which took place at
             the turn of the twentieth century. This new phase is characterized by the
             speedy mass movement of information, information technologies, and fluid
             finances and is not dependent on raw materials or manufacturing as it once
             was. Thus, in the modern economy, any nation can choose to be wealthy
             simply by participating in free trade on the common market. Moreover, the
             introduction establishes one of Friedman's key historical anchors:
             throughout The Lexus and the Olive Tree, Friedman refers to the Cold War as
             a historical marker and turning point. The author continually contrasts the
             Cold War system of walls and insularity with the globalizing forces of
             transparency and flexibility as well as integration, symbolized and
             The title of the book comes from Friedman's comparison of the forces
             of technological and economic growth with the forces of tradition and
             culture. The Lexus represents the quest for modernizati
             ...