Monthly TOEFL Essay #2

The 21st century has begun. What changes do you think this new century will bring? Use examples and details in your answer.

             Have ever heard of the phrase, “the world is flat”? It is the title of a famous book written by Thomas Friedman which has received tremendous spotlight from the people around the world for giving an original extrapolation of the 21^st century. The 21^st century is indeed becoming flatter, thanks to the development of science and technology. We would never be living in such a close and interconnected world if it were not for the drastic breakthroughs that worked as bridges between the nations. Therefore, I believe that such rapid improvement of technology has engendered two major changes to the 21^st century which are economic interdependency and a new form of imperialism.

           To begin with, economic interdependency has been immensely substantiated since the beginning of the 21^st century. Not only multinational corporations but also domestic corporations tend to keep a close eye on the international market of great potential. Increasing figure of demographics and better access to population concentrated markets has paved a road to whole new opportunities, where corporations can take advantage of its massive size and cheap labor such as China. Therefore, active liquidity and exchange of goods among different nations has brought distinct economies to come closer than we expected. It is not awkward anymore to see foreign products and businesses, and it is nearly impossible to find perfectly domestic ones. Also, we are currently at a situation where nations are extremely sensitive with any hindrance of certain nation’s financial difficulties. The great example is the depreciation of the Euro and its affects to the entire world that began in few southern European countries such as Greece and Italy.

           Furthermore, the new form of imperialism has risen to the surface since the dawn of the 21^st century. If the previous imperialism composed of nations trying to force the victim to succumb with military power, new version is related to diplomatic relations and the significance of the nations’ influence to the global society. For instance, a few developed nations tend to have a stronger voice in the United Nations, and the permanent members of the Security Council even have the right to veto any resolutions. Unfortunately, such enormous influence entails the problem of factions which usually form accordingly to the similarities of respective interests of the nations such as financial or social aids. In fact, economic and political advantages that these developed nations can provide are quite appealing to the 3^rd world, while procuring quantity advocates of the nation’s stance works vice versa. Therefore, the world is becoming closer, but the relationship among the nations might depict a new political hierarchy.

           In conclusion, we are able to sense the world shrinking every year thanks to the astronomical development of technology. I believe the intense level of economic interdependency and the recent version of imperialism should be put on the table when discussing the changes we are experiencing since the 21^st century. We have 87 more years to go until this century ends, and it will be our responsibility to correctly deduce how such changes will take us further away from the past.