In this first chapter, Thomas Friedman examines the main stages in the development of globalization; moreover, he shows how various countries have benefited from this process. In particular, the writer focuses on such a country as India. His main argument is that people living in such states can compete with entrepreneurs from America or Europe. Yet, this trend has been overlooked for a long time.
In the next chapter, the scholar discusses various trends that equalize opportunities available to people living in various countries. In particular, one can speak about the ending of the Cold War, the growing availability of open-source software, outsourcing, and growing accessibility of information technologies such as the Internet. These factors can be called “flatteners” (Friedman 51). The main point is that these forces can enable people to take part in the integrated global economy.
Moreover, traditional obstacles such as the cost of software or long distances can be overcome with greater ease. In the third chapter, Thomas Friedman notes that some of the so-called flatteners can produce a cumulative effect on the performance of companies or experiences of individuals. In particular, they have more resources for cooperating with one another. In turn, this cooperation can result in the creation of new products. In turn, in the fourth chapter, the author shows that the flattening of the world tends to eliminate the boundaries which were previously taken for granted. In particular, modern companies and individuals can now have “multiple identities” (Friedman 250).
This argument is particularly if one speaks about multinational companies operating in various regions of the world. The owners of these businesses can live in various countries. This is one of the issues that should be considered.
In the next section, Thomas Friedman discusses the impact of free trade on the economy of America and experiences of its citizens. The concept of free trade is based on the premise that each country has to focus on those activities in which it has the competitive advantage. However, people have to focus on continuous education and professional development in order to retain this advantage. This issue becomes important nowadays, when people and companies coming from different countries can take part in the global economy. Additionally, the scholar examines those professional areas which are not affected by this flattening of the world.
In particular, he refers to those jobs that cannot be easily outsourced. Moreover, they require in-depth expertise. For instance, one can speak about lawyers or surgeons (Friedman 311). In turn, individuals should carve out careers in those areas which are not influenced by globalization. This is one of the details that should be considered.
In the seventh chapter of the book, the writer examines the main competencies which can be important for individuals. For example, one can speak about the ability to learn independently since in many cases, workers and entrepreneurs should acquire new knowledge without any external assistance. Moreover, people should be able to evaluate information in terms of its quality and relevance. Overall, these skills are critical for the competitiveness of a person.
In the eighth chapter, the writer speaks about the crisis which can profoundly influence the United States. In particular, he notes that a lesser number of people want to make a career in various fields related to science and technology (Friedman 377). In the long term, America may not remain the center of technological innovation and scientific research. This issue should be considered by educators and policy-makers since they should make the United States more resilient to external changes.
In the next chapter, the writer lays stress on the idea that these changes should be regarded as a significant risk. People are more likely to do their best if they see a specific opponent. For instance, individuals could be very motivated to achieve better results during the Cold War. However, this distinct opponent is not present in the modern environment. Nevertheless, Thomas Friedman urges people to remember that life-long employability is vital for any individual; otherwise his/her job security can be threatened (368).
In the following section of the book, the author discusses the policies adopted in various developing countries. For instance, local policy-makers want to become more attractive to investors; this is why they adopt new regulations that facilitate the work of businesses. Moreover, they invest in education and infrastructure. In this way, they can take advantage of various free trade agreements. These trends can be observed in Mexico and China.
In the eleventh chapter, the author discusses the strategies that companies should adopt in order to remain more competitive in the world which gradually becomes flatter. For instance, they should not regard other businesses only as competitors. In some cases, it is much easier to perceive them only as suppliers. Moreover, they should be willing to adopt new technologies and business models, instead of sticking to the conventional methods which could be effective in the past.
In the twelfth chapter, Thomas Friedman discusses such a process as “globalization of the local” (477). This notion is used to show that many cultural practices, products and media, which previously existed in only in some countries or regions, can become global. This tendency can be explained by the movement of immigrants to advanced countries. For instance, these people want to read newspapers written in their native language.
In the next part of the book, the writer states that the process of globalization can significantly empower various stakeholders. For instance, one can speak about social entrepreneurs or political activists who want to bring certain improvements in the society. They can raise awareness about the goals that they want to achieve. For instance, environmental activists can make sure that manufacturing companies do not pollute water or air.
Additionally, the author examines the impacts of technologies on the way in which people interact with one another. Admittedly, social media increase the connectivity in the society. People, who come from different backgrounds, can easily come in contact with each other. However, technologies can disrupt a person’s interactions with his/her relatives, neighbors and peers. However, in the flattened world, a person should not disregard the role of the community.
In the fifteenth chapter, Thomas Friedman discusses various forms of inequalities in the modern worlds. In particular, the writer considers the needs of people who cannot derive any benefits from the flattening world. The experiences of these people can be explained mostly by the absence of infrastructure and inadequate education. This argument can be applied to people living in the rural parts of India. Moreover, the writer speaks about the inefficiencies of existing energy infrastructure.
Furthermore, the author examines the way in which the flattening of the world can affect geopolitical relations between and among countries. His argument is that the countries that are integrated in the global supply chain are not likely to enter into conflicts with one another (Friedman 580). In particular, the governments will understand that such steps will adversely affect the economic prosperity of people.
In turn, in the concluding section, Thomas Friedman tries to show that the flattening world can create both opportunities and threats that can profoundly affect millions of people. So, individuals should be ready for these changes and transform them into opportunities. This is the main lesson that should be considered.
Overall, this book is very thought-provoking because the author is able to discuss various trends in a very systematic way. For instance, he shows how various political issues, technological breakthroughs, or the strategies of various businesses can be interconnected. Furthermore, Thomas Friedman explains why these changes can be viewed as opportunities for entrepreneurs, students, or social activists. So, this book is very inspiring. Nevertheless, there are some limitations that should be considered. In particular, the writer discusses a variety of questions which require in-depth research. These questions may be related to economics, political science, psychology, history, and so forth.
Many of his arguments can be disputed by scholars; for instance, Thomas Friedman speaks about the underlying causes of Islamic radicalism. He tries to focus only on the economic reasons of this phenomenon, but this approach may not be accurate because the writer does not consider religious and cultural causes of this problem. So, readers should be very critical while discussing the main points made by Thomas Friedman. However, this book can still be of great interest to people who want to understand the effects of globalization. Moreover, this book should be read by entrepreneurs who need to anticipate the change that can eventually lead to new opportunities.
Works Cited
Friedman, Thomas. The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century, New York: Macmillan, 2007. Print.