If Summers is right on this (which I believe he is), i.e. that there is a lot of hype and emperor's new clothes around "globalization" and similar topics, the question is why? I see at least two reasons: 1) The need for politicians, business executives, media people and (sigh) some academics to be self-important. 2) (and this is the main reason for "globalization" being hyped up): The useful paralyzing function against union and popular activism, engendering the feeling that any local or grassroots opposition is useless when confronted with a "process" (another buzzword) that is relentless and completely uncontrollable by human intervention. Thus the powers-that-be gradually achieve their optimum world population; atomized resigned consumers of Coke, McDonalds and Satellite TV, without any feeling of community, self-confidence politically and no belief in the use of working for political change. The rhetorical and propaganda function of the "globalization" media barrage is grossly underestimated by the general public, and in academia, too. On the other hand the TNCs and their PR types are extremely conscious of its usefulness (for them). Trond Andresen Norway
