The Lexus and the Olive Tree

In his book, Friedman (1999) maintains globalization is a positive and efficient international system whose balance between progress and tradition can be maintained. This book is designed as a means of spelling out how that balance can be achieved. In explaining the balance that can be had between the Lexus and the olive tree, Friedman (1999) compares and contrasts the old international system (the Cold War) with the new international system (Globalization). He divides his book into four parts. In the first part he explains the new international system, including the influence of technology and the individual in influencing the global arena. In the second part, ôPlugging into the System,ö he discus

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s view. This is because free-market capitalism has inbuilt regulators. When markets are free, those companies or nations that are inefficient and cannot be made efficient will succumb. Countries that continue to keep their markets closed or subsidize their industry will not be able to compete with the ôglobalizedö nation. As Friedman (1999) explains: Those countries that are most willing to let capitalism quickly destroy inefficient companies, so that money can be freed up and directed to more innovative ones, will thrive in the era of globalization. Thos which rely on their governments to protect them from such creative destruction will fall behind in this era. One of the driving forces behind the new system is also the emergence of the U.S. as the dominant world power after the end of the Cold War. Such a position subjects the U.S. to criticism for forcing its will upon nations around the globe, including its markets and culture, but it is quite likely that if the U.S.S.R. has won the Cold War we might all be being absorbed into a new world order with communism and Soviet culture. The reason for this is that due to new technologies and more global stability from a military point of view, one nation or the other would h
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Approximate Word count = 2430
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)

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