Analysis and Summary of Thomas L. Friedman's Views on World Advancement

1202 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Impact of technology on society

Since the advancement of the world civilizations, the world gradually became smaller in terms of connection. From the first trades between cities in the early centuries of the Common Era, to the current day where civilizations are the most advanced compared to before. Communication is the key point of the progress of humanity. The biggest change and acceleration of communication happened starting from the dawn of the 21st century. This all happened in the last hundred years when the world reshaped in terms of politics, communities, technology, and most importantly the ways of communication. As much as these progresses have their positive effects, they can still be dangerous if businesses, governments and even people don’t keep with it. One of the people who realized this big changes, how they were influenced, and how they influenced is a New York Times columnist named Thomas L. Friedman. During his speech in the (United Way of Greater New Haven Conference), Friedman stated: “Whatever can be done, it will be done, there is only one question for you, whether it will be done by you, or to you” (Friedman, 2008). He was mainly talking about how advanced the world is now, and how people much easier transfer ideas into actions. Friedman is mostly known for his book “The World Is Flat” where in the book’s second chapter, he define the reasons that led to the flattening of the world. The most known reason that Friedman summarized can be listen in ten points.
The Ten Flatteners:
1. Collapse of the berlin wall: this is one of the most important events that marked the end of the cold war. The collapse resulted in the opening of people from each side to each other and to take part in the economic trend in 1989
2. Netscape: along with the web ...

... middle of paper ...

...ry to be successful in the long term when people will work in a workspace that is filled with technological innovations that were probably made after they were born.
Bibliography
• Friedman, T. (2003, June 28). Is Google God?. The New York Times. Retrieved May 19, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/29/opinion/is-google-god.html
• Friedman, T. L. (2005). The world is flat: a brief history of the twenty-first century. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
• Ozcan, M. (n.d.). TED Conversations. Technology versus Culture. Retrieved May 19, 2014, from http://www.ted.com/conversations/17534
• Rain, E. (n.d.). Flattener #9: Informing. Issuu. Retrieved May 19, 2014, from http://issuu.com/erain14/docs/flattener__9
• Friedman, T. (n.d.). The opinion Page. While Detroit Slept. Retrieved May 19, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/10/opinion/10friedman.html?_r=0

Show More
Related

  • Watershed Years

    861 Words  | 2 Pages

    The major factor that led to the true end of the Cold War was the ongoing personal and diplomatic relationship between Presidents George H. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev. This resulted in the reduction of the Russian military and favorable arms agreements. Key indicators of the substance behind this relationship were the Soviet troop withdrawals from Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, and Hungary (lifting the Hungarian/Austrian “Iron Curtain” along the border). Subsequently the opening of the Berl...

    Read More

  • Ronald Reagan and the End of the Cold War

    1884 Words  | 4 Pages

    Finally, in November 1989, the wall crumbled under the hands. of the Germans and the cold war ended.2 The downfall of the Cold War started when Ronald Reagan came into office. in 1981. Reagan had two main priorities.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Great Depression And The Recession Of 2008

    1712 Words  | 4 Pages

    The end of the Cold War was marked by the fall of the Berlin Wall. At this time, many other European Communist nations began to fall as well. People pointed out that there was not an obvious winner of the Cold War. However, thousands of American lost their lives waging proxy wars in Korea and Vietnam. “People believed the military spending policies of the Reagan-Bush years forced the Soviets to the brink of economic collapse.” However, Americans hoped they remained safe and marked with security and

    Read More

  • Significance Of The Berlin Wall

    2168 Words  | 5 Pages

    In conclusion Berlin Wall was an important milestone in the growth of the Cold War. It was the expansion that represented the thinking of a determined Communist system. Western Capitalism, which was more powerful, eventually defeated the system. The massive wall that did so much harm to a country was finally destroyed, and the people of Germany could now live the way they all wanted to live. They could live the life of freedom. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall East Germany has went through a lot of changes, and it still is not easy for all of the people in East Germany. But no matter how hard it is for the people of East Germany now, it is better than being alone and separated from their families, friends and rest of Europe.

    Read More

  • Arguments For And Against The Idea That The World Has Become Flat In Recent Years

    853 Words  | 2 Pages

    The world is ever changing and has been that way even before humans dominated Earth. However, what we are interested in for this topic is in the last few decades where globalization has had an impact in the early 21st century, making the world "flat". The phrase that the world has become flat is a metaphor for viewing the world level in terms of commerce and competition, meaning a level playing field where everyone has an equal opportunity. However, opinions are divided on how much globalization has actually impacted the world as a whole. Critics argue that Friedman’s term "flat" is grossly exaggerated as his view is from an American perspective. This paper investigates major arguments for both sides.

    Read More

  • Social Effects of the Berlin Wall

    1034 Words  | 3 Pages

    The most visible aspect of the Cold War was the Berlin Wall. Before the wall was constructed, East and West Germans could travel freely between the two states. The number of East Germans fleeing to West was an embarrassment to the Communists, and something had to be done to pro...

    Read More

  • “Is Google Making Us Stupid” and “Get Smarter”

    1364 Words  | 3 Pages

    Carr, Nicholas. "Is Google Making Us Stupid." July/August 2008. The Alantic Magazine. 20 February 2012 .

