The world that assaults us today throws my head into the reflection by Agnes Lam in the Citizen’s Voice section, which he co-authors in this newspaper: “The anti-globalization force is consolidating in various parts of the world. What is the relevance of this for Macau? The fact is that, as a city presenting itself as a ‘platform’ and ‘gateway,’ Macau has always been at the forefront of globalization.” A beautiful question; especially since, if all political blocs turn their backs on each other, there will be less space for Macau to operate according to its global DNA.
There are no words for this diplomacy of arms: Washington threatens to negotiate – then shoots to kill. The Iranian regime makes no sense; however, the once democratic, multilateral, and humanitarian beacon is extinguished in this new state terror. Atlantic bellicosity is not worse in Palestine, Venezuela, or Iran… than Putin’s in Ukraine; but it no longer has defense or explanation. Trump is who he is; Netanyahu is the evil angel’s arm; and this is the hell that burns us all.
What role can Macau play—and wants to play—in this context? By the way, how much space is Beijing willing to give it? It is certain that a small administrative region, no matter how special it may be, can only contribute to politics if it has the network and mandate to do so. And, by the way, if it is capable of building this image in the eyes of the rest of the world.
The cycle of the endless future is closed:baby boompolitical rights, economic and social rights; humanism, multilateralism, and globalization… all at the same time and always growing. The reality today is one of an expectation deficit; cycle inversion; public space undermined by nationalist, protectionist, xenophobic, and discriminatory nonsense; bellicose power… What fear!
How can Macau attract investment for the Greater Bay Area, connect separate worlds? Perhaps the answer “is not about swimming against the current”; but, “just as our ancestors did, by reflecting and seeking a new place and role in a changing landscape,” says Agnes, again with reason.
To be or not to be a mediator – that is the question. But what else can someone be who was born to not be something else? After all, it is the weak politics that builds the walls that close the doors to understanding. If everything must be rethought – and it seems that it must – it does not necessarily have to be in retreat; perhaps it can even be with steps forward.
Macau has never actually been a venue for international mediation, despite the accumulated experience between Lisbon and Beijing. It has often been a place of refuge, conviviality, consensus… It has never actually been, in fact, like Vienna used to be; as it still is today. Geneva:circles of efficiency, withknow-howof management, capable of bringing together critical mass from various sectors; multiply economic, cultural… and political forums.
The opportunity is to open the doors of understanding to a broader and more urgent concept: making peace and globalization an axis of Macau’s own economic diversification. Initially, through China’s network and mandate; then, attracting Portugal, Brazil, the entire Lusophone world—and, here yes, also the Hispanic world—to a stage that, by its History, culture, and geography, is devoted to the search for new consensuses. The world needs this very much—and it cannot exclude China.
I respond to Agnes with this proposal: expanding the concept of the Macau Forum to the creation of various academic, diplomatic, scientific, and communication mediation forums, far beyond commercial and financial exchanges. Of course, not having an external policy, the RAEM can only be the stage that China offers to the world as a meeting place. One thing is certain: there is no more important MICE event than this.
