Friedman vs. Duiker
Jake D.
Professor Robert G.
SSC 102
August 19, 2012
Paper 3 Thomas Friedman presented the “Dell Theory of Conflict Prevention” in his book, The World is Flat. Previously called the “Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention”, the theory holds that no two countries involved in a major global supply chain, like Dell or McDonalds, will ever engage in a war with each other as long as they both remain part of the same chain (Friedman). So, any time a powerful corporation operates in countries other than its own home country, those countries will not go to war. Wealth and economic dependence make any such activity detrimental to progress and development. Inclusion and participation in the global market is too important for a progressive nation to risk. Though Friedman argues his “Dell Theory” with confidence, in his book, he also acknowledges that the mere presence of a global corporation in two countries could never guarantee unconditional peace. Moreover, it means that significant economic loss and the severe impact on reputation in the global market will factor heavily in a government’s decision to engage in conflict. Examples that support this theory are the avoidance of war between China and Taiwan as well as the volatile relationship between Indi and Pakistan. Both pairs of countries share strong political discontent but profitable supply and economic affairs make war less likely between them. Scholars believe that globalization will foster a world of more similarities among people and that a global culture will quash matters of nationality and ethnicity. Under the auspices of globalization, a world economy would foster International Utopia and the ideal planet of peace. William Duiker, a liberal arts professor and author of Contemporary World History, does not dispute Friedman’s “Dell Theory” but he does raise awareness that globalization may not be the sole movement taking place in regards to the world economy. He argues that a stronger
Professor Robert G.
SSC 102
August 19, 2012
Paper 3 Thomas Friedman presented the “Dell Theory of Conflict Prevention” in his book, The World is Flat. Previously called the “Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention”, the theory holds that no two countries involved in a major global supply chain, like Dell or McDonalds, will ever engage in a war with each other as long as they both remain part of the same chain (Friedman). So, any time a powerful corporation operates in countries other than its own home country, those countries will not go to war. Wealth and economic dependence make any such activity detrimental to progress and development. Inclusion and participation in the global market is too important for a progressive nation to risk. Though Friedman argues his “Dell Theory” with confidence, in his book, he also acknowledges that the mere presence of a global corporation in two countries could never guarantee unconditional peace. Moreover, it means that significant economic loss and the severe impact on reputation in the global market will factor heavily in a government’s decision to engage in conflict. Examples that support this theory are the avoidance of war between China and Taiwan as well as the volatile relationship between Indi and Pakistan. Both pairs of countries share strong political discontent but profitable supply and economic affairs make war less likely between them. Scholars believe that globalization will foster a world of more similarities among people and that a global culture will quash matters of nationality and ethnicity. Under the auspices of globalization, a world economy would foster International Utopia and the ideal planet of peace. William Duiker, a liberal arts professor and author of Contemporary World History, does not dispute Friedman’s “Dell Theory” but he does raise awareness that globalization may not be the sole movement taking place in regards to the world economy. He argues that a stronger
Cited: Duiker, William J. Contemporary World History. Fifth Edition. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2010. Friedman, Thomas L. The World Is Flat. Release 3.0. New York: Picador, 2007. Marx, Karl and Friedrich Engels. The Communist Manifesto. Ed. Gareth Stedman Jones. New York: Penguin Classics, 2002.