Devvora Olalere PS 2810 07/25/09 Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat
“The World is flat” is a book written by Thomas Friedman. In the book he describes the unplanned cascade of technological and social shifts that effectively leveled the economic world, and “accidentally made Beijing, Bangalore and Bethesda next-door neighbors.” In other words, he analyzes globalization in 21st century; according to him the lowering of trade and political barriers and the exponential technical advances of the digital revolution have made it possible to do business, or almost anything else, instantaneously with billions of other people across the planet. This economic globalization is not run anymore by governments, the Word Bank or other institutions but by individuals. He analyzes the reasons of the creation of globalization or “the flat world” by referring to important historical events, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rise of outsourcing. Today, as he states, people of different color, different culture, and different religions have the same opportunities to excel in this world and be competitive. Humorously, in his book he says: “When I was growing up in Minneapolis, my parents always said, “Tom, finish your dinner. There are people starving in China and India.” Today I tell my girls, “Finish your homework, because people in China and India are starving for your jobs.” And in a flat world, they can have them, because there’s no such thing as an American job anymore.” Finally, at his last chapter of his book, he refers to the US and he believes that events like the attacks of 9/11 are “a political perfect storm” as they distract the American population from the new world; a world where everybody has to be competitive in order to succeed and keep up with it.
The World Is Flat- therefore will End, Thanks to Globalization
Thomas Friedman writes "The World Is Flat", it's funny how when the world was first being analyzed people thought of it as flat. Then as time pass by and evolution expanded scientists found out that the world was a circle forever evolving, forever rotating. What a great metaphor. When society found out that the world was a circle it gave people a since of comfort, and security. A lot of things in life are formed in a cycle. An Example such as the cycle of plants from birth to death, and being feed off of energy,water, soil, sun, and air. Friedman has scared me and probably a lot of other people by comparing the expand of globalization to a flat world. Once a person go through a flat world they must eventually come to an end. So, my question to you is how far will globalization go? There is a downside to every good thing. People think that globalization was for the best, but what if it's not. There was a time where communication did not travel a great distance. Friedman, describes globalization as "the inexorable intergration of markets, nation-states and technologies to a degree never witnessed before in a way that is enabling individuals, corporations and nation-states to reach around the world further, faster, deeper and cheaper than ever before. Friedman has a point when he talk about how globalization is decreasing jobs within the state and is effecting the economy. I feel the personal effects of globalization personally. It's harder for me to get a job. There is cut backs on my family's job. Less products are made and grow in the state. The United States are constantly using other States resources. I believe that technology will back fire. It will get too out of hand. And at the end we will end up back in the dark ages. And there will not be a cycle to carry us as society back around.
In The World Is Flat, Thomas Friedman outlines his theory of a flat world economy, with globalization introducing new economic markets and competitors previously uninvolved before the advent of advanced technology and other "flatteners." Friedman argues that the resulting outsourcing is a good thing, since these markets have a competitive advantage in manufacturing and intellectual tasks that do not require creative thinking. For America to find economic success in a flat world, he argues, we must concentrate on intellectual (mainly scientific) careers, where creative thinking can add value to our production and help recapture our competitive edge.
Friedman's argue is compelling, but he fails to recognize factors other than his flatteners that cost America its competitiveness in outside markets. For example, unfair tariff and trade practices in many foreign countries create an uneven playing field for American products and services, effectively stacking the deck against us. His assessment also seems rather cold in the face of the millions of Americans losing their homes and livelihoods to the flat world for which he argues.
