A conversation with Blair Sheppard, the new dean of Duke Fuqua School of Business(6)

2007-02-13 15:23:52 Zong Xing[ Big Normal Small ]

　　S: I have read a book entitled “The Pentagon’s New Map.” In that book, the author essentially shows a geographic representation of all the military skirmishes of recent decades. If you look at where all those military clashes have taken place, what do those areas have in common? They are not involved in the global economy. War is occurring in the countries where global trade isn’t happening. So my argument is that, the single best thing that can happen in the world right now is China buying American firms. Because that means we will not fight, and the reason we won’t fight is for China to attack the United States, it must attack its own asset base. If the U.S. is attacking China, then it means it attacks its own asset. Why would we kill our own assets?

　　So the answer to the first part is for security reasons. Because I care whether my grandchildren live in a peaceful world. Secondly, I used to swim competitively, and the best thing that happens to a swimmer is that you have a competitor in the lane beside you. If there is no competitor, then you would not improve your times. For me, it was the knowledge that I was going to have to swim adjacent to someone that made me want to swim faster. The U.S. is better because China exists. The reason why the U.S. is better off is because our education is losing its edge, our companies were competing with each other in oligarchies. Now my son has to study hard, and that’s a good thing. So as long as the race is fair, it is a very good thing. It is going to make it better, not worse. Lastly, how can we claim that raising the overall welfare of the world is not a good thing?
　　
　　Now I understand that transition is hard. Certain people in certain industries are going to lose their jobs. I understand some people are going to worry that Chinese management principles will insinuate themselves into American practice. I guess my question is, what gives anyone the right to decide what gets integrated and what doesn’t? Just think about the United States’ success. The success of the United States has come from the integration of the best ideas from all around the world. It’s what made the U.S. great in the first place. Let’s take the best ideas all over the world, the best attributes of all cultures.

　　Z: Thank you, blair, for sharing these insightful ideas with me.

　　S: You are very welcome. It is my great pleasure.
　　the author would like to thank Christian Privett from Duke Fuqua communication office for his help