Hundreds came down that steep street, aimed toward the lovely gray Sound, then simply walked past the imposing line of helmeted police. They stood to mark the line the city hoped to draw, but if you chose to pass, you would not be stopped. It struck me that Schell's strategy was very WTO, removing any barriers to the free exchange of ideas. If we allow everyone to carry out their impulses, unfettered by the fears or values of others, the vigorous exchanges that result will yield the best result for all. For Schell, this suggests a Zen-like policing strategy.
Events disappear more rapidly if the city cooperates.
For the WTO, openness is a rockier road. Critics point to secretive decision-making and the disproportionate power of the U.S. and other developed countries. In only five years, the WTO has grown to include 134 nations. Their global imperative drives this and further expansion. These tendencies have an intriguing corollary in the eagerness of news organizations to find and amplify all events of the day.