Module 1

Thomas L. Friedman seems to have a deep understanding of globalization, making the world smaller in a sense that we can connect with one another around the world.  He discusses globalization in three eras, the effects from the fall of the Berlin Wall, and a story of Netscape and the impact it has on us.

First I’d like to discuss the three phases of globalization.  How he put it, globalization 1.0 took place early on in the countries of the world.  The world was changing and the key too it was how much muscle and steam power your country had and how you could deploy it.  The focus of globalization 1.0 was countries them selves globalizing.  People were looking to collaborate or compete with others threw their country.  Religion and Imperialism had a big influence on the government.  In the modern day our focuses on globalizing are much different. 

Furthermore was globalization 2.0, where the main focus was on globalizing companies.  This era was from the 1800s until 2000.  In Friedman’s words “this era shrank the world from a size medium to a size small.”  This is because multi national companies.  In the early years the era was powered by very low transportation cost because of the steam engine and rail road.  The second half telecommunication was invented in many forms making it easier to communicate. Inventions such as the telegraph, telephone, and Internet are some examples.

Globalization 3.0 if the era we are in now.  This era is advancing so quickly it has changed the future dramatically.  In my opinion, for the better.  It’s not only for the countries and companies to further themselves, but also for individuals such as your self.  Information and entertainment is easy access to the common man.  It empowers people to be independent and see themselves in competition with the world.  Most companies want to be the best, and now days it is easier then ever to work together with any one on the globe to be the best.

The fall of the Berlin Wall affected the entire world.  Friedman said it was very surprising to everyone.  In my opinion it was a great thing, it really evened the playing fiend in a since. Germany was no longer isolated from the rest of the world. Democracy became popular.  In result authority influences lost some of their power.  For example I’d like to think of when you are doing a group project, and one student or coworker really just separates themselves from the rest of the group.  It isn't necessarily a bad thing, but when that person comes around and is wanting to interact and cooperate, it makes the whole group feel more at ease.

Lastly discussed was the impact Netscape had on the world.  Netscape was the first invented website browser.  A man named Jim Barksdale created an application that could connect modems around the world.  Netscape was sort of one of the first stepping stones to reaching our modern technology we use today.  We use the Internet to connect, educate, entertain, and so much more.  Now days there are browsers to choose from such as Safari, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, ext. I’d like to think of Netscape as the grandfather of these.  In first world countries we use the Internet for everything, and third world countries are almost to that point as well.