The sudden surge of activism confounds many. A decade ago, free trade seemed almost unassailable, with only labor unions vocally opposed. But if the U.S. economy is suffering from too much free trade, it's hard to discern the symptoms. The rest of the world economy doesn't seem to be making out too badly, either. Eight rounds of trade liberalization since the founding of GATT in 1947 have cut major industrial nations' tariffs on manufactured goods by 90 percent, helping trade grow 14-fold worldwide.
Cynics say students and activists have no other issues to protest.
Perhaps, but others point out that, with the end of the Cold War, there is no common enemy, no overriding logic to a system pulling together free nations. Meanwhile, the Internet provides a powerful gathering place for protesters and a free forum for disseminating views. As the trade coalition has grown from 23 GATT members in 1948 to 134 WTO members today, with 33 others applying to join, the disputes have also grown more contentious. Many people also feel left behind or threatened by globalization. Mike Morrill of People's Global Action, an international group dedicated to fighting globalization, lives in Reading, Pa., where the steel and textile mills have closed and the most promising industries are landfills, private prisons, and retail factory outlets.