58 pages 1 hour read

Thomas L. Friedman

The Lexus and the Olive Tree

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1997

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

Chapters 13-16

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 13 Summary: “Demolition Man”

Globalization is creating a single marketplace, which rewards businesses for selling the same product all over the world instead of locally. This is a culturally homogenizing environment, and thus globalization poses a risk of wiping out ecological and cultural diversity. Just as countries need to develop protections when associating with the Electronic Herd, they need to develop protections for their environments and cultures. The hope is that technology will emerge that helps preserve the environment faster than the herd can trample it, but we can’t rely on technological breakthroughs alone, and conservationists need to learn to move faster to build globalized networks. However, it is also unrealistic to believe that conservationists can move fast enough in all areas, and so the only solution is to show the herd that capitalism can benefit from going green.

The only way to “green” globalization is to demonstrate to corporations that profits and share prices will increase if they adopt environmentally-sound production methods. Companies are learning that poor environmental performance means wasted profits and potential expense later. When profit isn’t enough motivation, the last strategy is for activists to learn “how to use globalization against itself.

Related Titles

By Thomas L. Friedman

Study Guide

logo

From Beirut to Jerusalem

Thomas L. Friedman

From Beirut to Jerusalem

Thomas L. Friedman

Plot Summary

logo

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution

Thomas L. Friedman

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution

Thomas L. Friedman

Plot Summary

logo

Thank You For Being Late

Thomas L. Friedman

Thank You For Being Late

Thomas L. Friedman

Plot Summary

logo

That Used to Be Us

Thomas L. Friedman, Michael Mandelbaum

That Used to Be Us

Thomas L. Friedman, Michael Mandelbaum

Study Guide

logo

The World Is Flat

Thomas L. Friedman

The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century

Thomas L. Friedman