Star and Tribune (Mpls) | Ronald Bosrock | September 24, 2001
On Sept. 11, an unseen enemy launched an attack on economic, military and governmental landmarks of the United States.
Beyond the tremendous loss of innocent lives and physical property, the attack was clearly aimed at the ideals of America -- our values and the economic system that has made the U.S. economy the envy of the world.
Those responsible for these acts portray the United States as the embodiment of all that is evil with globalization and the worldwide economy it has spawned. They use the failures of globalization as an excuse to exploit their millions of constituents in the underdeveloped world.
Sometime soon, the U.S. military will strike back against those who it is determined have committed these acts. A military response is appropriate -- some would say overdue. But even if the military objective is achieved, that alone will not get to the heart of the matter.
It is crucial that the U.S. economy return to full speed ahead and continue to be the driving force behind expansion of the global economy.
Globalization, or at least the present phase of it, generally is viewed as having started with the end of the Cold War in 1989. And for all its shortcomings, the free flow of goods, services, capital and labor across the borders of the world's trading nations -- the process that has come to be called globalization -- still offers the best chance to fulfill the dreams of so many of the world's poor.
Imperfect progress
To be sure, globalization has brought with it some of the most dramatic changes of the post-World War II period. As Cold War political boundaries have faded, cultural differences once again are allowed to become vehicles for division and violence.
Globalization's opponents repeatedly have expressed their opposition to what they see as a movement that pays too little attention to the issues of the environment, the depletion of resources and the growing gap between rich and poor. There is no doubt that their grievances are valid.
But globalization also has made progress in opening world markets to a growing number of lesser-developed economies. It has called the world's attention to the special problems of poverty among women, to issues of child labor and to the scandalous lack of even the most basic medical services throughout the less-developed world.
Globalization also has helped open the world's borders, permitting the greatest flow of human migration the world has ever known. Because of global trade agreements, there is more opportunity today for the poor of one country to find work and a better life through immigration. And many immigrants have risked their lives to get into the United States and other developed countries where they now contribute to -- and participate in -- the global economy.
Anti-globalization demonstrators in Seattle, Washington D.C., London and Genoa attempted to slow down the process of globalization. And now terrorists have tried to kill it.
The U.S. business community cannot let this happen. Tomorrow and every day thereafter, we should continue to provide the momentum to help fulfill the promise of globalization.
The basis of that promise is the participation in an economy that gives all people of the world something to gain. Only then will we start to get to the heart of the matter.
The United States cannot abandon this dream. We are the right country at the right time in history to provide the leadership for this mission.
Rather than retreat, the forces of globalization should be moved along at a more rapid pace so as to pull into the process more economies in the lesser-developed world.
A reexamination
But as we move forward, we must reexamine our approach. Ignorance often is mistaken for arrogance, and arrogance on the part of a powerful nation often is viewed as a threat -- especially by people with no representation to the powerful.
Americans need to take an informed stance on the issues of globalization and show a willingness to listen and to learn more about the rest of the world.
One of the most difficult changes Americans may have to consider is the willingness to share more of the world's resources.
At present, the United States makes up about 8 percent of the world population but consumes almost 70 percent of the world's resources. In view of the fact that more than half of the world's population lives on less than $3 a day -- and half of those people live on $1 a day -- it is not difficult to understand how the rest of the world could view us negatively.
The United States will have to show other nations and other peoples that it can be sensitive to the hopes and fears of the rest of the world.
On Sept. 15, the New York Times suggested that during the crises in New York City that corporate executives should have a higher profile in demonstrating leadership and concern for their employees.
I agree. Now is the time for U.S. corporate leaders to take a higher profile in the development of the world economy, demonstrating our concerns for our neighbors and showing that we, not the terrorists, are the ones to look to for a better future.
Since the attacks, many have said that the world would never be the same again. That may be true.
But I still believe that the United States has a special mission on this globe at this time in history. Part of that mission is to lead the world to the fulfillment of a common dream of peace and prosperity for all.
As the U.S. business community recovers from this tragedy, I hope it also rises to the same challenge.
One of the patriotic hymns repeated many times these past two weeks is titled "God Bless America." Well, God did bless America. And it's time to spread those blessings to the rest of the world.
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