In The News

The Web of Globalization

Nayan Chanda May 24, 2010
Can a country withdraw from globalization, or for that matter, give up democracy in order to benefit from global capital flow? In this column, YaleGlobal editor Nayan Chanda dissects the recent argument offered by Harvard economist Dani Rodrik, who suggests that “economic globalization, political democracy, and the nation-state are mutually irreconcilable.” Crises that disrupt global capital...

Behind the Drama in Europe Lies a Global Crisis

Edmund Conway May 20, 2010
The debt crisis in Greece exposes challenges for lenders and borrowers throughout Europe – testing cooperation and governance on the continent. National governments disagree on many matters ranging from stricter regulations for hedge funds to a proposal requiring approval for national budgets from the European Commission. Politicians – seeking to maintain their hold on power – are wary of...

Taming Globalization? Kebabs, Mini-Skirts and Meth – Part II

Ilaria Maria Sala May 20, 2010
Citizens around the globe understandably want to honor and protect their culture, expressed through language, food and art, from “foreign” influence – although such influences were often essential in creating traditions. The second article of this two-part series examines Italy’s battle against globalization, as politicians scramble to outdo one another with populist laws aimed at banning foreign...

Taming Globalization? Kebabs, Mini-Skirts and Meth – Part I

Jamsheed K. Choksy and Carol E.B. Choksy May 18, 2010
Politicians try to rile or sooth citizens as needed with a few select details of globalization. Yet with the speed and far-reaching nature of modern trade, travel and communication, these attempts to corral bits and pieces of globalization are futile. A savvy public – young or old – comes to understand other intricate connections and recognize the attempts as distractions from far more serious...

Lessons From Athens

Nayan Chanda May 12, 2010
Carefree spending on borrowed funds is not sustainable. Europe could not handle fast assistance to debt-laden Greece on its own and had to turn to the International Monetary Fund for additional financial support. Eurozone nations and the IMF imposed stringent conditions, and future borrowing by the Greeks will carry heavy costs. “The same global liquidity that can fuel growth can also evaporate...

Globalization Helps Spread 'Exotic' Diseases

Muiris Houston May 5, 2010
Globalization means increased travel and tourism for many people in the developed world. But when travelers return home, they can bring more than photographs and memories. Often unbeknownst to them, pathogens travel on their bodies and with belongings. In recent years, Europe has seen the outbreak of a handful of diseases traditionally associated with the tropical world. Northern Italy saw...

D.I.Y. Culture

Michael Kimmelman April 23, 2010
Discussions of globalization often focus on how it is a homogenizing process, portraying Western culture as a hegemonic force that penetrates new markets and kills off traditional culture and local customs. Yet, argues New York Times columnist Michael Kimmelman, such a "dubious concept" of globalization fails to acknowledge that individuals can utilize its technological and...