Live from CGI: Raising Questions & Introducing the Global Majority

The impressive array of Commitments of Action showcased at this year's Clinton Global Initiative, raise expectations, enthusiasm, and aspirations of what the world's leaders can do. These commitments also raise questions: how can we improve and expand the model of collaborative action encouraged by CGI's example? what's the best way for individuals not attending CGI support, participate, or partner with these initiatives? how can we each personally undertake Commitments of Action and create a culture of commitment to social action?

Other questions are more nagging: what happens when the cameras are gone and the leaders go home? what is the real ripple effect beyond this elite circle? how is the momentum generated from CGI sustained throughout the year til next September? Sure, the elite attending CGI can do all this amazing work, but what can the rest of us do? And, CGI Commitments of Action are so high-level, do they reinforce or eclipse the need and opportunity for initiatives at different stages of development or capacity, too? How do the apparent successes of CGI Commitments of Action not effectively intimidate or inhibit smaller-scale initiatives?

One of the questions CGI prompted in me has already sparked some interesting responses on twitter, yet I think demands further attention: why don't we call the world's 4 billion impoverished people the "Global Majority" rather than "Bottom of the Pyramid"? While I increasingly hear "Base of the Pyramid" used, presumably as a concession against the more pejorative connotation of "bottom of the pyramid", whichever "BOP" is used, it is within a hierarchical structure reinforcing the powerlessness of the majority of people on the planet. If we are truly to shift this dangerous power imbalance, let's start by recognizing and reframing "BOP" as the Global Majority that they are. Let's recognize the Global Majority, not only as a viable market to be developed, but as vibrant partners to be embraced, partners in whose future everyone else's are inextricably linked. Let's start calling it like it is! Let's start working together, Global Majority, global elite, and everyone in between, in the "spirit of global partnership" that President Obama called for this week at CGI.

(Photo: CGI)