Fareed Zakaria Commencement Speech || Harvard University Commencement 2012 | Summary and Q&A

Transcript

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Summary

Fareed Zakaria gives a commencement speech at Harvard, discussing the world as he sees it and the progress that has been made. He emphasizes the peace and stability that exists among the world's richest countries, the growth of the global economy, the reduction of poverty, and the advancements in technology and medicine. He also highlights the increasing participation of women in society and the strength of the United States. Zakaria acknowledges the challenges that still exist, such as economic crises, terrorism, and climate change, but believes that human action and cooperation can lead to solutions.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Zakaria's background and why was he chosen to speak at this commencement?

Fareed Zakaria is a respected thought leader on international affairs, known for hosting a CNN international affairs program, being an editor-at-large at Time Magazine, and being a Washington Post columnist and New York Times bestselling author. He was chosen to speak at this commencement because of his expertise in global affairs and his connection to Harvard as an alumnus.

Q: Why did Zakaria mention that he never attended his own commencements at college and his Ph.D. program?

Zakaria mentioned this to relate to the students and make himself more relatable. He humorously admits to celebrating too much the night before his college commencement and not being able to take the day off for his Harvard commencement due to work commitments. He wants the students to feel that they are already ahead of him in some ways.

Q: According to Zakaria, what are the main achievements and progress of the world in recent years?

Zakaria highlights several achievements and progress in the world, including the absence of major geopolitical, geomilitary competition and wars among the richest countries, the growth and participation of countries in the global economy, the reduction of poverty and increase in life expectancy, and the advancements in technology and medicine.

Q: How does Zakaria address the concerns about terrorism and safety in today's world?

Zakaria acknowledges the worries about terrorism and safety but provides statistical data to show that the number of people dying from war, civil war, and terrorism has decreased significantly in recent years. He also mentions successful actions taken against terrorist organizations through international cooperation and emphasizes that human response and action can effectively combat these challenges.

Q: What is Zakaria's view on the future and opportunities?

Zakaria believes that the future holds even more opportunities for progress and innovation. He mentions Moore's Law and how it has impacted computing power, but also highlights the advancements in fields like the sequencing of the human genome and the customization of manufacturing through material science. He states that these different fields will intersect to create new and unimaginable opportunities.

Q: How does Zakaria discuss the increasing participation of women in society?

Zakaria points out that the number of female college graduates globally has increased sevenfold in the last forty years, and even provides an example of the financial success of female members of the House of Representatives. He expresses his belief that the increasing participation of women will enrich and ennoble the world.

Q: How does Zakaria portray the United States in relation to the rest of the world?

Zakaria sees the United States as having a large and dynamic economy, an abundance of great companies and universities, and demographic vibrancy due to its population growth and immigrant influx. He believes that the United States will continue to thrive and have a better demographic profile than countries like China.

Q: What is Zakaria's overall message about the world and its challenges?

Zakaria recognizes the challenges the world faces, such as economic crises, terrorism, climate change, and resource scarcity. However, he emphasizes that human action and response to these challenges can lead to solutions. He believes that individual and collective efforts from governments, organizations, and ordinary people will shape the future positively.

Q: What advice does Zakaria give to the graduates?

Zakaria advises the graduates to trust themselves and follow their instincts in determining their paths in life. He emphasizes the importance of virtues such as intelligence, hard work, discipline, courage, love, and faith in building a fulfilling and rewarding life. He encourages them to trust in their abilities to make a difference in the world.

Q: Why does Zakaria talk about the love of parents and the importance of expressing it?

Zakaria shares his personal experience of realizing the depth of parental love when he became a parent himself and highlights the importance of not waiting too long to express love and appreciation to parents. He wants the graduates to cherish their relationships with their parents and not take them for granted.

Takeaways

Fareed Zakaria's commencement speech at Harvard highlights the progress that has been made in the world, such as peace among the richest countries, global economic growth, poverty reduction, advancements in technology and medicine, and the increasing participation of women. He acknowledges the challenges that still exist but believes in the power of human action and cooperation to find solutions. Zakaria's message encourages graduates to trust themselves, follow their instincts, and prioritize virtues such as intelligence, hard work, discipline, courage, love, and faith in shaping their own lives and making a positive impact on the world. He also reminds them of the importance of expressing love and appreciation to their parents.