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The Lexus and the Olive Tree by Thomas Friedman. The Lexus and the Olive
Tree written by Thomas Friedman is not important because ...
... The Lexus and the Olive Tree, written by Thomas L. Friedman, investigates the
phenomenon of globalization in our world and how it has established a new ...
... Keeping both the olive tree and the Lexus in balance is ... Summary: This book that Thomas
Friedman wrote was one of the best and most interesting books I have ...
... And it does this in a small-world web. References Friedman, Thomas L. ?The Lexus
and the Olive Tree?. New York: Anchor Books, 2000. Buchanan, Mark. ...
... The olive tree represents a world stuck in the ... While the Lexus represents a world
emerging from ... Thomas L. Friedman discusses many different ideas concerning ...
Submitted by broughb on April 26, 2006
Category: Book Reports
Words: 2157 | Pages: 9
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The Lexus and the Olive Tree written by Thomas Friedman is not important because it simply refutes the long held belief that globalization is a temporary side affect to the machinations of American foreign policy interests, but because Friedman takes it one step further by claiming it is a totally new world system which has completely replaced the old Cold War system. Even the title of his book is representative of this idea. The Lexus and the Olive tree represent “symbols of the post-Cold War era: half the world seemed to be emerging from the Cold War intent on building a better Lexus, dedicated to modernizing, streamlining and privatizing their economies in order to thrive in the system of globalization. And half of the world-sometimes half of the same country, sometimes half of the same person-was still caught up in the fight over who owns which olive tree. The Olive trees represent what roots us, anchors us, identifies us and locates us in the world.” According to Friedman, the trick to being successful in the global market is finding a balance between the Lexus and the Olive Tree. However, on the other side of the coin, any conflict between these two forces can cause a terrible backlash.
The concept of the post cold war era being dramatically different is important because it shows just how much global economics (globalization) has shaped the political outcome of the world we now live in. Politics are no longer the driving force of change, it is now economics. Politics have become less and less important, economics, the free market, are now the catalyst for social change and political initiative: both good and bad. Friedman is quoted as saying that globalization "is the inevitable integration of markets, nation-states and technologies to a degree never witnessed before – in a way that is enabling individuals, corporations and nation-states to reach around the world farther, faster, deeper and cheaper than ever before and in a way that is...
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