Lexus and the Olive Tree
- Submitted by: ksporber
- Views: 987
- Category: Politics
- Date Submitted: 12/12/2010 08:18 PM
- Pages: 4
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When I think about globalization, I think of the sense a worldwide agreement and understanding to work cooperatively (which relates to world peace). Globalization also means international politics and economics being in friendly business relations. Thomas Friedman defines globalization as; “the inexorable integration 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 farther, faster, deeper and cheaper than ever before, and in a way that is enabling the world to reach into individuals, corporations and nation-states father, faster, deeper and cheaper than ever before” (p. 9). Globalization is a progressive movement to a world of high speed technology and no privacy.
In his work, The Lexus and the Olive Tree, Friedman wrote about the world evolving from the Cold War era into the Age of Globalization. He focused on the state of the world in the 1990’s specifically acknowledging the growing economic systems and new emerging technologies. The Cold War was a time of defined sides to an issue (USSR v United States). From this basis, two positions were created; “friend” and “enemy”. The globalized world is slowly turning all friends and enemies into political, economical competitors. Friedman states that the world has come a long way in the years between the end of the Cold War (1989) and the publishing of Friedman’s book (2000).
One problem that globalization creates is the conflict between traditionalists (the Olive Tree) and new age concepts (the Lexus). Friedman states, “The challenge in this era of globalization- for countries and individuals- is to find a healthy balance between preserving a sense of identity, home and community and doing what it takes to survive within the globalization system” (p. 42). He goes on to explain, “Any society that wants to thrive economically today must constantly be trying to build a better Lexus and driving it...
In his work, The Lexus and the Olive Tree, Friedman wrote about the world evolving from the Cold War era into the Age of Globalization. He focused on the state of the world in the 1990’s specifically acknowledging the growing economic systems and new emerging technologies. The Cold War was a time of defined sides to an issue (USSR v United States). From this basis, two positions were created; “friend” and “enemy”. The globalized world is slowly turning all friends and enemies into political, economical competitors. Friedman states that the world has come a long way in the years between the end of the Cold War (1989) and the publishing of Friedman’s book (2000).
One problem that globalization creates is the conflict between traditionalists (the Olive Tree) and new age concepts (the Lexus). Friedman states, “The challenge in this era of globalization- for countries and individuals- is to find a healthy balance between preserving a sense of identity, home and community and doing what it takes to survive within the globalization system” (p. 42). He goes on to explain, “Any society that wants to thrive economically today must constantly be trying to build a better Lexus and driving it...