In his article “It’s a Flat World, After All,” published in the New York Times in 2005, Thomas Friedman discusses how technology and globalization are rapidly allowing work to be done from anywhere in the world, reducing the West’s economic dominance. Furthermore, he characterizes globalization as an exhaustive and revolutionary transformation in which the entire globe becomes deeply and permanently interconnected.
Friedman establishes that the world has been “flattened” as the result of global Internet access and collaboration tools. He states that as a result of this new technology, offshoring, outsourcing, in-sourcing, and open-sourcing are now viable ways for companies to do their work. As a result, Friedman goes on to argue that the United States is in the midst of a “quiet crisis” because of its achievement gap in contrast to other countries, which he attributes to poor work ethic and education. He implores Americans to work harder so that they will be globally competitive.
However, Friedman’s hasty conclusion that globalization has flattened the world is false. Much of his …show more content…
While he also touches on the idea that other services might be insourced, he does not discuss changes that will occur with regular capital and GDP, culture, immigration, or day to day interactions and life. Friedman also makes the assumption that companies will always to choose to outsource work if they can find a cheaper supplier. While this has clearly been the trend with material labor, companies may choose not to with intellectual work because of time zone differences, cultural and language barriers, racism or xenophobia, consumer nativism, or privacy concerns. Again falling victim to the slippery slope fallacy, he assumes that modern globalization will follow the same trend as twentieth century
Friedman establishes that the world has been “flattened” as the result of global Internet access and collaboration tools. He states that as a result of this new technology, offshoring, outsourcing, in-sourcing, and open-sourcing are now viable ways for companies to do their work. As a result, Friedman goes on to argue that the United States is in the midst of a “quiet crisis” because of its achievement gap in contrast to other countries, which he attributes to poor work ethic and education. He implores Americans to work harder so that they will be globally competitive.
However, Friedman’s hasty conclusion that globalization has flattened the world is false. Much of his …show more content…
While he also touches on the idea that other services might be insourced, he does not discuss changes that will occur with regular capital and GDP, culture, immigration, or day to day interactions and life. Friedman also makes the assumption that companies will always to choose to outsource work if they can find a cheaper supplier. While this has clearly been the trend with material labor, companies may choose not to with intellectual work because of time zone differences, cultural and language barriers, racism or xenophobia, consumer nativism, or privacy concerns. Again falling victim to the slippery slope fallacy, he assumes that modern globalization will follow the same trend as twentieth century