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World History – The World Today

[[World]] [[History]] – The World Today

<br>Fourteenth Lecture

<br>Fourteenth Lecture

<br>Instructor, Andy Schlafly

<br>Instructor, Andy Schlafly

One word sums up most historians’ view of the world today:  “globalism”.  That was not even a word 20 years ago.  “Globalism” means treating the world as one political unit, as one massive village.  Distances appear to be shortening between people, cultures and nations.  Travel is more affordable for more people.  Mobility is greater.  Trade among nations is larger.  Television and the internet link the world’s population of 6 or so billion people like never before.

One word sums up most historians’ view of the world today:  “globalism”.  That was not even a word 20 years ago.  “Globalism” means treating the world as one political unit, as one massive village.  Distances appear to be shortening between people, cultures and nations.  Travel is more affordable for more people.  Mobility is greater.  Trade among nations is larger.  Television and the internet link the world’s population of 6 or so billion people like never before.

One invention in late 1947 made most of this possible.  Three scientists invented the transistor at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey (exit 44 on I-78, near Berkeley Heights).  This tiny invention brought about a massive revolution in computers and communications.  With improvements, the transistor permitted microelectronic control and amplification of signals.  This greatly advanced communication, as in radio, television, telephone and later the internet.  This also permitted the storage of massive amounts of information, as in computers.  Bell Labs, then part of AT&T, made this invention available to the entire world.  Soon transistors replaced vacuum tubes in radios and televisions, enabling them to work better.  The Japanese flooded the market with improved products.   

One [[invention]] in late 1947 made most of this possible.  Three scientists invented the [[transistor]] at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey (exit 44 on I-78, near Berkeley Heights).  This tiny invention brought about a massive revolution in [[computer]]s and communications.  With improvements, the transistor permitted microelectronic control and amplification of signals.  This greatly advanced communication, as in radio, television, telephone and later the internet.  This also permitted the storage of massive amounts of information, as in computers.  Bell Labs, then part of AT&T, made this invention available to the entire world.  Soon transistors replaced vacuum tubes in radios and televisions, enabling them to work better.  The Japanese flooded the market with improved products.   

Apple Computer sold a personal computer for home use in the late 1970s and, in 1981, IBM introduced its own personal computer.  Time magazine declared the personal (or home) computer to be “Man of the Year” for 1982.  Fifteen years later the internet became popular for connecting computers.  In 2000, presidential candidate Al Gore attempted to take credit for helping create the internet, and the world ridiculed him.  No politician, and certainly not Al Gore, can take credit for all this.

[[Apple Computer]] sold a personal computer for home use in the late 1970s and, in 1981, [[IBM]] introduced its own personal computer.  Time magazine declared the personal (or home) computer to be “Man of the Year” for 1982.  Fifteen years later the internet became popular for connecting computers.  In 2000, presidential candidate Al Gore attempted to take credit for helping create the internet, and the world ridiculed him.  No politician, and certainly not Al Gore, can take credit for all this.

Other inventions also helped improve the world.  The invention of plastics enabled the mass production of inexpensive goods, everything from drinking cups to watches to car and airplane furnishings.  Robotics lowered the cost of manufacturing for everything.  In the United States unions resisted some of these changes.  The Japanese companies, benefiting from cheaper labor and lack of unions, surpassed American companies in many industries.  Economic problems later caught up with Japan in the early 1990s, but even today its car industry (especially Toyota) does better than Detroit car manufacturers.  Voluntary import quotas have kept Japanese car imports lower than they would be without any trade barriers, and the Japanese began expensive selling luxury cars (such as the Lexus) as a way of making more money with fewer products.

Other inventions also helped improve the world.  The invention of plastics enabled the mass production of inexpensive goods, everything from drinking cups to watches to car and airplane furnishings.  Robotics lowered the cost of manufacturing for everything.  In the [[United States of America|United States]] unions resisted some of these changes.  The Japanese companies, benefiting from cheaper labor and lack of unions, surpassed American companies in many industries.  Economic problems later caught up with [[Japan]] in the early 1990s, but even today its car industry (especially Toyota) does better than Detroit car manufacturers.  Voluntary import quotas have kept Japanese car imports lower than they would be without any trade barriers, and the Japanese began expensive selling luxury cars (such as the Lexus) as a way of making more money with fewer products.

   

   

In addition to Japan, other Asian nations also thrived after World War II.  The “Four Tigers” are the prosperous Pacific Rim nations of South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong.  (Hong Kong is now part of communist China but is allowed to remain free until at least the middle of the 21st century.)  Even communist China has grown stronger economically by trading with the United States.  Malaysia and other Asian nations have prospered too.   

In addition to Japan, other [[Asia]]n nations also thrived after World War II.  The “Four Tigers” are the prosperous Pacific Rim nations of [[South Korea]], [[Taiwan]], [[Singapore]] and [[Hong Kong]].  (Hong Kong is now part of communist China but is allowed to remain free until at least the middle of the 21st century.)  Even communist China has grown stronger economically by trading with the United States.  Malaysia and other Asian nations have prospered too.   

The world today has numerous “multinational” companies having offices in many different countries.  Many American companies now have offices or factories even in communist China now.  These multinational companies are attracted by the low wages and inexpensive raw materials, and by the opportunity to sell their products there.  Increased regulation and taxes in America also encourage companies to transfer to an offshore labor force.

The world today has numerous “multinational” companies having offices in many different countries.  Many American companies now have offices or factories even in communist China now.  These multinational companies are attracted by the low wages and inexpensive raw materials, and by the opportunity to sell their products there.  Increased regulation and taxes in America also encourage companies to transfer to an offshore labor force.