The End of the Modern Nation State?

In an interesting sociological study called The McDonaldization of Society (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonaldization), the writer asserts that American society has become reconceptualized around the four key criteria of efficiency, calculability, predictability and control. In short, the standards that have worked for McDonald's fast-food restaurants are increasingly how American society itself is being reconceptualized.

There is much truth in this analysis. Corporate America, both positively and negatively, increasingly shapes entire segments of our society. From NFL sports teams sponsored by Coca-Cola to the U.S. Military being outfitted in snazzy new Army Combat Uniforms exclusively produced by one manufacturer to even public university systems being funded by corporations such as CVS pharmacies, our society is truly controlled by "Big Business." Whether Democrat or Republican, the question is not "whether or not" Big Business controls the votes, but rather which set of Corporations are in control. Big Tobacco is supported by the Republican side and Hollywood is controlled by the Democrat side. Starbuck's coffee is controlled by the liberals and gold investing is controlled by the conservatives.

What does this mean for the future of world history?

At one point, empires were ruled by sheer military force. Whether it was the Greeks (Alexander the Great), the Romans, or eventually the Islamic Turks, empires rose and fell based on sheer military might.

Fast forward several hundred years to the time of 1492. Christopher Columbus set sail for the New World, interested less in military conquest, and more in economic gain. The New World was conquered less through military force, but more through economic domination. The same, sadly, can also be said about Africa and its European colonizers.

But now, in 2007, the shift that began in the pre-Renaissance is now coming to its logical conclusion. We North Americans, Europeans, Chinese and Japanese conquer not through military power (just look at the mess in Iraq!), but instead through names such as Fuji film, BMW, Coca-Cola and Kentucky Fried Chicken (and yes, they actually eat KFC down in Capetown, South Africa, surprisingly enough!).

Will this McDonaldization of society eventually replace the Nation State?

Say, 300 years from now, will someone living in St. Petersburg, Florida no longer consider themselves to be "American" in the proper sense, but say, instead consider themselves to be "Starbuckian"??? Or perhaps, CVS-ian???

Only time will tell, but perhaps "Corporate America" will increasingly be less a question of whether or not to have it, but instead "Good" versus "bad" corporate America.

Blessings in Jesus,
Rob J. King, Starbuck's coffee drinker, Bob Marley-listener ;-) for Jesus of course . . .