Fall 2011 Presentation and DQ Posts

In his latest article, Something’s Happening Here, Thomas Friedman discusses the wave of protests and revolution  across the world in the past 9 months. The unrest that started in Egypt and the Arab world has now spread to Wall Street and cities across the United States. Friedman presents two theories as to what has caused these protests. I will sum them up here but you should check out the article as well.

The first theory is that this is the start of the “Great Disruption.” The general idea is that capitalism is getting close to its financial and ecological limits. Paul Gilding, an Australian Enviromentalist,  says that the Debt Crisis, protests, slow economy, and climate change should not be looked at as isolated issues. Rather, they are all signs that our system of- economic growth, innefective democracy, and abusing the planet- is broken. This global capitalism was supposed to provide enough wealth to not only make the rich richer, but also make the poor less poor. Now, according to Gilding, people see that they are buried in debt, their kids will be worse off, and the environment is not getting any better.

The alternate theory is that these protests are the beginning of the “Big Shift.” This theory, by John Hagel III and John Brown, says that because of technology and Globalization we will be better off than ever before. The current protests are because the hyper-connected world is conflicting with the outdated governing and business institutions. Once this passes, the flow of information will be able to solve any problems that get in the way of progress. Hagel and Brown say that corporations will have more talent available from individuals. These individuals do not even need to be in the same hemisphere because the world is so connected. Another benefit of this information flow is that everyone has access to it. A women in an African village has access to Stanford classes, information flow really levels the playing field.

So, a few questions…

Which theory do you think is more likely/relevant? Do you see another reason for or outcome of these protests?

The purpose of a corporation is to make profits for its shareholders. Do you think the corporations should take responsibility for these environmental and economical problems or the governments should impose regulations?

Article- Theres Something Happening Here, By Thomas Friedman

Photos- Occupy Wall Street Protestor          Egyptian Protestors