OPINION: Whatever You Think of It, We’re Global

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No matter how hard we try, we really can’t avoid one another. We live in a world where what takes place somewhere else on the globe has a very good chance of affecting us — along with many others. The pandemic, of course, is a useful — if sobering — example. A virus that infected humans in […]

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The pandemic, of course, is a useful — if sobering — example. A virus that infected humans in one city in China spread with breathtaking speed around the world, beyond the power of governments — or anyone else — to stop it.

But then, it often seems like everything is interconnected these days: workers, tourists, ideas, commerce, communications, drugs, crime, migrants, refugees, weapons, climate impacts — and, of course, illnesses. The scale and speed with which they cross borders are hallmarks of our world, and though governments spend a lot of time trying to manage and control what they can, they’re severely limited in what they can accomplish. It’s one reason the distinction between “foreign” and “domestic” policy is, at heart, superficial. Globalization is a powerful force in the modern world, and you can see it on your block.

Not surprisingly, the forces of globalization generate benefits, challenges, and difficult problems, all of which must be confronted, often simultaneously. Take, for instance, nuclear proliferation. It’s dropped out of the headlines but stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction is an ongoing priority for any U.S. administration and the world. Even with major international agreements in place for the last half-century, nine countries have nuclear weapons (three since the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty went into effect). It was once feared there would be many more, so U.S. and international efforts have been successful; still, a number of countries are on the cusp of developing nuclear weapons.

Similarly, global migration brings both opportunity and difficulty. It’s estimated there were some 280 million migrants in 2020, 50 million of them in the U.S. alone. This can bring enormous benefits in the innovation, talent, and drive that many immigrant workers possess. But there’s no denying that it also causes disruption, both social and economic, and it will remain a domestic political flashpoint for as long as the U.S. remains an attractive destination.

You can also see an example of our interconnectedness — and the issues it raises — whenever you go to a shopping mall. All countries need something from other places, whether it’s food, cars, watches, or clothing. Economic theory likes this. Countries specialize in making certain things more cheaply and efficiently, and they import the goods that others produce more efficiently. Open trade allows every country to do what it does best. But to factory workers thrown out of their jobs or farmers facing stiff competition from overseas, the details matter a lot. This is why trade talks go on constantly among nations and trade is always high on the list of domestic political issues.

Let’s take one more example. Overall, global health is probably better now than it has been in the history of the human race. We’ve seen much improvement in health and medical care, in prevention and diagnosis, in technology, medications, education, and nutrition. But there’s a basic fact facing the globe: the world’s population is exploding. The 8 billion people who live on the planet are twice the number of just 50 years ago. The United Nations expects growth to level out, but still projects a world of 11 billion people by century’s end. As the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us, health issues faced in any part of the globe can affect us at home at any moment.

None of this is to say that globalization won’t see hiccups. There is intense political pressure to put up barriers, both in the U.S. and in other countries, from segments of the population that haven’t seen globalization’s benefits — only job losses and cultural change. And the pandemic has induced a lot of countries not just to look inward at their health systems, but also to recognize that a globalized supply chain leaves them vulnerable to shortages at critical moments and globalized travel demands greater scrutiny. Still, whether we like it or not, we’re all inter-connected: the challenge is to make it work as well as possible for all of us.

Lee Hamilton, 90, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south central Indiana.

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LANNY TRACEY has joined the Endwell office of Delta Engineers, Architects, Land Surveyors, & Landscape Architects, DPC as an assistant engineer in the Endwell Transportation Group. Tracey received his associate degree in mechanical technology from SUNY Morrisville. With more than 16 years in the industry, Tracey has extensive experience designing architectural foundations and concrete structures. He is highly proficient in AutoCAD and he utilizes his extensive design skills, specializing in below-grade concrete structures, box culverts, three-sided culverts, below-grade vaults, bridges, retaining walls, and noise walls.

CHRISTOPHER LYNCH has joined the Endwell office of Delta Engineers, Architects, Land Surveyors, & Landscape Architects, DPC as a senior project architect in the Delta Architecture Group. Lynch received his bachelor’s degree in architecture from Philadelphia University and is a registered architect. He has leveraged the project-management experience he gained early in career working on large-scale public projects with his knowledge of design-technology tools to streamline workflows for collaboration across all phases of design and construction with the use of building information modeling (BIM). Lynch possesses strong communication skills to clearly articulate the client needs to the design team and as problem-solving skills that allow him to find viable solutions to meet the client’s project goals.

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GARY GAIT was recently named the new men’s lacrosse coach at Syracuse University. Widely considered to be the greatest player in lacrosse history, Gait becomes just the fifth head coach for the 107th year of Syracuse men’s lacrosse, replacing Hall of Fame head coach John Desko, who announced his retirement. Gait took the job after a 14-year stint as the head coach of the Orange’s women’s lacrosse program. A three-time NCAA champion, Gait led Syracuse’s most dominant stretch in program history, losing just one game in three seasons from 1988-90. He is a two-time recipient of the Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award, presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding player, and was the NCAA championship most outstanding player. At the professional level as a player, Gait has won three NLL titles (1991, 1994, 1995), three MLL titles, (2001, 2002, 2005), three Mann Cups (1991, 1997, 1999), the Heritage Cup (2004) and the ILF World Championship (2006). Gait took over as Syracuse’s head women’s lacrosse coach in 2007 and turned the team into a national powerhouse, reaching three national title games, including in the 2021 season. Gait previously won seven national titles as an assistant coach with the Maryland women’s lacrosse program from 1995-2001. He also had two professional coaching stints in lacrosse.

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