How an American Company Prevents War

[ADL Colin]

Thomas Friedman advanced a theory in his New York Times column a few years ago called "The Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention".

What he noticed is that no two countries that both have a McDonald's have fought a war with each other since their first McDonald's was built.

Interesting in and of itself.

[Daymare]

Originally posted by Colin
Thomas Friedman advanced a theory in his New York Times column a few years ago called "The Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention".

What he noticed is that no two countries that both have a McDonald's have fought a war with each other since their first McDonald's was built.

Interesting in and of itself.

Well shit then, all we need is some McDonalds in Iraq and we are saved!! Except for the fact that their burgers would have lice and ants in them.

[ADL Colin]

You mean:

"all Iraq needs is some McDonalds in Iraq and Iraq is saved!!"

;-)

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I really don't like Friedman's thesis.

I think much of the reason behind the effect is that McDonald's chooses to not franchise into
countries that are enemies of the US and hence, with a lot of it's close allies.

McDonald's didn't go into Russia until 1990, for example - well after the Cold War was over. It's not that McDonald's prevents wars but that wars prevent McDonald's.