Chicken McNuggets: McDonald's and Globalization

On June 4th, 1981, David Letterman said on the Tonight Show, "It's June 1981 and the year is just about half over, and I believe that, regardless of what happens from here on out, historians will recount 1981 as the year McDonald's introduced Chicken McNuggets." This iconic fast-food item from McDonald's was developed by Keystone Foods in the late 70s. After a trial launch in '81, they were released worldwide in 1983.

Chicken McNuggets were a hit around the world, and with good reason. They were boneless, easy to eat, and easy to dip in any person's favorite sauce. Letterman did also say, "Let’s assume for a minute that there is a portion of the chicken anatomy that can accurately be described as nuggets. Is this something you want to eat, huh?” That said, McDonald's Chicken McNuggets became immensely popular.

Also, McDonald's played a key role in the globalization of the late twentieth century. In 1990, the chain opened a store in Pushkin Square, Moscow. This was, without a doubt, a symbolic moment between the US and Russia at the end of the Cold War. More than 30,000 Russian citizens went to that McDonald's just on opening day.

Between 1988 and 1996, McDonald's doubled the amount of restaurants. There were 20,000 stores by 1996. By 2000, McDonald's had 11,000 stores outside of the United States. Today, there are over 37,000 McDonald's franchises around the world. This international expansion shows the huge spread of United States culture. This increased international influence is a process known as globalization.

Globalization is a quite controversial issue; some argue that it is best not to interfere or push into other countries, while others argue that it is beneficial and good for others.

Looking at the positives of globalization, it can boost the global economy. It represents free trade, which can create jobs, increase competition, and lower prices for consumers. Proponents of globalization also argue that investing foreign capital and technology allows other nations to be more prosperous and democratic. This, however, is quite idealistic and falls short in real-world applications of globalization.

Those who oppose globalization say that it makes the rich richer and the poor poorer, which is true in many cases. Managers and investors thrive while workers struggle. Opponents also argue that globalization leads to an exploitation of labor and it, in many ways, resembles colonialism.

Nevertheless, McDonald's has been widely successful and it remains the largest fast-food corporation today. As a side note, Chicken McNuggets come in four different shapes: bone, bell, boot, and ball. These were specifically designed to make dipping easier and more effective.

Sources:
https://www.everything80spodcast.com/chicken-mcnuggets/
https://www.thestreet.com/markets/history-of-mcdonalds-15128096
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikecollins/2015/05/06/the-pros-and-cons-of-globalization/#4df6487bccce
https://www.statista.com/statistics/219454/mcdonalds-restaurants-worldwide/
https://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/ib/2008/053008.htm
https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/about-us/history.html