Home Truths About Globalization

August 19, 2008 by Frank Gannon | Filed Under Economic issues, International Affairs 

In his column today, Victor Davis Hanson considers the world —past, present, and future— in terms of America’s participation in it.  His analysis and exposition are, as usual, thoughtful and eloquent.

He posits that globalization —the idea that a truly international economy would lead, sooner or later, to truly international comity— was based on three assumptions.

First, the US economy would keep importing goods from abroad to drive international economic growth.

Second, the US military would keep the sea-lanes open, and trade and travel protected. The Americans, as global sheriff, would deal with the occasional menace, like a Moammar al-Khadafy, Slobodan Milosevic, Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Kim Jong-il or the Taliban.

Third, America would ignore ankle-biting allies and remain engaged with the world – like a nurturing mom who at times must put up with the petulance of dependent teenagers. 

All three are being sorely tested today as we pay $115 for barrels of oil that cost $5 to extract; as our trade deficits grow and the dollar dives; as over 12 million illegals transfer $50 billion home each year; as our military grows tires; and as Americans become more sensitive to “the cheap criticism of global moralists.”

It’s understandable and natural that America might just want to look inward and simply start cultivating its own garden.  Even Atlas sometimes wants to shrug.  But, per Mr. Davis, that would be a bad thing.

If America adopts the protectionist trade policies of Japan or China, global profits plummet. If our armed forces follow the European lead of demilitarization and inaction, rogue states advance. If we were to treat the environment as do China and India, the world would become quickly a lost cause.

If we flee Iraq and call off the War on Terror, jihadists will regroup, not disband. When the Russians attack the next democracy, they won’t listen to the United Nations, the European Union or Michael Moore.

We may be on our way back to an old world, where the strong do as they will, and the weak suffer as they must.

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