Globalization : a Response to Barber and Gray

John Gray in his article, "From the Great Transformation to the Global Free Market," comments on the growth of a free market. Gray first addresses how the free market has lead to social degradation especially in the United States. He states, "Free markets, the desolation of families and communities and the use of the sanctions of criminal law as a last recourse against social collapse go in tandem." He makes these huge claims but doesn't back them up. How does he know it is only the free market that is to blame for this social breakdown? While I do not see his sources for his claims above, he does rightly discuss the levels of inequality in America created by this unregulated economy. Gray also makes a strong case by stating the global free market, "presupposes that economic modernization means the same thing everywhere." He then goes on to say a global economy is not an extension of western economy which I think is a crucial distinction.

Benjamin Barber wrote, "Jihad vs. McWorld" he discusses two drastically different ideas. The Jihad refers to the Islamic religious battle. McWorld refers to a world driven by American consumer culture. While there are obvious differences between these two topics, I found the sections addressing contradictions of foreign governments trying to resist the McWorld to be the most interesting. He mentions the French government's distain for "franglais" but he also points out the French government's support of Disney-Paris, certainly an aspect of the McWorld. I am not judging the French government for funding the creation of this theme park, however, it seems to me if it is helping French economy and employing French people then it is hypocritical for France to hold the McWorld in contempt. After all there are positive and negatives to all things.