Reflection on Dr. Richard Shweder's Speech

        Dr. Richard Shweder delivered the concept that after the Berlin Wall fell down on November 9, 1989, a New World Order is predicted to replace the old tripartite classification of "First World", "Second World" and "Third World". Three  prophesies on the shape of the New World order include:
         - The west is the best and will take over the world.
         - Nations will attain economic growth while maintaing their distinctive cultures.
         - A liberal Ottoman-Like empire will emerge. There will be both cosmopolitan liberals, who appreciate neutrality and globalization, and local non-liberals, who are dedicated to ethnicity.

        I believe education in different countries could be a good indicator of global change. A nation that encourages globalization tends to promote the value of cultural diversity in the core courses in educational institutes within that country, while a nation that is dedicated to local development will emphasize domestic history and culture. Additionally, students who are educated with a global mindset are more likely to assume global citizen responsibility, which in return shapes the world. In recent years, it has been observed that educational institutions around the globe have been making profound effort in fostering open-mindedness toward diverse cultures among their citizens. There has been an increasing number of exchange students and visiting scholars around the world. Global concept is deeply incorporated in core values delivered to young generations. As both the cause and the consequence, globalization is an irreversible trend in the world today, and it can be reasonably predicted to thrive in foreseeable future.

        I am convinced that culture is one of the most vital factors that shape economic outcomes. To an extend, culture determines the political and economic system of a country. One distinct example will be China. The Chinese is a nation that highly values collectivism. For thousands of years of history, the Chinese people were accustomed to the concept of having a sole decision-maker, mostly the emperor, and everybody worked collectively to execute his decisions. As a legacy, today it turns out more effective in China than in other countries to have a centralized government that makes major decisions in economic activities, rather than to allow for an entirely free market. The cultural traits in the Chinese nation have greatly shaped China's economic outcome.