Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat

1047 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The impact of globalization

World History

In Thomas Friedman’s The World Is Flat he presents his idea of the globalization of the world in all areas; from economic to communication with other countries. Friedman is a journalist from the New York Times and most of his work focuses on economic and technological innovations and advancements, and furthermore how they are associated to history. The ideas he presents in this book are both plausible and convincing. The main focus is whether the world is “flat“. The answer to this question depends on the readers’ political, economical, and technological opinions. Friedman does however present evidence in many situations where the globalization of the world is clearly evident. This essay will explore these different scenarios, as well as present an opinion on globalization in the world’s economic and technological fields.

Friedman first discovers the flattening of the world while interviewing well respected Nandian Nelekani, Indian CEO of Infosys Technologies Limited. This intellectual businessman had been the first to expose Friedman to this new era of globalization. Stating to Friedman that “ the playing field is being leveled” ( Friedman 7). It didn’t take long for him to realize that Nelekani didn’t actually mean the world was flat in the physical sense ,but it was being leveled so that countries around the world could compete and challenge each other in various fields. This new globalization was something to be embraced by countries all over the world in order to succeed and grow stronger economically, both collectively and as a single country.

According to Friedman presently our stage is globalization 3.0 which is “…shrinking the world from size small to a size tiny and flattening the playing fiel...

... middle of paper ...

...ss as well as the set backs that have occurred in the world . It also associates historical events with the different stages of globalization. For example, the maiden voyage of Christopher Columbus to the New World in 1492 is categorized into the era of Globalization 1.0. Overall the book is a history of the major events in history that has had influences in the world.

Overall the first part of Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat is both plausible and persuasive. I feel that I have adapted many of his opinions on globalization. Also, there are new things that I have discovered in more detail such as the outsourcing. I have briefly read about it but never have I acquired as much information as Friedman presented. Later on in the book I think that Friedman’s topic of the developing countries and globalization should be interesting as well as informative.

Show More
Related

  • Vermeer's Hat, by Timothy Brook

    997 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...g. The tying together each small item to the events of world history symbolizes how the overarching theme of globalization involves many different aspects. Samuel Champlain’s excursion which could’ve been seen as complete accident actually helped establish a very profitable fur trade between North America. Chinese porcelain and its high demand introduced the world to the wonders of China as well as the rest of the world to China. Tobacco became a popular commodity of trade and was exported globally. Along with discoveries of routes, goods, and beliefs, and other things, the movement of people was, and still is, the most vital part of globalization. Without it, history wouldn’t be the same.

    Read More

  • The Concept Of Globalization In Virilio's 'Crepuscular Dawn'

    1021 Words  | 3 Pages

    When reading Virilio’s Crepuscular Dawn one must define each concept to fully grasp the theories proposed in his book. Virilio states “globalization is the world becoming too small, and not too big” (p. 89). For one to thoroughly evaluate this quote one must first understand: What is globalization and what does it involve? How does speed contribute to this occurrence? What is speed? How this lead to escape velocity? What does escape velocity entail? And finally, what does globalization lead to and what danger does it pose? Only after defining these terms can an individual discover is the world is becoming enclosed.

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis Of Don 'T Hug Me I M Scared'

    1017 Words  | 3 Pages

    He uses successful companies from the 80’s to today such as Microsoft, Apple, and Google. He explains that “they share a strategy that is becoming standard for success.” (Zakaria 462). Global business or taking business outside of the United States counts for a large sum of corporation’s revenue. Zakaria describes that technology itself is the reasoning behind why the U.S. economy has shifted. He elaborates on this shift, and says “Technology and globalization are working together at warp speed” (Zakaria 463) alluding to the futuristic television series “Star Trek”, which just so happens to parallel with him talking about the future of the economy. He brings other developing countries in to the mix saying “China and India have added literally hundreds of millions of new workers to the global labor pool, producing the same goods and services as Western workers at a fraction of the price.” (Zakaria 463). Zakaria switches his tone yet again to reflect optimism for America. Zakaria recognizes the large growth and now need for technology and globalization in America and let’s his readers know that this change and shift in our economy may have the economy down, but the shift isn’t a bad thing and it isn’t what is keeping people down. He encourages his audience to see that what has happened can’t be stopped. Then he asks a rhetorical question that is both simple and to the point. “So what is the solution?” (Zakaria

    Read More

  • Summary Of The Age Of Globalization

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    Regarding “The Age of Globalization” by Alan Brinkley I thought that the reading selection provides good details on timeline of significant events that significantly affected the global economy. The reading selection from the American History textbook starts off with a summary of event of September 11, 2001, and the role they played in the changes within global economy. On the next page we are presented with a timeline of events that will be described later in the reading selection. The purpose of this section is to illustrate how each of those events contributed to the world we live in today, particularly their influence on the global economy.

