Sunday 29 June 2008

Emerge

Ah well.

Just a few days ago, it seemed that Turkey or Russia might have had a chance of winning Euro 08. It was not to be, although Turkey of course deserve the greater sympathy for the way they played against the mighty Germans. I didn't see the other game, but Russia's performance was, by all accounts, somewhat disappointing. We at work had thought we would go for a meal to celebrate the end of the tournament, and eat at a restaurant of the winning nation's cuisine. On Friday we decided we would go to a Spanish restaurant, whatever the outcome.

But, all that aside, the possibility of Russia or Turkey winning the tournament set me to thinking about the term 'emerging markets' and all that it implies.

In my mind's eye, when I hear the term, I see:

a dinosaur breaking free from its shell

an imago (I love this word. I also love the Wikipedia entry: "the last stage of development of an insect, after the last ecdysis of an incomplete metamorphosis." Isn't that fantastic?) transforming into a beautiful butterfly

the spreading of civilisation to a savage land, just like when the West was won

an island slowly rising from the sea of non-market stuff all around

There is the assumption that somehow the market is bringing its modernising force to bear on the backward tribes of large parts of the world, where they are not yet fortunate enough to be able to experience the joys of sponsorship, branding and movie tie-ins. It is a new kind of Mission, with a new kind of Bible. The Great Commission of Wall Street.

The cultural corruption it brings could in fact be said to be far worse than the previous mission, which is still continuing in any case. How revolting it all is.

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