The Trilateral Commission
was formed in 1973 by private citizens of Europe,Japan, and North America to foster closer cooperation among these three democraticindustrialized regions on common problems. It seeks to improve public understandingof such problems, to support proposals for handling them jointly, and to nurture habitsand practices of working together. The Trilateral countries are nations in Europe,North America, and Pacific Asia that are both democratic and have marketeconomies. They include the member and candidate member nations of the EuropeanUnion, the three nations of North America, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines,Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand.
These essays were prepared for the Trilateral Commission and are distributed underits auspices. The European author held consultations in Tehran during February 2-7,2008. The essays were discussed at the Commission's annual meeting in Washingtonon April 27, 2008.
The authors—from North America, Europe, and Pacific Asia—have been free topresent their own views. The opinions expressed are put forward in a personalcapacity and do not purport to represent those of the Trilateral Commission or of anyorganization with which the authors are or were associated.