This question is from Chapter 2 of the textbook International Management by Fred

Question

This question is from Chapter 2 of the textbook International Management by Fred Luthans. (9th edition). In reading this entire chapter there is a mix of legal, political and technological issues. What I'd like you to address in this question is whether or not these issues are pushing the world towards being more "flat" (egalitarian so to speak) or whether those issues are creating more of the "have and have nots" (the powerful and the not-so-powerful). What do you think? As one example the chapter referenced the OLPC. Do you think this type of initiative will lead to a more "flat" or more divided global environment? I leave you with two quotes from Thomas Friedman's "The World is Flat" addressing different perspectives: "...activists believe creative use of the internet - connectivity in Bahrain is among the highest in the Arab world - is forcing the country to confront awkward realities and will speed the march towards a more egalitarian society. But loyalists find irreverent discussion of the royal family on the Web offensive and dangerous. While some younger members of the royal family apparently saw the futility of the blocking Google Earth and reversed it quickly, others in government have waged a virtual battle with the nations' proliferating cyber-activists using technology as well as an arsenal of press censorship laws ... As they have been for generations, all of these Bahraini royal palaces are surrounded by high walls, keeping people from looking inside. And then along came Google Earth. It flattened all the walls, and suddenly everyone could look inside - and act on what they saw." (pg. 507) OR "In the flat world, the balance of power between global companies and the individual communities in which they operate is tilting more and more in favor of the companies, many of them American-based. These companies command as much if not more power than many governments, not only to create value but also to transmit values." (pg. 508)

Explanation / Answer

The mix of legal, political and technological issues is definitely leading to a flatter world. Solutions and best practices towards these issues are being sourced from different corners of the globe - a clear indicator of the flattening of the world.

Initiatives like One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) will lead to a more flat global environment. There has been widespread praise and criticism of the initiative. But, at the high level, introduction of technology into education can only help the developing and underdeveloped worlds stand up and be counted. It makes it a level playing field for their children. In return, manyh innovations come in and many markets open up. This is like a virtuous cycle that accelerates the flattening of the world.

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