Yngve Sætre sin blogg

Boston, Cambridge, 02.07.12.

Idag har jeg arbeidet med komparativ politikk. Blant pensum er en artikkel av Samuel P. Huntington som heter «The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order». Foroevrig en voldsom tittel. Det jeg reagerte mest paa i artikkelen var likevel en paastand om at oekt handel og globalisering ikke reduserer kriger og konflikter i verden.

Vi har et debattforum paa nett her paa Harvard hvor vi blir oppfordret til aa skrive kommentarer til artikler og temaer innen pensum, og svare paa problemstillinger fra foreleseren. Jeg sendte inn et innlegg om nettopp Huntingtons artikkel, og et utdrag av det jeg skrev foelger her:

«I believe that trade and globalization spread knowledge between nations, and strenghtens bonds between businesses, governments, cultures and people. These factors will contribute to a reduction in conflicts between people and nations. Globalization brings people together and reduces the importance of national boarders.

Trade between countries – that uses the benefits of comparative economic advantages – also makes countries dependent on each other to get basic articles like food and clothes. I believe that this also will contribute to a reduction in conflicts as long as there are some basic common rules for global trade. You simply don’t want to attack someone you are dependent on.

Huntington wrote his article in 1996. I think it is correct to say that there has been an increase in trade and globalization in the last twenty years or so. According to the Unites Nations there has been a decrease in the number of wars in the world by 40 % from 1990 until 2007. This fact do not support Huntingtons view, even if there certainly are other strong factors than trade that have contributed to the reduced number of wars.

I will also mention the European Union in this matter. The European Union is a partnership between 27 European countries. The starting point of the Union was the establishing of the common market with The Treaty of Rome in 1957. The basic idea behind the European Union is that free trade and common rules will make countries dependent on each other and this will avoid conflicts. This has been a succesful formula for over half a century.»

Yngve Saetre