Israel’s Tzipi Livini on Netanyahu, Putin, and the State of Democracy
Madeline Albright by The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia (Flickr)
On September 29, Georgetown University’s School of Foriegn Service hosted the event, “Honoring the Legacy of Madeline K. Albright: A Symposium on Diplomacy.” As a part of the symposium, former Ministers of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livini of Israel, Mayu Ávila of El Salvador and Margot Wallström of Sweden honored SFS students by discussing Secretary Albright’s legacy.
In a conversation moderated by Edward Luce of The Financial Times, the foriegn ministers shared stories of their experiences with Albright, the former U.S. Secretary of State and esteemed Georgetown professor of almost forty years. They also expressed their concern for the state of democracy in the modern world.
Livini discussed the role of the United States as a beacon and leader of the free world. Livini expressed deep sympathy for the people of Ukraine and recognized that Israel does have security interests in the region, especially in the relations between Hezbollah and Syria, which has somewhat dampened its response. However, she degraded Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that he “cries with crocodile tears” out of frustration for his dangerous invasion.
When asked about the rise of populism and the possible trend towards fascism, Livini once again emphasized the importance of the United States in maintaining the ideals of democracy. She stated that the defining line of democracy disintegrated under the Trump Administration and that democratic tradition must be rebranded to appeal to the younger generations. Similarly, public non-governmental institutions must be reformed to inspire adolescents. With more conservative politicians relying on inflammatory statements to incite support, checks on populism should be showcased by the United States.
Furthermore, Livini conveyed her unflattering opinions for political opponent Benjamin Netanhayu, the former long-time Prime Minister of Israel. These opinions are due to Netanyahu employing populist tactics to connect with his more conservative base, often portraying Livini as pro-Palestinian, when she was simply making an attempt towards relative peace.
Ávila, Livini, and Wallström, all of whom were former foreign ministers of countries she had worked with diplomatically, were affectionately known as Albright’s “exes.”. After their terms of service, these three women remained in a tight network, working together in the Aspen Ministers Forum and other coordinated endeavors.
In Sweden, Wallström was one of the first foreign ministers to articulate an explicitly feminist foreign policy. A concept that emphasizes an expanded role of women in politics and the need to address international crises through a feminist lens. The scope of the feminist foreign policy embodies Albright’s political legacy and has influenced many female state officials, such as Livini.
In her stated criticisms of Netanyahu and Putin, both conservative men, it is clear that Livini views women in politics as crucial for the future of democracy. With the standards of democracy waning as the United States’ grip over the free world slips, Livini, like many of her colleagues, sees a feminist foreign policy as an important framework to more effectively promote international security and stability.