The Kimchi Matters

With The Kimchi Matters, Marvin Zonis, Dan Lefkovitz, and Sam Wilkin return discussion of globalization and international relations to first principles. Globalization hype has obscured a few basic truths—that political stability and economic growth are usually determined on the local level, and that they are most affected by local institutions, leadership, corruption, and other such factors. The Kimchi Matters shows that globalization (and events like the Iraq War and the...
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With The Kimchi Matters, Marvin Zonis, Dan Lefkovitz, and Sam Wilkin return discussion of globalization and international relations to first principles. Globalization hype has obscured a few basic truths—that political stability and economic growth are usually determined on the local level, and that they are most affected by local institutions, leadership, corruption, and other such factors. The Kimchi Matters shows that globalization (and events like the Iraq War and the September 11 attacks) makes understanding the political economies of distant countries more important than ever. The book lays out an intuitive framework for making sense of international economic and political developments. Time and again, investors and foreign policymakers have been hurt because they failed to understand the kimchi—the unique local dynamics at work in a particular country or region. Investors, corporations, and everyone else with a stake in international peace, prosperity, and stability should take heed.