What Is Globalization? (Part 2): Global Leadership in an Era of Growing Nationalism, Protectionism, and Antiglobalization

2017 Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers Business School  In Part 1, What Is Globalization? How to Measure It and Why Many Oppose It, I concluded that globalization is here to stay—and will continue to converge nations, culturally and economically, indefinitely. At the same time, leaders such as Trump, Le Pen, Erdoğan, and Duterte espouse an anti-globalization … Continue reading What Is Globalization? (Part 2): Global Leadership in an Era of Growing Nationalism, Protectionism, and Antiglobalization

What Is Globalization? (Part 1): How to Measure It and Why Many Oppose It

© 2017 Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers Business School The rise of nationalistic political leaders has spanned the globe—from Donald Trump and Marine Le Pen in the West, to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the Middle East, to Narendra Modi and Rodrigo Duterte in the East. To varying degrees, each of these leaders espouses an “our country … Continue reading What Is Globalization? (Part 1): How to Measure It and Why Many Oppose It

Second Helping: Thanksgiving Day and Globalization

© 2016 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University See the updated post, Thanksgiving Day: A Story of Globalization, Cross-cultural Influences, and Unity  Last year’s Thanksgiving reflections (click to read: November 27, 2015) provided interesting historical perspectives and fun facts about Plimoth Colony and Plantation, an Amazing native American named Tisquantum (“Squanto”), and the Mexican origins of our favorite Thanksgiving entree: turkey. Today, on … Continue reading Second Helping: Thanksgiving Day and Globalization

The G20 Summit in China: An Annual “Talking Shop”? Or a Potential Bedrock of Global Civilization?

© 2016 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers Business School Note: A version of this article was also published on The Conversation as How the G20 can ensure the marvelous gains from globalization aren't lost. What do summits such as the G20 accomplish? Posing for pictures after their summit, the leaders of the G20, a mixed bag of … Continue reading The G20 Summit in China: An Annual “Talking Shop”? Or a Potential Bedrock of Global Civilization?

Globalization’s Angst and the “Brexit” Vote

© 2016 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers Business School A version of this post also appeared as a featured article at  YaleGlobal Online Also listen to the Podcast  Where Do Brexit and Anti-Globalization Sentiments Come From? Recorded by Hira Jafri, Director of Global Programs, Yale MacMillan Center  and see  11/26/19 Post angst noun: “a feeling of deep … Continue reading Globalization’s Angst and the “Brexit” Vote

Inversions…and Versions (of Tax Truths)

© 2016 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University NOTE: This article first appeared in YaleGlobal Online, a publication of Yale University MacMillan Center, April 12, 2016. Portions reproduced with permission. Subsequently, it also appeared on The Conversation (US Edition), April 20, 2015. Sign up for their newsletter here. Companies “...effectively renounce their citizenship…[by using] insidious tax loopholes...fleeing the … Continue reading Inversions…and Versions (of Tax Truths)

Thanksgiving Day and Globalization

© 2015 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University Image Credit: "Freedom from Want" - The Saturday Evening Post cover of March 6, 1943, by Norman Rockwell See the updated post, Thanksgiving Day: A Story of Globalization, Cross-cultural Influences, and Unity  As Americans sit down to their Thanksgiving Day repasts each year, they are taught to … Continue reading Thanksgiving Day and Globalization

The Refugee Crisis – Does Europe Benefit or Lose? The Angle Not Covered by the Media

© 2015 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University Put aside, for the moment, the horrific scenes of human suffering, the fears that some ISIS sympathizers may be part of the herd swarming onto European shores, and the large immediate costs of resettling and giving aid to hundreds of thousands of souls. Then consider this question: … Continue reading The Refugee Crisis – Does Europe Benefit or Lose? The Angle Not Covered by the Media

Learning from the History of Globalization

© 2014 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University Since the year 2000, the US has suffered a horrendous merchandise trade deficit against China, adding up to $2,947 billion over the 14-year period. This means that China has accumulated nearly $3 trillion surplus dollars—much of which they “kindly” reinvested in US assets, notably US Treasury debt. … Continue reading Learning from the History of Globalization