Starbucks Won the Battle of Seattle. Did the Protesters Win the War?
Summary
Starbucks, once a symbol of globalization targeted during the 1999 Seattle WTO protests, is now closing about 250 stores in North America as it shifts to a more local, neighborhood feel. Anthony Scaramucci, who opposed the protesters in 1999, now believes their warnings about globalization’s impacts were correct.Key Facts
- Starbucks was a major target during the 1999 Seattle protests against the World Trade Organization.
- The protests included tens of thousands of people, including unions, environmentalists, and students.
- Protesters wanted companies like Starbucks to operate more fairly, such as selling fair-trade coffee.
- Starbucks expanded rapidly for years but is now closing hundreds of stores to improve customer experience.
- Anthony Scaramucci, a financial expert and former Trump White House communications director, initially opposed the protesters’ views.
- Scaramucci now believes the protesters foresaw problems with globalization that Wall Street ignored.
- In 1999, President Bill Clinton supported open trade but acknowledged concerns about labor and environment.
- The article shows how the way large companies operate and public attitudes toward globalization have changed over 27 years.
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