I have been a fan of Friedman’s work for a while now, while I don't agree with everything that he says, to respect the logic and multiple information sources he uses. I, generally, agree with him though. The world is becoming flat. With computers, the internet, world currency exchange and former isolated markets opening up. The world is no long as big as it once was. The invisible hand is now guiding Asia, Eastern Europe and Central America. We must be prepared for this because America has had a tradition of competing with only developed countries and feeling pity toward the third world, now the third world is some of our most fierce competition. We, as a country need to understand that the world is flat and were about to get hit with a poorly constructed Chinese bus. joe puleo ps2810
Devvora Olalere
ReplyDeletePS 2810
07/25/09
Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat
“The World is flat” is a book written by Thomas Friedman. In the book he describes the unplanned cascade of technological and social shifts that effectively leveled the economic world, and “accidentally made Beijing, Bangalore and Bethesda next-door neighbors.” In other words, he analyzes globalization in 21st century; according to him the lowering of trade and political barriers and the exponential technical advances of the digital revolution have made it possible to do business, or almost anything else, instantaneously with billions of other people across the planet. This economic globalization is not run anymore by governments, the Word Bank or other institutions but by individuals. He analyzes the reasons of the creation of globalization or “the flat world” by referring to important historical events, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rise of outsourcing. Today, as he states, people of different color, different culture, and different religions have the same opportunities to excel in this world and be competitive. Humorously, in his book he says: “When I was growing up in Minneapolis, my parents always said, “Tom, finish your dinner. There are people starving in China and India.” Today I tell my girls, “Finish your homework, because people in China and India are starving for your jobs.” And in a flat world, they can have them, because there’s no such thing as an American job anymore.” Finally, at his last chapter of his book, he refers to the US and he believes that events like the attacks of 9/11 are “a political perfect storm” as they distract the American population from the new world; a world where everybody has to be competitive in order to succeed and keep up with it.
ANTOINETTE GOLSTON
ReplyDeleteThe World Is Flat- therefore will End, Thanks to Globalization
Thomas Friedman writes "The World Is Flat", it's funny how when the world was first being analyzed people thought of it as flat. Then as time pass by and evolution expanded scientists found out that the world was a circle forever evolving, forever rotating. What a great metaphor. When society found out that the world was a circle it gave people a since of comfort, and security. A lot of things in life are formed in a cycle. An Example such as the cycle of plants from birth to death, and being feed off of energy,water, soil, sun, and air. Friedman has scared me and probably a lot of other people by comparing the expand of globalization to a flat world. Once a person go through a flat world they must eventually come to an end. So, my question to you is how far will globalization go? There is a downside to every good thing. People think that globalization was for the best, but what if it's not. There was a time where communication did not travel a great distance. Friedman, describes globalization as "the inexorable intergration of markets, nation-states and technologies to a degree never witnessed before in a way that is enabling individuals, corporations and nation-states to reach around the world further, faster, deeper and cheaper than ever before. Friedman has a point when he talk about how globalization is decreasing jobs within the state and is effecting the economy. I feel the personal effects of globalization personally. It's harder for me to get a job. There is cut backs on my family's job. Less products are made and grow in the state. The United States are constantly using other States resources. I believe that technology will back fire. It will get too out of hand. And at the end we will end up back in the dark ages. And there will not be a cycle to carry us as society back around.
In The World Is Flat, Thomas Friedman outlines his theory of a flat world economy, with globalization introducing new economic markets and competitors previously uninvolved before the advent of advanced technology and other "flatteners." Friedman argues that the resulting outsourcing is a good thing, since these markets have a competitive advantage in manufacturing and intellectual tasks that do not require creative thinking. For America to find economic success in a flat world, he argues, we must concentrate on intellectual (mainly scientific) careers, where creative thinking can add value to our production and help recapture our competitive edge.
ReplyDeleteFriedman's argue is compelling, but he fails to recognize factors other than his flatteners that cost America its competitiveness in outside markets. For example, unfair tariff and trade practices in many foreign countries create an uneven playing field for American products and services, effectively stacking the deck against us. His assessment also seems rather cold in the face of the millions of Americans losing their homes and livelihoods to the flat world for which he argues.
-Amalie Brettschneider
I have been a fan of Friedman’s work for a while now, while I don't agree with everything that he says, to respect the logic and multiple information sources he uses. I, generally, agree with him though. The world is becoming flat. With computers, the internet, world currency exchange and former isolated markets opening up. The world is no long as big as it once was. The invisible hand is now guiding Asia, Eastern Europe and Central America. We must be prepared for this because America has had a tradition of competing with only developed countries and feeling pity toward the third world, now the third world is some of our most fierce competition. We, as a country need to understand that the world is flat and were about to get hit with a poorly constructed Chinese bus.
ReplyDeletejoe puleo
ps2810