    Read More

  • The Post American World, by Fareed Zakaria and The World is Flat, by Thomas Friedman

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    As Americans we have to start to comprehend that the world around us is changing technologically, politically, and economically. In “The Last Superpower” an excerpt from the book The Post American World by Fareed Zakaria published in 2008. Zakaria emphasizes on these changes. Thomas Friedman the author of “The World is Flat” a piece from the book The World is Flat: A brief history of the twenty-first century published in 2005 also emphasizes on the same changes currently happening in the world. Zakaria and Friedman define these changes as globalization. The obvious common ground shared by both authors is their representation of globalization and the effects that it has and will continue to have on modern life. In contrast to sharing the same main topic both authors take a drastically different approach on how the relay their information to the audience. The differences displayed are mainly due to their personal and educational backgrounds, definitions of globalization as well as the individual writing styles of each author.

    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

  • Interpreting Concepts of The World Is Flat

    1786 Words  | 4 Pages

    The three Globalizations contrast in many ways. Globalization 1.0, lasting from 1492 to about 1800, was about countries and muscles. Its force driving the process of global flattening was the amount of "muscle" your country had. The key agent of change in Globalization 2.0, which lasted from 1800 to 2000, was the power of multinational companies, which went global for markets and labor. Globalization 3.0, beginning in 2000 flattened the playing field even more. The dynamic force was the power by which individuals could collaborate and compete globally. They could do so digitally with the convergence of the personal computer with fiber-optic cable. Globalization 3.0 differs from the previous two not only in how the world is flattening, but also in the types of people involved. In Globalization 1.0 and 2.0 it was mostly American and European businesses who...

    Read More

  • Critical Review of Peter Dickens' Global Shift: Mapping The Changing Contours of the World Economy

    1167 Words  | 3 Pages

    When the term “Globalization” is discussed, most academics, scholars, professionals and intellectuals attempt to define and interpret it in a summarized fashion. My main concern with this approach is that one cannot and should not define a process that altered decades of history and continues to, in less than 30 words. Global Shift is a book with remarkable insight. Peter Dicken rather than attempting to define the commonly misused word, explains Globalization in a clear and logical fashion, which interconnects numerous views. Dicken takes full advantage of his position to write and identify the imperative changes of political, economic, social, and technological dimensions of globalization.

    Read More

  • Changes in the twenty first century workplace

    1238 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...in the new “flat world” individuals need to figure out how to become “untouchable.” He explains that “untouchables are people whose jobs cannot be outsourced, digitized, or automated” (184). He explains that in a “flat world” there is no longer a job based solely on geographic, but rather in most cases an available job “will go to the best, smartest, most productive or cheapest worker-wherever he or she resides” (183). He goes on to show that companies and individuals have to look at the global picture today in order to succeed (183).

    Read More

  • Negative Effects of Globalization

    671 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...o we can achieve our dreams in life: “we are now living in a world where time and space don’t matter anymore” just like J.Mittleman said. Globalization as we just learned is relative, whether it’s an opportunity or an exploitation depends on where you sit and how you look at the world. Kent, J., Kinetz, E. & Whehrfritz, G. Newsweek. Bottom of the barrel. - The dark side of globalization (2008/March24). David, P. Falling of The Edge, Travels through the Dark Heart of Globalization..Nov 2008. (p62)

    Read More

  • Globalization: A New Form of Economic Imperialism

    2008 Words  | 5 Pages

    Globalization is a new concept that was introduced to the world after the fall of the communist regime. Globalization has to its identity social, economic, and political reforms, .however the globalization that we are about to discuss is the term that combines the past socio-economic and political reforms and cross with them to the world where their are no boundaries, restrictions, and immobilization what Mittelman describes as ? cross-border flows of capital, knowledge, and consumer goods ? (Mittelman 1). For the world to become a one or a single entity it has to pass through a process of economic, and technological integration. The consequence of this unification is the aim of this research, positive and negative, although the negative aspects will be the dominating part.

    Read More

  • Globalization as a Social Change

    1114 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the recent years globalization has begun to appear as one of the most predominant issues in the world. The term ‘is generally used when discussing the technology and advances in an assortment of areas including, but not limited to, everything from technology to capital. The main aspects that comprise globalization are debatable. Throughout this essay, globalization will be explored as a recent social change in our society as it relates to incorporating economic relations and incorporations political relations around the world, despite the fact that this change is often portrayed as a problematic and unequal one of the restrictions of mobile subjects and connectivity. To begin my segment, I’ll begin to discuss on some of the most important definitions of globalization. Lastly, I’ll begin to investigate the imbalanced and difficult practices that make up globalization.

    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

  • Globalization and New World Order

    1586 Words  | 4 Pages

    The term ‘Globalization’ refers to is the integration of economies, industries, markets, cultures and policy-making round the globe. It explains a progression by which both national and regional economies, societies, and cultures have become incorporated through the universal system of commerce, communication, migration and transportation.

    Read More

  • Impact of Globalization on People

    1497 Words  | 3 Pages

    "Globalization is a process of world shrinkage, of distances getting shorter, things moving closer. It pertains to t...

    Read More

More about Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat

Open Document