Marshall Memorial Fellowship: Capturing the Similarities Between the U.S. and Europe

Prior to the start of the Marshall Memorial Fellowship, I asked myself what would be my take away from this amazing experience. I wondered how this experience might change me and more importantly how I would utilize this change to make a broader impact.

Throughout the program, I began think more about the German Marshall Fund’s objective of strengthening transatlantic coordination and what this meant to me. I soon realized that there was a common theme throughout my city visits as I met with a variety of inspiring people— from the courageous Elsa Fornero, former Minister of Labor, Social Policies and Gender Equality during the Monti government in Turin, Italy, to the resilient refugee students at Gymnasium Hamm in Hamburg, Germany.

Despite the differences in government structures, languages, and demographics there are many similarities between Europe and the United States which presents opportunities for collaboration on major issues. However, in order to make significant impact on a global scale we must first be open minded, seek to understand each other, and be willing to engage constructively even when we have contrasting views. The Marshall Memorial Fellowship program has provided me the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the challenges and opportunities within Europe and associated implications for the United States. Many of the issues I once believed to be unique to the U.S. were quickly contextualized as international trends, such as the rise of populism in countries like Italy, parallel to the political landscape we’re seeing in the U.S. right now, or the rise of anti-establishment Conservative extremists in Hungary and the accompanying erosion of human rights of Roma citizens—strikingly similar to the social injustices of African Americans which have spurred the Black Lives Matter movement in the U.S.

Although resolution of these issues is necessarily complex and likely far in the future, I met inspiring people on my MMF experience who fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.  This gives me hope. While the journey forward to greater justice may involve complex processes and policies, each of us has an opportunity to do our part, however small, to work together to build a more tolerant, just, and loving world. 

Damon Vaughan, director, corporate responsibility & AbbVie Foundation, AbbVie, is a spring 2016 Marshall Memorial Fellow.