Richard Betts

FEBRUARY 2, 2018

"I’d say the minimum in a democracy is people need to learn enough to vote responsibly and to vote."

Richard K. Betts, Ph.D, is the Director of the Saltzmann Institute of War and Peace Studies at Columbia University. We talk about how we can be meaningful stakeholders in foreign policy by voting and supporting political movements.

Vote & Support

We must use our power to vote and support political movements in order to activate fundamental change in our world.

Be an active volunteer in an organization

Historically, the United States has been a country of joiners in various organizations to promote solutions to public policy programs. People joined organizations and devoted their volunteered time in large numbers because it is one of the basic ways in which people indirectly affect bigger issues that they don’t feel much direct control over. Don’t take it for granted!

Demand and create a more peaceful future

It’s very damaging to the political process when people participate irresponsibly. Make the effort to learn enough to make responsible decisions. Read newspapers, inform yourself, and stay curious about what is going on.  Then vote for the candidate that comes closest to your point of view.

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Richard Betts is the Director of the Saltzmann Institute of War and Peace Studies, and the Director of the International Security Policy Program at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University in New York.