On Tuesday, January 28th, the Millennial Action Project (MAP), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), & the Graduate Programs and International Programs at George Washington University Law School joined together in an event exploring The State of the World According to Millennials. The evening centered around a recent global survey conducted by the ICRC, documenting the views of 16,000 millennials in 16 different countries on war.
In a town-hall style event, Steven Olikara, Founder and President of MAP, and Dominik Stillhart, the ICRC Director of Operations addressed the opinions of millennials worldwide on the most pressing issues of their generation through discussion, audience Q&A, and live-polling. The interactive environment allowed for conversation about global issues to spur as audience members voiced their concerns and solutions.
Olikara and Stillhart spoke upon issues ranging from terrorism to corruption. One hot topic of discussion was the evolution of major armed conflict in the 21st century on account of the rise of non-state actors and the increasing role of cyberwarfare. In response to this pressing issue, 50% of participants in the audience polled that they believe a Third World War will happen in their lifetime.
To conclude, Olikara asked the audience what it is that makes them hopeful for the future. Members submitted a variety of opinions including, willingness for dialogue and advocacy for change, but a common ground was reached at youth activism. The power of youth leadership and advocacy for change paints a brighter picture for our nation’s future. “Millennials on War” illustrates a generation who is aware and committed to solving the crucial geopolitical and socioeconomic issues they face as future leaders.