We have selected three essays from the SSRC collection on "Globalization," which we believe are particularly accessible and thought-provoking for advanced high school students and undergraduates.

"U.S. Foreign Economic Policy After September 11th"
by Barry Eichengreen

Synopsis: This essay focuses on the potential impact of September 11th on international economics. Eichengreen argues that the "war on terrorism" will have an immediate impact on international economic activity, slowing international trade, reducing the international flow of capital and labor migration, and potentially reducing investment in many developing countries that are considered to be political risks. However, he considers that over the long run, global violence will not challenge the trends of globalization.

"Violence, Law and Justice in a Global Age"
by David Held

Synopsis: David Held considers September 11 against the backdrop of globalization, the story of which is not only economic, but also one of growing aspirations for international law and justice. Changes in the international legal order have placed individuals, non-governmental organizations and governments in changed circumstances. He calls for a new form of truly representative multilateral institutions that can provide just and legitimate global responses to the terrorist threat as well as the growing economic divide that exists in the world today.

"Governance Hotspots: Challenges We Must Confront in the Post-September 11 World"
by Saskia Sassen

Synopsis: Saskia Sassen addresses two "governance hotspots" that contribute to international insecurity in the larger post-September 11 context. She argues that it is in the best interest of the wealthier countries in the "global North" to address the "debt trap" and contradictory immigration policies faced by many in developing countries. She calls for a shift in the approach to debt relief and a radical re-thinking of how immigration is managed at the international level. Both examples bring to the fore the need for focused multilateral efforts to address effectively the challenges posed by growing interconnectedness.