The Flat World and my Chosen Career

Kukoyi 1
Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
Harv Bishop
Introduction to Political Science
October 13, 2005

The Flat World and my Chosen Career

The concept of ‘the world is flat” by Thomas Friedman can best be understood with a proper understanding of the idea behind globalization, free trade and the power of computer technology in the twenty first century. This idea is made more clearly with the demise of the cold war era and other socio-political myth/ideas that impair free market economy, technology transfer and the integration of socio-political and economic ideas among nations across the globe. According to the author, “The triple convergence is not only going to affect how individuals prepare themselves for work, how companies compete, and how countries organize their economies and geopolitics. Over time, it is going to reshape political identities, recast political parties, and redefine who is a political actor.” (Pg.201).

Looking at the notion of a flat world in about fifty years ago might be perceived as a mirage if we take into consideration the socio-political might and economic achievements of the United States of America (economic/ political giant) compared with other nations over the past centuries, especially in the area of science and technological advancement. Consequently, this believe has been proven to be inaccurate especially with reference to the collapse of major economic and political blocks across the globe (e.g. Soviet Union Republic and Germany). Also the dynamic pursuit of technological advancement throughout the world especially in countries such as China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Malaysia, Japan, South Africa, Taiwan, South Korea etc. has made it possible to break new grounds and explore new opportunities for doing business with remote part of the world at a the most low-cost efficient market and sell in the most lucrative market.

According to the author, “In some of those buildings, infosys employers are writing specific software programs for Americans and European countries; in others they are running the back rooms of major American and European based multinationals. Everything from computer maintenance to specific research projects to answering customer calls routed there from all over the world” (pg.5).

As a multimedia major, I perceive a career in multimedia/web design is expected to play a vital role in the future of the world economy. Considering the fact stated by the author, “when Bill Clinton was elected president in 1992, virtually no one outside of government and the academy had e-mail” (pg.10). In the year 2000, the world entered a new era dominated by rapid growth in Internet usage and e-commerce at the same time shrinking the world from a size small to a size tiny and flattening the playing field at the same time. It provides me the opportunity to compete globally and collaborate with others through my country creating an opportunity for a bigger creative market in the advertising and media world. This is largely because multimedia is expected to be the vehicle through which creative and dynamic ideas will be conceived, communicated, shared and transported by great minds across the globe. This has been made possible and much easier due to the compatibility of most of the major computer software and operating system across the board.

According to the author, “the lever that is enabling individual and groups to go global so easily and so seamlessly is not horsepower, and not hardware, but software- all sorts of new applications- in conjunction with the creation of a global fiber-optic network that has made us all next-door neighbors” (pg.10).

Some of the anticipated problem to address in the future will be in the area of the value of the currency in different nations and how this various value will affect business transaction and inflation across the globe in world economy. But this issue has been receiving attention in some countries in Europe with the introduction of a single currency- Euro. Another interesting issue is the fact that only Americans who are willing to diversify, migrate if necessary and integrate with other people from diverse cultural / geopolitical background will strive in an economy dictated by a flat world.

The challenges of the flat world demands major personal and corporate commitment of scientific and technical manpower, innovative ideas and personal human service skills to survive. According to the text, “When it comes to the challenges of the flat world there is no help line we can call. We have to dig into ourselves” (pg.278).

As a multimedia expert, the major advantage that the flat world offers me will be in the flexibility of time and accessibility to universal location at any given time. I can pretty much carry out business from any part of the world, at any time of the day and with any individual or corporate institution across the globe without much barrier, as long as I am creative, flexible, and dynamic with innovative ideas. It is important to note that globalization and free market in a flat world has increase the purchasing power of individuals and small businesses and also increasing the chances of a bigger market for the production of goods and services across the globe.

Another special feature that a flat world offers multimedia is that the over-head cost and production turnover in multimedia production is not as high compared to some industries such as engineering and medicine. I believe this will ultimately lead to new potential market, horizontal collaboration, connection over vertical command and control and a more creative pool of ideas from diverse socio-geopolitical background around the world.

On the other hand, I strongly believe that Friedman’s compassionate flatism and other solutions can help sustain the American people and its economy from the fear and potential pitfall of the Flat World. This is because the great American spirit that encourages victory amidst adversity has always been the strength of the American society. The need for to meet the challenges of flatism will require as comprehensive, energetic, and focused a response from individual and government institutions similar to the challenges of the communism. According to the author, “it requires our own version of the new frontier and great society adapted to the age of flatism” (pg.277).

In conclusion, I am of the strong opinion that the unfortunate event of September 11 was a by-product of “the flat world” which has made every country even the United States of America vulnerable to socio-political and economic attacks by any nation or group of individuals. However, one must not overlook the strength and unity of purpose of the American people, which was re-awakened after this unfortunate tragedy. This is very similar to the clarion call made by the late President J F Kennedy during the cold war era wherein he called for “urgent national needs”. In recent times most Americans are willing to compromise their personal freedom for the sake of the nation’s security, which is a welcome decision.

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