Hundredweights, fathoms and rods safe from grasping Eurocrats

As globalization accelerates, some fear most things will take on a depressing sameness. English is becoming the world’s language, the dollar is a de facto world currency, and American celebrities’ antics are inescapable as a global lowest common denominator. But, in measurements at least, the world will continue to preserve some variety for culture’s sake. ...

602005_070509_ruler_05.jpg
602005_070509_ruler_05.jpg

As globalization accelerates, some fear most things will take on a depressing sameness. English is becoming the world's language, the dollar is a de facto world currency, and American celebrities' antics are inescapable as a global lowest common denominator. But, in measurements at least, the world will continue to preserve some variety for culture's sake. So one can infer from the EU Commission's decision to spare what the British still call the "imperial" system of measurements from the bureaucrats' ax. Plans had been to ban use of the units by 2009.

As globalization accelerates, some fear most things will take on a depressing sameness. English is becoming the world’s language, the dollar is a de facto world currency, and American celebrities’ antics are inescapable as a global lowest common denominator. But, in measurements at least, the world will continue to preserve some variety for culture’s sake. So one can infer from the EU Commission’s decision to spare what the British still call the “imperial” system of measurements from the bureaucrats’ ax. Plans had been to ban use of the units by 2009.

The British will now be permitted for the foreseeable future to print measurements in their beloved miles, gallons, and pounds (along side the metric units that the EU has required be printed for some time). And the United States has been saved from being one of only three countries to make extensive use of the system—along with economic powerhouses Liberia and Burma. 

More from Foreign Policy

A photo illustration shows Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden posing on pedestals atop the bipolar world order, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Russian President Vladamir Putin standing below on a gridded floor.
A photo illustration shows Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden posing on pedestals atop the bipolar world order, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Russian President Vladamir Putin standing below on a gridded floor.

No, the World Is Not Multipolar

The idea of emerging power centers is popular but wrong—and could lead to serious policy mistakes.

A view from the cockpit shows backlit control panels and two pilots inside a KC-130J aerial refueler en route from Williamtown to Darwin as the sun sets on the horizon.
A view from the cockpit shows backlit control panels and two pilots inside a KC-130J aerial refueler en route from Williamtown to Darwin as the sun sets on the horizon.

America Prepares for a Pacific War With China It Doesn’t Want

Embedded with U.S. forces in the Pacific, I saw the dilemmas of deterrence firsthand.

The Chinese flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics at Beijing National Stadium on Feb. 4, 2022.
The Chinese flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics at Beijing National Stadium on Feb. 4, 2022.

America Can’t Stop China’s Rise

And it should stop trying.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looks on prior a meeting with European Union leaders in Mariinsky Palace, in Kyiv, on June 16, 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looks on prior a meeting with European Union leaders in Mariinsky Palace, in Kyiv, on June 16, 2022.

The Morality of Ukraine’s War Is Very Murky

The ethical calculations are less clear than you might think.