Us vs. Them
The Failure of Globalism
By: Ian Bremmer
About This Book
New York Times bestseller "A cogent analysis of the concurrent Trump/Brexit phenomena and a dire warning about what lies ahead...a lucid, provocative book." --Kirkus Reviews Those who championed globalization once promised a world of winners, one in which free trade would lift all the world's boats, and extremes of left and right would give way to universally embraced liberal values. The past few years have shattered this fantasy, as those who've paid the price for globalism's gains have turned to populist and nationalist politicians to express fury at the political, media, and corporate elites they blame for their losses. The United States elected an anti-immigration, protectionist president who promised to "put America first" and turned a cold eye on alliances and treaties. Across Europe, anti-establishment political parties made gains not seen in decades. The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. And as Ian Bremmer shows in this eye-opening book, populism is still spreading. Globalism creates plenty of both winners and losers, and those who've missed out want to set things right. They've seen their futures made obsolete. They hear new voices and see new faces all about them. They feel their cultures shift. They don't trust what they read. They've begun to understand the world as a battle for the future that pits "us" vs. "them." Bremmer points to the next wave of global populism, one that hits emerging nations before they have fully emerged. As in Europe and America, citizens want security and prosperity, and they're becoming increasingly frustrated with governments that aren't capable of providing them. To protect themselves, many government will build walls, both digital and physical. For instance... * In Brazil and other fast-developing countries, civilians riot when higher expectations for better government aren't being met--the downside of their own success in lifting millions from poverty. * In Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, Indonesia, Egypt and other emerging states, frustration with government is on the rise and political battle lines are being drawn. * In China, where awareness of inequality is on the rise, the state is building a system to use the data that citizens generate to contain future demand for change * In India, the tools now used to provide essential services for people who've never had them can one day be used to tighten the ruling party's grip on power. When human beings feel threatened, we identify the danger and look for allies. We use the enemy, real or imagined, to rally friends to our side. This book is about the ways in which people will define these threats as fights for survival. It's about the walls governments will build to protect insiders from outsiders and the state from its people. And it's about what we can do about it.
AI Overview
Overview of "Us vs. Them" by Ian Bremmer
Key Themes:
- Globalism and Its Consequences: The book explores how globalism has created both winners and losers, with the losers increasingly seeking to rectify their situation through populist movements.
- Economic Inequality: Bremmer argues that globalism has left significant portions of the middle class behind in the developed world, failing to meet the aspirations of the rising working and middle classes for higher standards of living.
- Populism and Nationalism: The book examines how populist politicians channel the frustrations of these groups into "us vs. them" politics, which often manifest as nationalist movements promising to reassert control and protect sovereignty.
- Automation and Job Loss: Bremmer discusses the impact of automation on jobs and the need for policies that address AI-induced job loss through public investment in education and infrastructure.
- Reinventing the Social Contract: The author suggests that what is needed is a re-negotiation of social contracts between citizens, rather than the emotionally satisfying but counter-productive project of building walls.
Plot Summary: The book delves into the disconnection from the global economy experienced by some segments of society, particularly in the developed world. It explores how this disconnection has led to rising global populism and the subsequent rise of nationalist movements. Bremmer argues that these movements are driven by a need to reassert control and protect sovereignty, often by declaring shared solidarity and building barriers against perceived threats.
Critical Reception:
- Positive Reception: The book has been praised for its incisive analysis of the global economic landscape and its impact on societal dynamics. Bremmer's argument that globalism has left many behind and that populist responses are counter-productive has been widely acknowledged as insightful.
- Criticisms: Some critics have noted that while the book provides a compelling narrative, it may not offer concrete solutions to the problems it identifies. The emphasis on the need for re-negotiating social contracts has been seen as a call for more nuanced policy-making rather than a detailed blueprint for action.
Additional Resources:
- Book Summary: A concise summary of the book is available on YouTube, providing an 8-minute overview of the key themes and arguments presented by Bremmer.
- Reviews and Analysis: The book has been reviewed extensively, with one review highlighting the core argument that globalism has left the middle class behind and how this has been channeled into populist politics.
Overall, "Us vs. Them" by Ian Bremmer offers a thought-provoking analysis of the failures of globalism and the rise of populist nationalism, emphasizing the need for more inclusive and equitable economic policies to address the challenges of a rapidly changing world.