The GW Center for the Study of Globalization
2033 K Street, NW, Suite 230 • Washington, DC 20052 • Phone: (202) 994-5206 • Fax: (202) 994-5284
Email: gwcsg@gwu.edu • http://gstudynet.org/
On April 17, The George Washington Center for the Study of Globalization (GWCSG) held its final Globalization Faculty Brown Bag of the 2001-2002 academic year. Director John Forrer introduced Harvey B. Feigenbaum, (Professor, Department of Political Science) and Jennifer W. Spencer (Assistant Professor, Department of International Business), as the fifth set of several speakers the GWCSG has hosted as part of its monthly faculty seminar series. Professors Spencer and Feigenbaum are recipients of research grants from the GWCSG, which sponsors projects in various areas of globalization studies. The goal of the Brown Bag series is to examine how each speaker's research findings have impacted his or her views on current issues surrounding globalization. Professor Feigenbaum's research looks at the globalization of ideas, and the cultural effects of neo-liberal growth in the Western world. Professor Spencer studies the technology industry, and the effect globalization is having on the global diffusion of ideas in national and global knowledge sectors. While seemingly quite different topics, both researchers explore very similar themes: the culture of ideas, national identities and their association to production, and the innate value of diversity.
Professor Feigenbaum spoke primarily with regards to the French film industry, and the affect globalization is having on national laws aimed at promoting national industries. His research shows that recent technological developments in the audio/video realm—including broadband, satellite, and video compression—have enabled companies to bypass these laws. Feigenbaum suggests that there are two potential responses: one from the private sphere and one from the public sphere. The private sector response suggests that the French learn to compete with Hollywood by adopting better technology, and producing films with an equally large potential viewership. The public response would include strategies like state subsidies to national industries, state owned production facilities, and a distribution system that favors national industries. The paradox of globalization, says Professor Feigenbaum, is that the more you have it, the more you need state intervention to protect national identity.
Professor Spencer discussed the cost of "leaks" in the research and development area of technology firms working on flat panel computer screens. Spencer discovered that in "A à B" (or direct) relationships, national boundaries have a great deal of impact on knowledge transfer. But in “A à B à C” (or indirect) relationships, national boundaries had very little effect on the extent to which scientific knowledge is shared. She also found that between 1980 and 2000 there was little change in the global diffusion of ideas in the flat-panel industry, despite trends towards increased connectivity in this field. Spencer reasons that for firms to be successful in the global marketplace, they must a) work closely with suppliers (despite the fact that this is a common leaking point) and, b) attempt to "win the war" of standardization—under some circumstances it may even make sense to share technology.
Questions were asked from the audience dealing with assumptions on the value of diversity and also the nature of the flat panel screen industry. The GWCSG thanks all those who attended this, and our other seminars. The brown bag series will resume this fall, and we invite you to keep an eye on our website for a full list of upcoming events.
The GW Center for the Study of Globalization
2033 K Street, NW, Suite 230 • Washington, DC 20052 • Phone: (202) 994-5206 • Fax: (202) 994-5284
Email: gwcsg@gwu.edu • http://gstudynet.org/