One Nation, Divided, under Stress

This chapter states that the globalization of individuals (rather than of states or international organizations) can be seen as providing the highest degree of personal freedom. It discusses the three stages of globalism as defined in Thomas Friedman's book, The World Is Flat. The chapter also provides a bracing reflection of the two Americas. America, it argues, is now made up of two groups: the “FTE sector” — the people who work in finance, technology, and electronics — and “the low-wage sector.” The chapter then demonstrates election results in different countries which give this phenomenon a visual expression: two nations geographically divided, culturally dissimilar, economically disjointed, and politically opposed. Ultimately, the chapter examines the class divisions and how its new definition reflected the scheme of risks and opportunities individuals face.