News Release

September 8, 2003

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The Cato Institute, The Nation, A World Connected and The American Prospect Host Online Globalization Symposium

WASHINGTON--Cancun, Mexico's four-day World Trade Organization ministerial meeting and the anticipated throngs of protesting demonstrators won't have a monopoly on lively trade debate this week. Back in Washington, D.C., four organizations that range across the political spectrum will join forces to launch an online symposium on Globalization and Trade on September 9, the eve of the WTO talks in Mexico.

"Given all the media coverage and protest these kinds of high-level trade talks generate, we thought it would be productive to sponsor a forum where experts from differing viewpoints could exchange real ideas -- a place to have a debate, instead of an argument," said David Boaz, executive vice president of the Cato Institute.

Two dueling experts -- Robert Kuttner, founder and co-editor of The American Prospect and Johan Norberg, author of the new Cato Institute book, In Defense of Global Capitalism -- will engage in a daily, point-counterpoint online debate for the duration of the WTO meetings.

The cyber-debates will feature a unique section titled, "Globalization and World Capitalism: A Debate." It will spotlight essays by nationally known advocates on economics, prosperity, and the elimination of poverty, including Milton and Rose Friedman, Tom Hayden, Brink Lindsey, Jeff Faux, Johan Norberg, Robert Kuttner, Benjamin Barber, Walter Williams, Jim Hightower, Ronald Bailey and Amy Chua.

The virtual symposium is intended to encourage public discussion of -- and interest in -- the vital issues being thrashed about during the WTO's four days of talks.

Starting September 9, the essays and debate will be appear on the websites of the The Cato Institute, The American Prospect, and A World Connected.

The Nation is also sponsoring the event, but not hosting the essays on its website.