Jihad vs McWorld - Essay Example

Reaction Paper Jihad vs. McWorld is a that de s a court battle, or some sports fixture prima facie. Indeed, the crux of the book has a real battle element. A court battle or a sports fixture is an understatement. Benjamin Barber takes the battle to a larger scale. The author is a champion of democracy but is concerned about the influence of capitalism on democracy. Essentially, Barber is of the view that capitalism undermines democracy and in no way can the two concepts be equated as some scholars have thought. Neither system can fully accommodate the other despite the presence of competing interests in both. Barber’s argument has attracted criticisms from democratic and capitalistic due to the insufficiency of evidence in support thereof. However, it is necessary to tame the pressures of Jihad and McWorld – as Barber argues – for democracy to thrive. Capitalism is a system of economics grounded on the private ownership of production inputs and capital. Goods and services are produced principally for profit. Goods and services are produced based on the demand and supply in the market (market economy) as opposed to central planning (planned economy). Competition between producers is the main characteristic of capitalism. Barber conducts an examination of the pressures of capitalism, communication systems, and advertising campaigns on the global scale. The world has become such a small village that governments have lost their authority to regulate the affairs of citizens. Barber uses the term “McWorld” to describe the scenario. Transactions today are concluded with such amazing efficiency and speed that no government of the present day can purport to control (Barber 4). Alongside these international pressures exerted by capitalism and associated practices, individual nations have suffered pressures from within as groups struggle to break free from the regimes in place. Determinism is at its peak in individual nations. The author gives the example of Quebec that has struggled for a long time to break out of Canada. Barber uses the term “Jihad” to describe this scenario. This term includes both religious factions determined to exert influence in certain regions and ethnic groups struggling to break free from nation-states to whose regimes they are subject. Rebellious movements with no political or religious ambitions are also included in the term. The two terms – McWorld and Jihad – are unbearable forces that the author believes are spirited attempts by the individual to define his or her place in a rapidly changing world. As McWorld urges societies to embrace global approaches and institutions, Jihad urges groups to revert to the traditional elementary groupings of life. The Disneyworld and the Babel are symbolic to the dichotomy the author puts forth (4). According to the author, the greatest danger facing democracy does not come from the two concepts independently. It emanates from the manner in which they relate. Jihad and McWorld are not only mutually reinforcing, but also exhibit constant interactions in a number of aspects. The author has in mind the Serb sniper showing off his Reeboks on a Samsung tablet as he deals with Muslims of Sarajevo. Berber’s argument is credible when it is taken from the angle of McWorld’s ability to unleash Jihad. Multinational corporations, mass communication, and international capital markets currently dominate the world. Expertise and money change hands and places across the world in a flash. Governments have found it hard to intervene in these matters due to territorial questions and limitations of sovereignty. Essentially, governments have very little influence on global affairs today triggered by capitalism. The role of the state is increasingly becoming smaller. International influences such as capital flight, market swings, and the ever-changing regional and global power configurations largely hamper the exercise of state sovereignty thereby unleashing the dominant forces of Jihad. The author gives the classic example of Yugoslavia and the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republic whose previously stable political systems collapsed following economic crises that were largely triggered by international competition. The only doubtful part of Berber’s argument is the suggestion that Jihad can influence McWorld. Nevertheless, the world has witnessed the raging might of Jihad bringing down McWorld’s finest assets such as the World Trade Center, the Pan Am Flight 103. Despite all these, McWorld has not been cowed, and it continues to do marvelous things that government regulatory power has not been able to subdue. Democracy is so far the best form of government although it has its set of challenges. Bred in the West, democracy has spread to most parts of the world in different packages such as neoliberalism. In democratic governments, citizens are given excessive rights to have a say in government decisions. Democracy is essentially the opposite of authoritarian regimes of dictatorship where the ruling class has all the say. However, democracy is practiced within the borders of the state. That has been a serious challenge because governments want to keep their sovereignty to avoid interference by other states. The only non-state force that has challenged state sovereignty is capitalism. Since the advent of capitalism, the powers of states have been diminished to the extent that they are no longer felt. McWorld, as Barber puts it, is indeed a force that governments have to think over if they want to save the remaining bits of their powers. Jihad could find it hard to break through because these factions are within the borders of the state, and they are fighting against a mighty power. That explains why Jihad has not made remarkable achievements as far as their missions are concerned. Nevertheless, the brains behind democracy should consider making the concept a global one instead of confining it to national borders. Capitalism is being blamed unreasonably. It is simply fast growing while democracy is stagnant. If only states could forge international sovereignty or a leadership structure having a world president, for instance, the negative effects of capitalism on state sovereignty would be inexistent. That will be an uphill task to accomplish because not all countries have democratic regimes. Until then, it is safe to argue that capitalism will have its way as democracy suffers more. Berber and his counterparts will continue lamenting even more. Jihad vs. McWorld is quite informative as far as democracy and capitalism are concerned. The author has done a great work, which can change the world if significant attention is paid thereto. Barber has argued that capitalism undermines democracy using its two facets – McWorld and Jihad. Nevertheless, my reaction has established that democracy should come out of the national boundaries and operate globally if capitalism is to be subdued. Capitalism should not be blamed because development is equally good. Without the exploits of capitalism, the world would not have invented the wheel, let alone the iPads and airplanes. Work Cited Barber, Benjamin. Jihad vs. McWorld. London: Ballantine Books, 1996. Read More