Globalization seemed poised to rule the world. Instead, it is now under attack by various protectionist and populist forces. We are therefore bound to accept that it was not unavoidable and it is not irreversible, as it is a political choice as opposed to a necessary historical process. Were people promised something that could not be delivered? Is the anger justified? Gianmarco Ottaviano, who holds the Achille and Giulia Boroli chair of European Studies at Bocconi, also addresses the effects of the pandemic and Brexit on globalization and the longstanding issue of whether automation kills jobs.