Globalization in 'Pattern Recognition'

The novel is essentially about nations in transition during the advent of the 21st century. The authors descriptive nature of Russia, Japan and England in a world becoming steadily unitary, is a commentary on the effects of Globalization in the wake of the Cold War. Cayce Pollard's commentary on the proliferation of American brands like Starbucks and Pepis in countries such as Russia, serves as William Gibson's critique of Globalization. Cayce's observations of the expansion of brands (essentially the expansion of America) into previously denied areas, tend to be peppered with negative language, for example, the phrase 'mirror world' that Cayce routinely employs when describing a product. William Gibson does decry the pitfalls of old world systems like communism, but he also offers an evenhanded review of the price of
Globalization.

The author uses Cayce Pollard as a witness to negatives and positives of Globalization while using her father's stories of the old world as a comparative perspective. When exploring East Berlin in the subsequent months after the fall of Berlin 'she'd come very close to weeping, appalled at the manifest cruelty, not to mention sheer boneheaded stupidity of what she'd seen, and had been moved to call Win in Tenessee (270).' Win's memories are William Gibson's conclusion of the end result of Soviet reign, but it contrasts heavily to the corruption that Cayce views in modern Russia. Cayce's rides in the Mercedes with blue flashing lights that allow the rich owner's to circumvent traffic laws for a price, is an example of corruption being a product of unchecked Capitalism.

William Gibson portrays countries as steadily becoming unitary in nature, but he also describes the subtle differences of 'mirror-world' from nation to nation. Cayce's observation of an upscale Russian coffee resturant showcases this:

'If there were visible logos on the clothes these people are wearing, she'd be in trouble. Lots of Prada, Gucci, but in a Moneyed Bohemian modality too off-the-shelf for London or New York. LA, she realizes: except for two goth girls in black brocade, and a boy gotten up in impeccable High Grunge, it's Rodeo Drive with an extra helping of cheekbones (284).'

Cayce is nauseated by the excess proliferation of high end clothing brands among the excessively wealthy Russian upper class. However, she acknowledges the Slavic flavor of 'extra helping of cheekbones' to th Prada and Gucci mix. The conclusion is that Russia may have a Rodeo Drive, but it is a Russian Rodeo drive.