Connectivity does not create trust
Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 10:26PM ARTICLE: As ties between India and China grow, so does mistrust, By Emily Wax, Washington Post, December 14, 2009
An enduring myth: sheer connectivity does not create trust, only time plus connectivity can create trust. The initial onset of connectivity where it was lacking in the past brings more distrust and friction and nationalism and racism and . . ..
And yet, we are always stunned when--wow!--ancient enemies are not suddenly the best of friends on the basis of an opening up of trade, as if competing economic interests would all suddenly vanish and every past problem buried deep.
The whole premise of the "new map" was that globalization's advance is destabilizing: you don't have much opportunity to hate others when you have no contact with them.
But the larger point was this: with connectivity comes rules, and as that web thickens, everybody's behavior moderates. So no, no demotion of the nation-state. Rules matter plenty, and the best governments manage the best connectivity. But governments mature just like economies, so don't expect too much from emerging players. They have to grow up just like everybody before them.
(Via WPR's Media Roundup)
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