Slowbalization: Lobe Log

The slow food movement – relaxing, eating local, focus on tradition – has influenced slowness in other areas of life including education and travel. “To a world addicted to ever greater connection speeds, ever faster modes of transportation, and ever more caffeinated feats of multitasking, the go-slowers recommend a perverse resistance to the frenzied scherzo of modern life in favor of a more comfortable adagio,” explains John Feffer for Lobe Log. “It’s possible that the world has passed ‘peak globalization.’” Reviewing the history of the 20th century, he suggests, “Globalization and nationalism seem to be involved in a rough-and-tumble tango across history’s dance floor.” Feffer responds to an assessment from the Economist that points to indicators of globalization’s downturn: declines in cross-border trade, profits for multinationals and foreign direct investment. The rising contribution of services to the global economy and increased automation with less reliance on low labor wages also encourage localization. The Economist concludes that slowbalization, especially mixed with nationalism, could be meaner than globalization. Feffer counters that societies have the power to shape economic systems and mitigate unequal distribution of benefits. Whether societies embrace slowbalization or globalization, he urges preservation of political internationalization to solve climate change and other major challenge. – YaleGlobal