“Contrasting Models of Globalization: Historical and Philosophical Perspectives”
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Abstract
This essay explores the history of an idea—its long past and unpredictable future. It explains the complex processes of globalization, by providing historical perspectives and insights on how to understand this powerful force for change, which affects us all. As our technologies develop and proliferate, the pace of change accelerates faster than our ability to predict their ramifications and consequences. We find ourselves racing into a future of dangerous crises and great promise. We need to take globalization seriously and do our best to manage the coming changes. After a survey of the history of technology, I focus on the emergence of the idea of globalization in the post-Cold War era. I discuss the important works of Klaus Schwab, Benjamin Barber, and Thomas Friedman, all of whom offered policy proposals, models, and metaphors for comprehending how global technologies change our understanding of reality and human possibilities by making our world faster, smaller, closer, flatter, easier, and more efficient.
