The world is undergoing tremendous changes. The rise of globalization, both economic and cultural trend that has swept throughout the world, has forged new ground as we enter the 21st century. But are the effects of globalization always positive? Some say no.
Michael Tenet, head of the International Institute for Foreign Relations in Atlanta, is worried about current resentment throughout the world toward the rise of globalization. 'Ever since the 1980s and the economic breakdown of the Asian Tigers in the late 1990s, there has been a reevaluation of the role of globalization as a force for good,' he said. 'Income in many countries has declined and the gap between the most rich and the most poor has been worsened. Without further interference by governments, we could see a tragedy expressed in an increased level of poverty throughout the Latin America and Asia.'
Yet George Frank, an influential economist who works on Wall Street, sees no such danger. 'Economic liberalization, increased transparency and market-based reforms have positive effect in the long run, even if market mechanisms can produce short term destabilization problems,' he said. 'What is most important is that barriers to trade continue to fall so that active competition for consumer goods reduces prices and in turn raises the average level of income.'
Others feel that globalization's cultural impact may be more important than its economic implications. Janice Yawee, a native of Africa, feels strongly that globalization is weakening her lo cal culture and language. 'Most of the world's dialects will become extinct under globalization. We are paving the world with McDonald's and English slang. It tears me up inside,' she said.
However, ignoring the political dimensions of globalizations has already had its cost. Nowhere was this made dearer than in the East Asian economic crisis of the late 1990's—particularly in Indonesia. In the wake of that crisis, the President Suhatro's regime was overthrown, and the entire country has been thrown into a mess. The Indonesian economy has contracted almost 50 percent, throwing tens of millions of people below the poverty line.
Governments of different countries have had mixed responses to the wave of globalization. The United States is generally seen as an active proponent of greater free trade, and it certainly has enormous cultural influence by virtue of its near monopoly on worldwide entertainment. So the challenge faced by the new Bush administration is not the challenge of the 1990's. But other countries, most notably in Europe and developing nations, have sought to reduce the impact that globalization has on their domestic affairs.
It can be inferred that Michael Tenet's attitude toward globalization is probably______.