Global Democracy in \"In Praise

Global Democracy

In "In Praise of Cultural Imperialism?" Rothkopf praises the potentially positive aspects of globalization including peace, stability, and unity. Rothkopf's sentiments seem strange in light of the plethora of scholars and authors who, like Huntington, envision total planetary disaster. However, Rothkopf's words echo those of poet Walt Whitman. A hundred years before Rothkopf or the Internet, Whitman wrote about "The earth to be spann'd, connected by net-work, / the people to become brothers and sisters," in "Passage to India" (3rd stanza). Interestingly, Whitman seems to presage the advent of the Internet, the "net-work" that connects the diverse peoples of the planet and transforms former enemies into "brothers and sisters."

Like Whitman, Rothkopf champions the ideals of globalization but does not necessarily gloss over its potential pitfalls. In "Passage to India," Whitman uses imagery and diction suggesting danger and risk. Rothkopf also warns Americans in particular to take charge in ushering in the new age of opportunity and information. Using phrasing dramatically similar to Whitman's, Rothkopf refers to "the great strides n integration that have united the world's billions." Both Whitman and Rothkopf, like Fukuyama, refer to potential of globalization to build bridges between previously isolated worlds, and to harmonize what were once disparate cultures.