In his latest book, Choate (Hot Property
) takes up cudgels against Thomas Friedman and proponents of globalization, blaming Republicans and Democrats for creating a system in which “corporate money, both domestic and foreign, dominates U.S. governance.” Whereas Friedman sees “flatteners,” such as the Internet and outsourcing, Choate sees “rounders,” the pitfalls of globalization that include nationalism, militarism and cultural rivalries. Choate denounces what he sees as the current litany of economic abuses, including a global corporate culture in which “today's economic concentration... is so large scale and so far-flung that regulation is beyond the capacity of any individual government.” Choate provides advice for reining in the ravages of globalization, including reforming (and potentially leaving) the World Trade Organization, redressing campaign finance law and curbing illegal immigration. However, his prescriptions seem victim to the very problem they seek to remedy: global interdependence and untamed corporate power have already curtailed the ability of individual nations to pursue isolationist policies. While his solutions may fall flat, his book is accessible, well-written and wisely inserts itself into the upcoming U.S. election, which has re-energized the debate on NAFTA and globalization. (Aug.)
