The Importance of Building Compassionate and Amicable Political Scene | Makoto Buroku | TEDxWasedaU

Political science student Makoto Buroku argues that people should not withdraw from politics, even as the field grows more exhausting. In his TEDxWasedaU talk, he stresses the value of speaking up while listening to people with different views. He describes a future in which political discourse is active and amicable, grounded in compassion rather than division.

• Why stepping back from politics carries risks
• The value of speaking up while listening to diverse views
• A vision of compassionate, amicable political discourse
• Perspective of a Japan- and US-raised political science student

Now more than ever, many of us just want to tune out of the increasingly exhausting field of politics. However, in this talk, political science student Makoto Buroku challenges this idea. Makoto shares his perspective on the importance of speaking up, while also listening to each other’s diverse points of view. Makoto highlights the dangers of withdrawing from the political scene, and imagines a future where political discourse is both active and amicable, centered around compassion not division. Makoto Buroku is a first year student at Waseda University’s School of Political Science and Economics, majoring in political science. Born in Japan but raised in the United States, Makoto has a deep interest in the politics of both countries. Growing up attending international schools pushed him to take an interest in the diverse experiences of people around the world. Having been raised during the internet age while experiencing recent political polarization and shifts in both the US and Japan, Makoto feels invigorated to reshape the way we engage with politics, encouraging civic responsibility and compassion during an increasingly tense political climate. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx