Hegel was right when he said that man can never learn anything from history.~George Bernard Shaw

History teaches us the mistakes we are going to make. ~Unknown

In this chapter of People Before Profit, Derber compares globalization to two previous systems: colonialism and the Gilded Age in the United States. Often people equate the Internet and information technology in general with globalization as well as the positive connotations of advanced technology. It is a fact that technological advances have made possible the form of globalization which we are experiencing today; however, we must be careful not to equate them. Colonialism was enabled by advances in shipbuilding, steel, etc. The policies of the Gilded Age were enabled by the telephone and railroads.

We equate the nature of colonialism and the sweatshops of the Gilded Age with a lack of freedom. They were not all bad, in that they overthrew old systems which were just as exploitative (the author did not cite these systems – maybe he will address it later?) and led to subsequent progress in social justice movements and views. The author views globalization as a progressive force and warns against demonizing it or creating nostalgia for the past. After all, the ways of the past were not the “good old days” that we often remember.

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All great truths begin as blasphemies. ~George Bernard Shaw

I began reading a book entitled People Before Profit by Charles Derber recently. Derber is a professor of sociology at Boston College. This book caught my eye about a month ago as I was browsing the shelves at Barnes and Noble. I had been thinking about my economic views, and have began to question the foundations of some of the views that I currently hold. Many people talk about the economy as measured by GDP, and let economic indicators drive political and business decisions. It is my hope that economic success on a worldwide scale and personal happiness on a worldwide scale will go hand-in-hand; however, I hear and read stories all the time about the conditions of workers in third world countries who are subjected to treatment that would not stand in the United States. I find it unfortunate that injustice occurs under the auspices of globalization, which has been pronounced by many to be the solution to poverty in many countries. So in my effort to understand globalization as it is and to develop a coherent view on what I believe the order of the world should be, I picked up this book. When I write about it, I will undoubtedly mix my opinions in with the opinion of the author. (Is meaning derived from the perception of the reader or the intent of the author! Haha.)

Scope and Aim

This book discusses globalization and presents the case for change. It will present a form of limited democratic world government alongside national governments controlled by their own citizens. It will discuss what it means for business to be accountable on an international scale. It will also present the case for collective security in an international community.

Globalization Now

The author sees globalization as placing the profit incentive first, as being influenced heavily, if not controlled, by the United States and organizations like the World Trade Organization. He also links it to values of consumerism.

To Keep in Mind

The author seeks to remove himself as far as reasonably possible from several of his own influences to present a balanced case. He realizes and notes that his viewpoint is through American eyes. He has been highly critical of corporations in the past, but does not believe that abolishing them (or globalization) is necessary. He also recognizes that globalization and terrorism are independent entities that interact – terrorism and globalization both existed in forms before terrorism became a salient issue.

This topic is of great importance now, and the author calls it a “Constitutional moment.” It is a time when the worldwide rules have not been formed yet, and are still being conceived. Just as the founders of the United States had a great responsibility to spell out a solid, cohesive, and adaptable system of government, we have a great responsibility to create an economic system where all men can participate with dignity.

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