Event 2- lecture

On Tuesday March 17, 2008, I went to a lecture in Carroll Hall about the economy and emerging economies around the world. This lecture was titled “Is it time for a new world order?” and the professor was exploring the economies of today and how that might affect our economies tomorrow. The professor proposed the idea created by a pair of economists that minor economic countries like Brazil and China were going to grow and become major influences, which would upset how business is done. They suggested that we are experiencing a hegemonic shift. Hegemony provides the necessary infrastructure for economies, absorbs shock, and stabilizes. The proposition is that the economic turmoil now is a result of a hegemonic shift and that after the transition lesser economies will gain strength to dominate. However, the professor does not feel that there is an evidence of a hegemonic shift, and it is not time for a new world order.
This is important part of university life because this is when many people begin to become aware of economics and politics. Here the professor is telling those who are listening to him that they should examine facts before they believe them. Information such as this helps to shape students view on world issues and affects how we will react to it. Also it is enlightening us on issues that will be important to us in the future. By presenting this argument, he introduced us to important concepts like hegemony. I did not know what that was before listening to this lecture.