Us vs. Them audiobook cover - The Failure of Globalism

Us vs. Them

The Failure of Globalism

Ian Bremmer

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PoliticsEconomics

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Us vs. Them
Globalism's Impact+
Cultural Anxieties+
Emerging Market Struggles+
Economic Inequality+
Threat of Automation+
Government Reactions+
A New Social Contract+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
What is identified as the primary driver behind the recent surge in populist political movements, according to the text?
  • A. A sudden decrease in global trade agreements
  • B. A growing sense of economic insecurity and frustration with elites
  • C. The universal success of liberal values across developing nations
  • D. The rapid expansion of the American middle class
Question 2 of 8
How did politicians like Marine Le Pen and leaders of the Brexit campaign frame the issue of immigration?
  • A. As a strictly economic issue that only affects factory workers
  • B. As a necessary driver for technological innovation and economic growth
  • C. As a threat to cultural identity and a strain on public services
  • D. As a temporary challenge that will be solved by automation
Question 3 of 8
Why are emerging middle classes in countries like Turkey and Brazil experiencing growing dissatisfaction despite recent economic successes?
  • A. The governments have failed to meet rising expectations and invest in necessary public infrastructure.
  • B. Their economies have completely collapsed due to a lack of foreign investment.
  • C. The transition to a fully automated workforce happened too quickly for workers to adapt.
  • D. They are primarily protesting against the strict environmental regulations imposed by their governments.
Question 4 of 8
What did data analysts find when examining the relationship between income inequality and social behavior in the United States?
  • A. Higher income inequality correlated with a decrease in political polarization.
  • B. States with higher inequality were more likely to have higher levels of hate crimes.
  • C. Income inequality primarily motivated citizens to pursue higher education.
  • D. Economic disparities led to a significant increase in charitable giving among the elite.
Question 5 of 8
How does recent research from MIT and Boston University challenge traditional economic theory regarding automation?
  • A. It shows that robots are primarily taking over high-paying, white-collar jobs rather than manual labor.
  • B. It proves that automation has actually decreased the overall efficiency of manufacturing plants.
  • C. It indicates that new, higher-value jobs for humans are not being created quickly enough to replace the jobs lost to robots.
  • D. It suggests that automation is entirely responsible for the global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Question 6 of 8
Why are emerging nations considered more vulnerable to the rise of automation compared to developed countries?
  • A. They have older populations that are resistant to learning new technological skills.
  • B. They have a higher proportion of jobs at risk and lack the financial resources to invest in necessary education and infrastructure.
  • C. They rely entirely on importing technology from Western nations, making automation too expensive to implement.
  • D. They have already transitioned to service-based economies that are immune to robotic automation.
Question 7 of 8
According to the text, how are governments around the world primarily reacting to the anxieties and challenges created by globalism?
  • A. By eliminating all tariffs to encourage completely free global trade.
  • B. By erecting new physical, economic, and informational barriers to protect their own interests.
  • C. By establishing a unified global internet that cannot be censored by individual states.
  • D. By immediately implementing universal basic income programs across all developing nations.
Question 8 of 8
Which of the following is suggested as a necessary step for governments to adapt the 'social contract' to a globalized, automated world?
  • A. Promoting lifelong education and retraining programs for workers.
  • B. Encouraging citizens to rely entirely on private corporations for their welfare.
  • C. Completely shutting down the gig economy and freelance work opportunities.
  • D. Lowering taxes on large technology companies to encourage more rapid automation.

Us vs. Them — Full Chapter Overview

Us vs. Them Summary & Overview

Us vs. Them (2018) explores how globalism has created both winners and losers and explains how the losers are now looking to set things right. In countries from the United States to China, from Venezuela to Turkey, unhappy citizens are making new demands of their governments, and populist politicians are promising easy answers. Us vs. Them offers a lucid take on the forces disrupting societies around the world and suggests potential solutions for the future.

Who Should Listen to Us vs. Them?

  • Anyone interested in understanding populist forces and their origins
  • People concerned about the impact of robots on the workforce and society
  • Readers interested in foreign affairs and political science

About the Author: Ian Bremmer

Ian Bremmer is a leading thinker on global affairs. He is the president and founder of the Eurasia Group, a successful global political-risk consultancy, and is a weekly columnist for Time magazine. He has published ten books including the bestseller, The End of the Free Market: Who Wins the War Between States and Corporations?

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