Not an Extra, but the Main Character: Your Role in Citizen Diplomacy
Over the past few months, I’ve received countless messages from people across the United States and around the world, all asking me the same question:
“W.E. Da'Cruz, The Digital Diplomat, what is your take on everything that is happening in the United States under the new presidency?”
It’s a loaded question—one that requires more than a simple response. But if there’s one concept I always begin with, it’s citizen diplomacy.
Many people feel as if they’re living in a movie, cast as extras rather than main characters in the unfolding events around them. But that’s the disadvantageous position to play—one that keeps you feeling powerless. Citizen diplomacy reminds you otherwise.
What is Citizen Diplomacy?
Citizen diplomacy is the idea that we, as individuals, have both the right and the responsibility to influence foreign affairs. This means that regardless of how big or small you consider your work to be, you play a role in shaping policies, relationships, and decisions that affect your environment. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an activist, an educator, or a student, your actions contribute to the larger narrative.
But here’s something even deeper—I am not just a citizen of any one nation. I am a Global Citizen in God's Kingdom. My influence is not limited by the proximity of my current location but by the principles I do not practice. What restricts people is not geography—it’s a lack of knowledge, alignment, and execution of the principles that lead to power and transformation.
22 rural based women female farmers trained on advanced manufacturing through technology in Zimbabwe
The Pathway to Prosperity: People, Policies and Processes
One of the most significant gaps I see today is a lack of knowledge about People, Policies, and Processes. People feel frustrated, disempowered, and overwhelmed because they don’t fully understand the systems that shape their lives. This is why I always say:
The pathway to prosperity—whether personal, communal, national, or international—is predicated on three interconnected pathways: people, policies, and processes.
People: The individuals, communities, and networks that shape ideas, drive movements, and bring about change.
Policies: The rules, laws, and frameworks that govern societies, economies, and relationships between nations.
Processes: The mechanisms through which policies are created, implemented, and challenged.
I shared a bit about this in one of my recent interviews while in Kuwait for Global Entrepreneurship Week on Good Morning Kuwait.
To further expand on this, I’ve been developing a framework as part of my doctoral dissertation at University of Michigan-Flint School of Management that I will share more about in due time. This framework will explore the exchange of value, influence, and impact across different sectors and regions—a modern reimagining of historical trade dynamics that shaped global economies.
Understanding this framework will allow us to see how transactions—whether economic, social, or diplomatic—create ripple effects that can either empower or hinder global progress. The challenge is not just about who is in power but how we, as Global Citizens, are leveraging our ability to influence and direct resources where they need to go.
Your Role in Citizen Diplomacy
If you’re feeling like an observer rather than a participant, it’s time to shift your mindset. You have agency. You have a voice. You have the ability to engage and mobilize what’s necessary to create an environment that allows you to live out your life’s work and purpose.
This isn’t about politics alone—it’s about power. It’s about understanding how the world works so you can shape it rather than be shaped by it.
So, my response to those asking about the current state of affairs in the U.S. and the global market is this: The bigger question isn’t what’s happening to us, but rather, what are we doing in response?
Are you waiting for change, or are you positioning yourself to be part of it?
The choice is yours.
I don't see red or blue. Purpose is colorblind.
My advice is my life motto:
"Live at the level of your consciousness, and never at the level of your circumstances." - W.E. Da'Cruz
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