Jean,+Sarah,+Alex,+and+Shana+Summary+of+Articles

=Summary of Articles=

by Shana Crouch
In President Obama’s State of the Union address, he talks about different issues concerning America today. He talks about economy, health care reform, national security, and values. He says that America’s economy has changed. The **economy** has become more efficient, but many people are losing jobs because of this- technology is taking over many jobs. Obama said, “America. . . has the largest, most prosperous economy in the world. Obama also said that **health care** is getting better. He said some people are concerned about the new health care law, (what is it?) but he is willing to do what he can to make it better. He also said the law is making it so that senior citizens can get cheaper prescription drugs, and “uninsured students [can get] a chance to stay on their parents’ coverage.” For **national security,** he said that some countries, such as al-Qaida, are planning attacks on America, but America is protecting its country by “disrupting plots and securing [the] cities and skies” (p.6). Along with national security, Obama also described many of the **values** American’s have. He showed that America values education (“We want good schools all across the country” p3) and the elders in the county (he wanted the Health care Act which allowed citizens to get cheaper drugs). Lastly, we also value our troops (“Thanks to our heroic troops and civilians, fewer Afghans are under the control of the insurgency” P7). One last thing Obama said was that American troops in the War on Iraq are scheduled to come home in July 2011.

by Sarah Macfadyen
The article entitled “Jihad vs. McWorld” by Benjamin R. Barber is essentially the description of possibilities for the world of the future in which traditional lifestyles clash with those of larger scale globalization efforts. Barber predicts a bleak, undemocratic future for the world if either one of these concepts become reality. Barber prescribes a balance between the two.



The first option presented by Barber is that of McWorld. In this possibility, the instigators for global change and globalization would be global corporations such as McDonalds, Mac, Nike, and other such companies. McWorld strives to shrink the world by the means of four main imperatives listed by Barber: the market, resource, information-technology, and ecological imperatives. These will reduce people’s patriotism to their own countries and encourage support for world markets instead. A somewhat frightening example of the origins of McWorld is found in an old McDonalds commercial, the link to which is here In this commercial, a boy is describing his ideal “McWorld.” One of the most striking statements is that he would have his own room and only his friends would be allowed in. Perhaps this is more telling than is obvious on the first viewing. If, in a McWorld, only friends are allowed into the world, what is to happen to people—or countries—that are not friendly with the most powerful players in “McWorld?” Herein lies a problem with McWorld: it is run by the corporations who act in their own interests and not by those primarily concerned with globalization for the sake of the world. They would promote “McWorld” but not //the// World.

Jihad, on the other hand, is an equal force moving in the opposite direction to McWorld. Jihad emphasizes nationalism and loyalty to one’s local traditions, culture, language, and “world.” These smaller people groups would fight against McWorld by fighting with one another, stopping globalization in the sense that McWorld encourages and promotes devotion to a smaller entity. Jihad values community, local identity, and solidarity among kinsmen, all of which are gained through war with outsiders.

Barber argues that neither option will promote democracy or a peaceful world in the future and therefore presents an option that incorporates both Jihad and McWorld into the world of tomorrow. He most simply describes it in the saying “Think globally, act locally” (65). Barber calls for a “confederal union of semi-autonomous communities smaller than nation-states, tied together into regional economic associations and markets larger than nation-states” (64). This balance between the global and the local initiatives would best allow, in Barber’s opinion, for the spread of democracy in a brittle world; it is brittle in the sense that it is currently being pulled taut in opposing directions—that of Jihad and McWorld—and must be released before it snaps.

by Alex Glenn
In Friedman’s, “The World is Flat” chapter thirteen discusses globalization at the local level. The chapter opens by discussing how many believe that globalization means “Americanization.” This is plausible. The American culture such as singers, clothing designers, fast food chains, and moviemakers have taken full advantage of walls falling. He then goes on to discuss the downfalls of having an “Americanization”, many believe this will cause a loss of diversity. Friedman argues, though, that it could do just the opposite. The “flat world” allows one to take their own culture and upload it to the world. He goes on to describe this as a sort of pizza. Pizza is flat and topped with anything. Different cultures can season it and flavor it as they like. Instead of America being at the forefront of globalization, China and Japan would take over because their technology is much more advanced. Gary Wang, creator of China’s largest podcasting website said,“…People from all over the world will draw knowledge and inspiration from the same technology platform, but different cultures will flourish on it. It is the same soil, but different trees will grow.” Overall, people want to be hear and Friedman believes that the” flat world” will allow globalization to be seasoned by every culture.

@http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM2BguxRSyY (video of friedman talking)

by Jean Snyder
==== In the article, “A Strategy to Straddle the Planet,” three authors discuss China’s role in globalization. As it starts with the story of a recent ten billion dollar business deal between India and China, the standard is set that this is a significant matter. China is slowly advancing in the global economy, becoming a principal trading partner for many nations. Like the tortoise and the hare, the United States shot into the global economy as an early world power and is now falling back while China slowly surpasses. ====

==== “Beijing’s global push is helping to open new markets for Chinese goods and also serves a broader strategic goal for Beijing, reducing dependence on the US.” (A Strategy to Straddle the Planet). China is establishing a position of tremendous importance in the global economy as they become a more desirable trading partner than other world powers. This is happening because of China’s low prices, and highly efficient production of goods that allows them to produce the majority of the world’s goods. ====

This tremendously affects the United States as we rely heavily on trade with China. According to a study by the U.S.-China Business Council, from the year 2000 to 2009, the amount of imports from China into the U.S. went from 100 billion dollars worth to 296.4 billion dollars worth. We, along with many other nations are becoming more and more dependent on China. They are holding increasingly more important roles in the global economy as many nations want to work, and strike deals with them.

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