Something interesting is currently happening on the Korean Peninsula. Firstly, with the Olympics at hand the North Koreans have been brought to the negotiating table with the interest of more then just participating. Some might claim this represents progress in relations with North Korea for the South, but those more skeptical might point to the fact that a cycle of relations has been renewed with a threatening and increasingly prerogative United States. Something else is happening in Canada at the moment and the Pacific Region in general. Finally (and without the United States) the large free trade agreement which includes most of the Asia-Pacific is now a pending reality. Final talks seem to be left to individual countries to ratify the deal. What has brought about this sudden movement? Has a President of the United States, who has brought into the question the continued existence of the North America Free Trade Agreement, provoked a quick sign? What is really interesting to consider is how the world is playing chess against the United States and weaving the fabric different from that of what the White House intended.
Transitions often work where ideas replace each other. A classic example could be colonialism which after World War Two was time and time again unwoven as a viable way of doing things. If one wants to claim that the world is currently in transition now, one needs to do two things. State what the difference in ideas is and state how the world is crowding around the idea that will prevail and continue to shape it. Freedom of commerce has long been something important to the world. Countries developing and developed have seen great benefit as a result. Those who claim that protection of companies and commerce at home is now the agenda, fail to acknowledge that companies cannot be forced or bullied into doing what government wants. And yet, with expanding companies like Apple in the United States, and companies like Walmart delivering extra pay for their workers - one could say that 'Trumpism' is working and getting the United States somewhere. If so, do we live in a world in transition towards protectionism?
I don't think so. I think instead that the world is about to vindicate itself into a new era of commerce which the United States will eventually be forced to join but who is missing the chance to broker. The United States cannot lead the world in action, without leading the world in thought. As the United States makes vocal threats to withdraw from free trade agreements, and places tariffs on this and that, it will eventually find itself secluded as it becomes more and more like Iran and Russia in how it drives economic growth - internally and without a focus on trade. That however, isn't the idea, but the means of transition. A world where the United States shuts down the federal government whilst the New Zealanders go to space for the first time. A world where Israel is hailed as an example of secularism by the Vice President of the United States. And a world where the loss of leadership and loss of integrity entails a loss of continuity. That, is the stuff of transition.
