The Retreat of the State : The Diffusion of Power in the World Economy (Cambridge Studies in International Relations)

Rating:
Summary: Recent past performance is no indication of future outcomes
Review: Susan Strange offers an excellently argued understanding of how the recent emphasis on national and global market forces has ham-strung political actors. However, as recent events in Russia and S.E. Asia have shown, political actors may still have the upper hand. While the book is marvelously presented, its thesis places too much emphasis on the here and now in its efforts to understand the future of political systems. My three star rating belies the great joy that this book must bring to economists who gain an opportunity to see the world as their domain.