The world is flat, chapter 1

Jaquelyn Hernandez

9/2/2012

The world is flat, chapter 1

            In chapter one of The world is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman, Friedman begins his book by discussing the three different Globization's. Friedman also decides to look into how he can prove that the world has flatten by explaining that American companies are reaching out toward European, Asian, and Indian countries to help save money and grow. He then explains that from these actions people in these countries are now starting their own companies that are being used by Americans. The playing levels are becoming equal do to the new technologies.

            The differences between Globalization 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 are by time periods. Globalization 1.0 was about Columbus set sail in 1492, he open a trade between the old world and the new world.  This action shrank the world from a large world into a medium one. 1.0 was about countries strength . The countries were determined by how much horse power, steam power and how creatively the countries can use them. In 2.0 the world shrank once again. This era  was from 1800 to 200, during the Great Depression and World wars 1 and 2.

            "In Globalization 2.0, the key agent of change, the dynamic force driving global integration, was multinational companies. These multinationals went global for markets and labor, spearheaded first by the expansion of the Dutch and English joint-Stock companies and the Industrial Revolution." (page 9). The forces of this time was to breakthrough in hardware. In 3.0, the world had shrunk down from a medium to a tiny small. During this time it is important for people to feel as though they are individuals so they can collaborate and work globally. "The phenomenon that is enabling, empowering, and enjoining individuals and small groups to go global so easily and so seamlessly is what I call the flat-world-platform." (page 10).

             Friedman finds a important meaning to the fall of the Berlin wall. It was a representation that it allowed people from the other side of the wall to join the fast moving world of technology. Technology like windows P.C's , cell phones, and more. The fall of the Berlin wall also showed the end of communism. This is important to Friedman because it shows that more people were added to the flatten world; that more people were added to technology.

            Friedman found that Netscape was important,  the reason for this is because it was the first web browser to be created. It was the first browser that allowed any one to go onto the internet. It was accessible to everyone and it allowed everyone to see films, information, and so on. Netscape help flatten the world even more by allowing everyone around the world to be able to communicate in a new/different way. By using this browser every person was connected in some way or another.

            In chapter 1 of The world is flat, Friedman describes the 3  different Globalizations. Globalization 1.0 is about countries strength's and their creativity on how to use their strengths. Globalization 2.0 was about the breakthrough in hardware, it was the 'key agent of change'. Globalization 3.0 was about how people felt like they should be individuals to collaborate to work globally. The Berlin wall and Netscape contributed in these Globalizations by showing how the world had become flatter. Once the Berlin wall had fallen, people from the other side of the wall were then able to contribute in new technology like the P.C. Netscape was a contribution because it helped everyone be able to browse the internet. Thus creating a flatter world because in a way everyone was connected in a different level, making everyone have the same advantages in knowledge.