*A Retrospective*

It’s difficult to grasp the immensity of the globalization movement and thoroughly dissect the arguments for and against the phenomenon in a mere six weeks. Yet I feel as if this course has offered an interesting introduction into this complex topic. In reading a number of prominent authors on globalization, we have approached the concept from a variety of different perspectives. Globalization is not merely an economic issue, nor is it solely political. Rather it crosses into the territories of several disciplines – politics, economics, sociology, and ethics to name a few. It is truly an interdepartmental study, and therefore should be addressed as such.

Studying Stiglitz, Wolf, Singer, and various others has shown me that one cannot solve the problems of globalization by approaching the issues from solely one perspective. Our solutions must be as multi-faceted as the problems they are attempting to solve.

It is the recognition of this issue that I feel is notably absent in today’s global environment. Special interests abound – those for economic gain, those for environmental protection, those for political power. While the president argues for political concessions, corporate lobbyists assert their claims to financial resources. I believe that if we hope to reach greater consensus in the future on the issues related to globalization, we will quickly need to acknowledge the interests of multiple parties.

Thankfully, I also believe that we – as students attending a liberal arts college – are perhaps in the best position to tackle these issues. While a wave of specialization has engulfed our world’s workers for the past centuries, it is vital for the politicians and policy makers of tomorrow to be capable of seeing the “big picture”. A liberal arts curriculum stresses the interdependence and dynamism amongst a variety of seemingly dissimilar courses.

As my final year at W&L comes to a close, I continue to be impressed with the connections one can draw between different departments. History bears weight on current day politics, which in turn affect the business environment and regulation. Having the vision to recognize this trend is what one will need to quell the debates surrounding globalization.

Our international governance exercise will illustrate the need for level-headed mediators and talented coalition builders who can effectively listen to multiple viewpoints and create solutions for progress. I predict that it will be this group of individuals that will lead our globalized world into the future.