Globalism enters its second phase

A case in the California state court brought by 15 Myanmar villagers could lead to a shake-up in the rules governing multinational companies operating in underdeveloped democracies

This column has noted many times the close of an era called Globalism I and the gradual emergence of another, better-managed process called Globalism II. A California state court is about to hear a case where 15 Myanmar villagers claim their human rights were abused while working on a Unocal venture. The Unocal case may drag on for who knows how long but already has the whiff of a relic about it. Claims of forced labour? Burmese soldiers kidnapping workers and raping some of them along the way? What century is this? Late in the last one, it turns out. A venture comprised of Unocal, Tota...