Globalism 2.0 is here. In all honesty, it’s probably more like 5.0 or 6.0 — assuming you don’t believe in ancient civilizations or aliens or The Lizard People. For those of us under the age of 70, however, there had been just the one significant iteration of the global economy – the American one (WW2 – 2007). Before that it was British. They lost the mantel of global leadership after WW2, but it had been in the works for a while. They seemed to take it more or less good naturedly. Now the US is making a different decision which will have the same result. In the US there are now many people who are just ready to say “enough already” to what they perceive are the problems associated with the global economy. “Let’s just be national or at worst, regional,” they say. ” We’ll reshore, nearshore, friendshore – whatever. We’ll build walls, seal borders, shut doors, and just let everyone else know that we’re not seeing new people. Thanks but no thanks. Sorry, not sorry.”
I understand. I don’t agree, I don’t like it, I don’t subscribe. But I understand the impulse. I’ve often said that my life would be vastly improved if I never saw the inside of another airport. The impulse – like many emotional responses to external circumstances – has a certain internal logic. But, like most impulses – it’s completely wrong, but not for the reasons one might think.
Just because you want to ignore the outside world doesn’t mean that the outside world will ignore you. Especially if you have stuff. Money, technology, land, food, cleanish air, any amount of water, etc. People will want to share your stuff. They will start out being polite and friendly about it. They will offer exchanges and good will and friendship and songs and Gods. And when that doesn’t work, well, things get less pleasant.
BUT… there is another thing. The outside world will continue to exist without you. Others will take on the leadership/facilitation role that you once held. China. Europe. Iran. Russia. You might not want to rule the world — but you still don’t want anyone else to do it. You’re funny that way.
But, there is yet ANOTHER other thing. Deglobalizing is all well and good when you have the best stuff. The best food, the best land, the best technology, the best art, the best stuff. But what happens as other people start to develop better stuff? Well, you want some of that, sure. Everyone should just leave you alone, but you do love that K-Pop. And those avocados. And those fast trains.
And yet another other. There’s the stuff you always thought of as “kind of yours” but not really yours. Like the oceans with the fish in them. And the air with the oxygen in it. And space. And Antarctica. And the Arctic. All the Arctics, with their ice and minerals.
Total deglobilization is not a viable long term option. Because while you may not care about the world, the world cares about you. Or at least your stuff.
We say that we are willing to defend what’s ours — but that just put us right back in the world again — in the worst of all possible ways. If we win, we’re evil. If we lose, that’s bad.
That’s the challenge of World. It continues to turn whether we want it to or not. And people will cluster up the way they do. And they will do things. Make and destroy. Buy and sell. Dig and cut and gather and hunt. And build. And group up, with or without you.
If you’re in the middle of it then you can have an impact on what is happening – or at least know about. You are part of it — a person. If you remove yourself and live behind walls, then you aren’t part of it. Then you are THAT person. The other. The one with the wall. What’s behind the wall? We don’t know, but it’s probably pretty good. Otherwise, why bother with the wall?
You may not care about the world, but the world cares about you.