I fear that if there is a decline in commitment to leadership in international affairs, this will have a negative impact on the commitment of secure and prosperous societies, and of their governments, to ensure that the weakest among their components enjoy the benefits of security and prosperity. This is perhaps an inevitable paradox of democracy. Democracy enhances in the public the sense of ownership of common resources, which in turn can foster particularism and the prevalence of local or sectorial interests. This is beginning to happen also in developing countries. Politicians are responsible not to turn ownership into defensiveness, and eventually exclusion.
Exclusion negates democracy.
As migratory and refugee flows demonstrate, security and prosperity are not just national issues. The larger the number of countries and people that enjoy them, the more prosperous and secure will all countries and all people be. Ladies and gentlemen, we are here tonight to commemorate the 25th anniversary of an important effort to promote internationalism. The Trilateral Commission's primary objective was to create non-exclusive international leadership. Much progress has been made, not least in Japan.