"Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent that the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it." -- George Orwell
Globalization has significantly changed the nature of American politics forging a new generational paradigm.
How America proceeds in this new environment is unknown.
With an endless news cycle, a continuous flow of global trade, protectionist laws, and committed geopolitical powers, American politics is being shaped from many directions and far beyond America's shores.
Decisions made in Beijing now influence actions in Brussels, which then compel policy in Washington, DC.
The ability to manage this dynamic, geopolitical business environment, coupled with an underlying cultural phenomenon rejecting the establishment, makes this new environment more challenging for American government officials, policymakers, voters, and CEOs of multinational companies.
The pace has increased for addressing political challenges, and the number of problems has expanded due to a globally diverse network of stakeholders.
American voters have spoken and demanded a more significant share of the profits.
The traditional capitalist ideal of being responsible solely to shareholders is gone.
Capitalism now involves numerous stakeholders, including governments, media, bloggers, consumers, non-governmental organizations, investors, employees, and citizens.
For Chief Communications Officers with global responsibility, simply put, many more people will hold you accountable and want a say in your business.
The best communicators will be able to grasp the intersection of history, politics, geography, culture, and economics to achieve their business objectives.
The best communicators will be skilled at geopolitical business intelligence to achieve their business objectives.
The best communicators will be able to consume the Financial Times and Vanity Fair in equal parts.
The best communicators will be able to advise New York City boardrooms and speak with Las Vegas political activists.
The best communicators will be able to seek outside expertise that is free of internal politics and which can serve as an independent sounding board.
Globalization has significantly changed the nature of American politics forging a new generational paradigm, a paradigm that the best communications can successfully influence and shape.
-Marc
