Thomas L. Friedman: The world is not just flat, it is also fast, fused, deep and open

Summary

The conversation between the interviewer and author Thomas Friedman explores the evolving nature of globalization. Friedman reflects on how the world has become 'flatter' and more interconnected since he wrote 'The World Is Flat,' emphasizing that modern technology and communication have deepened and accelerated these connections. He discusses the fragility of this interconnectedness, the challenges of global governance, and the need for complex adaptive coalitions to manage global issues like climate change and trade. The dialogue underscores the tension between increasing globalization and rising nationalism.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The world has become flatter than ever before, with unprecedented levels of connectivity and the removal of buffers that previously managed the flow between different nodes.
• 📈 Globalization has accelerated, with the digital economy, capital, goods, and talent moving more quickly and in greater volumes than ever before.
• 🚢 The interconnectedness of the world is exemplified by events like a ship blocking the Suez Canal, affecting supply chains globally and illustrating the concept of a 'fused' world.
• 🌡 The world is not just flat but also fragile, as the increased speed and removal of buffers have led to a system where instability can be transmitted rapidly between nodes.
• 🌍 The term 'deep' has emerged to describe the era where sensors and technology have allowed us to understand and interact with the world on a much deeper level than ever before.
• 🔍 The concept of 'deep' has led to new adjectives such as 'deep state', 'deep mind', 'deep medicine', and 'deep fake', indicating a profound understanding and influence on various aspects of life.
• 🌏 The world is also becoming 'open', with every citizen having the ability to be a paparazzi, filmmaker, journalist, or publisher, contributing to a more transparent and immediate global discourse.
• 🌳 The challenges of governing a fast, fused, deep, and open world require new approaches, such as complex adaptive coalitions, which are networks that maximize resilience and propulsion.
• 🏛 There is a growing need for global governance to manage issues like climate change, cyber security, financial flows, trade, and labor, but the current system is lagging behind globalization's pace.
• 🤝 The rise of nationalism and tribalism within and between countries is counterproductive when the need for open collaboration and global coalitions is greater than ever.
• 🔄 The script highlights the paradox of needing global cooperation while facing a trend towards nationalism, which complicates the governance of a rapidly changing and interconnected world.

Q & A

What was the original concept of 'The World is Flat' by Thomas Friedman?

The original concept of 'The World is Flat' was to describe the increasing interconnectedness and globalization of the world's economies, facilitated by technology and communication, making the world appear 'flat' in terms of equal opportunities and competition.

How does Thomas Friedman view the current state of the world in comparison to when he wrote 'The World is Flat'?

Friedman believes the world is not just flat, but 'flatter than ever' with advancements in technology and communication, making the world even more interconnected and interdependent.

What does Friedman mean by the world being 'fragile' due to globalization?

Friedman suggests that the removal of buffers and the acceleration of connections between different nodes in the global system have made the world fragile, as instability can now be transmitted faster than ever before.

What is the concept of 'buffers' in the context of globalization as discussed by Friedman?

Buffers refer to the safety measures, redundancies, and delays in the global system that can absorb shocks and prevent rapid transmission of instability. Removing these buffers has made the world more efficient but also more fragile.

How does Friedman describe the future trend of globalization in terms of the world being 'fast, fused, deep, and open'?

Friedman describes a future where the world is not just fast in terms of technological change, fused in terms of interdependence, deep with the pervasive use of sensors and data, and open with unrestricted access to information and the ability for individuals to share it globally.

What is the significance of the Suez Canal example used by Friedman?

The Suez Canal example illustrates the concept of interdependence in globalization. A disruption in the canal affects supply chains globally, showing how events in one part of the world can have immediate impacts elsewhere.

What does Friedman suggest is the central governing challenge in a world that is fast, fused, deep, and open?

The central governing challenge is how to effectively govern a world characterized by rapid technological change, interdependence, deep data integration, and open information flow, which requires new approaches to global governance.

What is the concept of 'complex adaptive coalitions' as proposed by Friedman for effective global governance?

Complex adaptive coalitions refer to networks of various stakeholders, including governments, companies, and communities, that work together to manage global challenges by leveraging their interconnectedness and interdependence.

How does Friedman view the rise of nationalism in the context of the need for global coalitions?

Friedman sees a paradox where countries are becoming more nationalistic at a time when global cooperation and coalitions are needed more than ever to address shared challenges such as climate change and global trade.

What is the role of technology in Friedman's vision of a 'deep' world?

In a 'deep' world, technology plays a crucial role by enabling the collection and analysis of vast amounts of data from various sources, allowing for a deeper understanding and control of complex systems and phenomena.

How does the concept of 'openness' in the world affect global events and individual actions?

Openness allows for the rapid dissemination of information and the empowerment of individuals to influence global narratives, as seen in the example of George Floyd's case, where a single person's action led to widespread awareness and change.