Dominican College of Blauvelt The Region State by Kinchi Ohmae Questionnaire

Is the contemporary era of economic globalization producing hybridized individuals and societies? Are distinct cultures and nations coming to an end? If so, what will they be replaced by? What is the impact of the global economy on civilizations and nations? These questions arise when we think about the changes brought about by the rise of what Japanese management theorist and former university dean Kinichi Ohmae calls “the region state.”

Here are some questions to think about as you read the article

• According to Ohmae, why have nation states become an unnatural, even dysfunctional, unit for organizing human activity?
• What does Ohmae mean by “region state”?
• What are some challenges that the rise of the region state poses for governments? What role, if any, should central governments play in today’s global economy?
• How would Huntington respond to Ohmae’s explanation of what’s going on in the world today? Whose explanation do you think is better and why?