    Read More

  • The World is Flat -Chapters 7 & 8

    2161 Words  | 5 Pages

    Constant change and a flat, global competitive market landscape were described by Thomas Friedman, author of The World is Flat, as triple convergence and was a result of the ten flatteners. Friedman also stated that in “Globalization 1.0, countries had to think globally. In Globalization 2.0, companies had to think globally to thrive, or at least survive. In Globalization 3.0, individuals have to think globally to thrive, or at least survive.” (Friedman, 2007) The concept of needing individuals to think globally and thrive in the market led Friedman to travel and report on various educational cultures across the world. Friedman was determined to find “the right stuff” to make the youth in future generations competitive globally.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Is Google Making USupid

    769 Words  | 2 Pages

    In composing “Is Google Making Us More Stupid” Nicholas Carr wants his audience to be feared by the internet while at the same time he wants his work to seem more creditable. Nicholas Carr uses many different types of evidence to show us that we should be scared and feared as well as his credibility. Carr’s audience is people who think like him, who find themselves getting lost on the internet while reading something, someone who is educated and uses the internet to look up the answers to questions or to read an article or book.

    Read More

  • Interpreting Concepts of The World Is Flat

    1786 Words  | 4 Pages

    The phrase: "the world is flat" can be interpreted in many ways. Basically what Friedman means by "flat" is "linked." The falling of trade and political barriers and technical advances have made it possible to do business, instantaneously with billions of other people around the world. It has allowed for parts of the world, which had previously been cut off, like China and India, to successfully compete in the world market. Thus, the playing field is being leveled, and no one nation has an advantage. Friedman could also refer to a "flat world" in a metaphorical sense. In a spherical earth you cannot see around the world and cannot recognize the opportunities far from where you live. If the world were flat you could see it all. There would be no barriers to get in your way. This is the equivalent to a smaller globe which allows one to reach far away opportunities.

    Read More

  • Race Against the Machine

    1666 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...nd again resulting in creation of bigger markets and pulling large competitors and creating new job opportunities, but the problem is with undefined factors like outsourcing, lack of skill development in respect with technology advancement. Technology advancement may be causing huge impact on employment but it is also making human living better. Technology as became part and parcel of our life so we can’t think of life without technology, but to make sure that the same does not harm our livelihood we should keep in track and sharpen and hone our skills with advancement of technology. (Brynjolfsson & McAfee, 2011)

    Read More

  • Essay on Tomas Friedman's Ideas on Globalization

    1446 Words  | 3 Pages

    The United States used to be a place of dreams, a country where any willing body in the world envied. The opportunity to escape the old world and start anew, the chance to buy a home to your name, raise a family with little worries, have a secure job that would provide enough, and ultimately the right to say to the other nations, “I am free”. Sadly today, that opportunity is closing, the chance is slipping and that free America is being chained by the very same people robbing others of a life. The last time in history anyone saw this large of a robbery was during the French Revolution. This is only said because the world is emerging into a global economy that blurs national law and dries countries of their resources.

    Read More

  • Collapse Of The Berlin Wall Essay

    1188 Words  | 3 Pages

    The collapse of the Berlin Wall changed Western Europe as we know it today. The Iron Curtain, which had split Europe, had ascended and the once divided Germans were reunited under one common nation. The causal factors which resulted in the fall of the Berlin Wall were internal — communism imploded upon itself—. Gorbachev attempted to reform communism through Glasnost and Perestroika, which were supposed to incorporate economic reforms and transparency, however, history illustrates that increased liberty is incompatible with communism. Dr. Schmidtke argued that structural deficiencies led along with poor economic growth which led to the collapse of communism in Europe, and consequently the collapse of the Berlin Wall.

    Read More

  • Technology and Today's Youth

    2334 Words  | 5 Pages

    Is Google Making Us Stupid? - Magazine - The Atlantic. (n.d.). The Atlantic — News and analysis on politics, business, culture, technology, national, international, and life – TheAtlantic.com. Retrieved April 21, 2012, from http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/6868/

    Read More

  • The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman

    916 Words  | 2 Pages

    First of all, Friedman talks about the different levels of globalization. There are 3 different time periods in which the society has differed and changed, bringing us to where we are today. Globalization 1.0, which took place from 1492 to 1800, was the first step to making the world flatter. The coming to America, and the industrial drive that came along with this is what most characterized globalization 1.0. The industry drive was about things such as manpower and horsepower, and how well we could utilize these in the world market. This caused the world to “shrink” a little bit, and become flatter. With the discovery of a new world, it broadened the area in which business was conducted, but the commonality of rule and trade caused the distance to be spanned more frequently. I think Friedman’s notions regarding globalization 1.0 is very accurate. The world in our terms began in 1492 with the discovery of North America. Once the area began to be inhabited and settled, there was much more worldwide interaction. Communications and trade between the American colonies and England increased, and this began a more stable business of worldwide association. I believe that Friedman’s theory is true, because the discovery of a land across the ocean for th...

    Read More

More about Analysis and Summary of Thomas L. Friedman's Views on World Advancement

Open Document