These top ten forces primarily focus on technology and business. Do they overlook cultural and political factors?

Hey, you've really hit the nail on the head! This is indeed a classic point of discussion after reading The World is Flat.

Your observation is spot on. The "ten forces" Thomas Friedman highlights are indeed predominantly centered around technological innovation and business practices. Examples include the spread of the internet, the rise of workflow software, outsourcing, offshoring, supply chains, and so on.

So, does this mean he ignores culture and politics?

You can think of it like this:

1. Not Ignored, Just a Different Focus

You can picture these ten "flatteners" Friedman describes as ten enormous bulldozers.

The primary job of these "bulldozers" is to flatten the obstacles that historically hindered global collaboration—things like geographical distance, information barriers, and cost gaps. Naturally, then, these forces are inherently geared towards technology (connecting information) and business (reducing costs). They are the "engine" and "tools" reshaping the world's landscape.

But this doesn't mean he completely ignores culture and politics. More accurately, he sees culture and politics as two things these "bulldozers" encounter while flattening the world:

The Terrain (Culture)
The Rules (Politics)

2. Culture is the "Terrain"

Culture is like the soil composition of the land itself.

Some places have soft, yielding soil—think of cultures that are cognitively open, embrace new things, and have languages easily bridging gaps. When the bulldozer rolls through, it smooths over quickly, enabling very smooth global collaboration.
Some places are hard bedrock—cultures with deep traditional roots, a strong sense of identity, or even an element of exclusiveness. Pushing the bulldozer through here is tough work; sparks fly, and sometimes it has to detour.

For instance, why did outsourcing take off so successfully in India? Beyond just cost factors, the prevalence of English (a cultural aspect) and adaptability to Western business culture were crucial "soft soil" advantages. Conversely, in some countries, even if labor costs are very low, immense cultural barriers make it almost impossible for this "bulldozer" to operate effectively.

So, Friedman doesn't ignore culture; he views it as the "friction coefficient" affecting the "flattening" process. Culture dictates the speed, depth, and manner in which the world gets flattened.

3. Politics is the "Rules"

Politics acts like the "urban planner" and "traffic cop" of this landscape.

It can erect roadblocks and toll booths for the bulldozers. Governments, for example, can artificially create barriers through protectionism, high tariffs, strict market entry restrictions, internet censorship—all of which make the world "bumpy" again. China's "Great Firewall" is a prime example, essentially building a massive wall across what should be a flat internet plain.
It can also build freeways for the bulldozers. Governments can enhance the smoothness and efficiency of globalization by signing free trade agreements, investing in public education, easing visa policies, and protecting intellectual property rights.

So, political forces directly determine whether the "bulldozers" are allowed in, and how fast they can operate.

To Summarize

So, your feeling is correct. The core of Friedman's theory is indeed driven by technology and business. This has led some critics to label him a "technological determinist," arguing he was overly optimistic, seemingly believing that with the right technology and business models in place, the world would naturally flatten—an oversimplification that ignores complexity.

A more comprehensive picture looks like this:

The ten forces are the "tools" responsible for leveling the ground; while culture and politics are the "terrain" and "rules," determining just how level the ground can become, how fast it happens, and who thrives on this leveled plain once the work is done.

Hope this explanation helps!