Globalization Old and New

Globalization comes in many forms, some more pleasing than others. As Vietnam eagerly pushes for incorporation into the WTO, it could discover that globalization becomes colonization, “Part Two.” Hanoi emerged from European influence with its dignity intact, according to author Ullrich Fichtner, but new and rapid development could transform the city’s charm, with small shops featuring gourmet European delicacies and streets teeming with bicycles, into a metropolis that features carbon-copy traffic and billboards, Burger Kings and Starbucks. Vietnamese who long to join the global marketplace undoubtedly dream of fabulous profit, but the country’s 8 million chicken farmers could suddenly find themselves struggling to get their poultry on supermarket shelves alongside frozen birds from Brazil. Hanoi has set a goal for “capitalism with a human face,” according to Fichtner, but could quickly lose control of its Asian-European allure in the mad rush for profits. – YaleGlobal