resisting change will consign you to being poorer, less vibrant and less interesting."

Global Minnesota not only isn't resisting, it's leading the change in a welcome and necessary effort to make Minnesota culturally and commercially richer.

The presidential candidates — and Canada's prime minister – should take note.

John Rash is a Star Tribune editorial writer and columnist. The Rash Report can be heard at 8:20 a.m. Fridays on WCCO Radio, 830-AM. On Twitter: @rashreport.