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Summary: This Book Shows That Another Way IS Possible!
Review: A friend of mine who is involved with Rabbi Michael Lerner's Tikkun Community movement recently gave me a copy of Alternatives to Economic Globalization: A Better World is Possible. I'm not an expert in this field at all, but I found the book worthwhile and very accessible. (So accessible that I read the entire thing in a week!) The writers include Jerry Mander, David Korten, Lori Wallach, and many people working around the world in the anti-globalization movement. What makes the book really important is the positive solutions and alternatives offered. The authors offer real ways to put into practice the Tikkun Community's first and second core principles (interdependence and ecological sanity, and a new bottom line in economic and social institutions). I think other Tikkun readers, progressive-Democrats, Green party members, and thoughtful people everywhere---who want to see the world change from how it is now to how it could be---would want to read a book outlining specifics of how to create sustainable energy, transportation and food systems. And Alternatives to Economic Globalization does just that. I can't recommend this book enough (in fact I've already bought several copies to give to some of my friends).
Rating:
Summary: This Book Shows That Another Way IS Possible!
Review: An impressive treatise that is both comprehensive and detailed in its coverage, and practical in its idealogies towards an economic model that is ethical yet beneficial to all. Far from being just a "lefty" manifesto, this is a thoroughly researched piece that was compiled by a group of the best and brightest thinkers in the arena of economic reform worldwide.
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Summary: Outstanding!
Review: An impressive treatise that is both comprehensive and detailed in its coverage, and practical in its idealogies towards an economic model that is ethical yet beneficial to all. Far from being just a "lefty" manifesto, this is a thoroughly researched piece that was compiled by a group of the best and brightest thinkers in the arena of economic reform worldwide.
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Summary: Tiresome Trash
Review: Any one with a modicum of knowledge in economic would find this book laughable. The leftist idoits make no new points, moreover, they lack a basic understanding of economics. Globalization and free trade are the future of the world, you can accept that and grow rich, or go protectionist and become poor. Examples, Hong Kong, after WW2, chosse to become an open free maket nation, it know has GDP per Capita greater then the UK, India however, chosse to become protectionist and know is a third world hell hole, with GDP per capita is three digit range.
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Summary: Essential reading on globalization
Review: Drafted by a committee of 19 (but sufficiently well edited to read as if it were written by a single author) this book provides a well-argued, detailed and wide-ranging analysis of the consequences of economic globalization (the term corporate globalization is also extensively used in the book) and an examination of alternatives and the action required to move towards those alternatives. It has succeeded brilliantly, and deserves very close study, whether or not you agree with the drafting committee's views. This is no extremist anti-corporate, anti-capitalist text, although it does clearly come to the conclusion that the vector of economic globalisation that we are on is neither inevitable, desirable nor sustainable. It is notable for arguing at the level of underlying principles and their practical consequences - it makes explicit the assumptions underlying corporate globalisation and questions them. This, in itself, is a valuable service as so much of the 'debate' in the media proceeds on the basis of bald assertion of essentially fallacious economic dogma. The report starts with a critique of 'corporate globalization'. The term itself is useful, because the term 'globalization' has become something of a 'Humpty-Dumpty' word ('when I use a word, it means exactly what I want it to mean, neither more nor less'). 'Corporate globalization' describes a process driven and promoted by the large global corporations which, whatever its other consequences, gives primacy to the benefits that will flow to global business. The critique identifies eight key features of corporate globalization: 1. 'Promotion of hypergrowth and unrestricted exploitation of environmental resources to fuel that growth
2. Privatization and commodification of public services and of remaining aspects of the global and community commons
3. Global cultural and economic homogenization and the intense promotion of consumerism
4. Integration and conversion of national economies, including some that were largely self-reliant, to environmentally and socially harmful export oriented production
5. Corporate deregulation and unrestricted movement of capital across borders
6. Dramatically increased corporate concentration
7. Dismantling of public health, social, and environmental programs already in place
8. Replacement of traditional powers of democratic nation-states and local communities by global corporate bureaucracies.' It demonstrates each of these propositions and explores who are the beneficiaries of application of these policies. One of the complexities of trying to follow the arguments of the pro- and anti- globalisers is that both use statistics, both from apparently authoritative sources, that directly contradict each other. It is almost as if the two sides inhabit parallel universes that operate in different ways. Suffice it to say that the report puts forward convincing arguments in support of its case. The critique proceeds to a devastating analysis of the impact of the World Bank, The IMF and the WTO, the three pillars of corporate globalisation, over the last four or five decades. The report then argues ten principles for sustainable societies, as a basis for identifying ways of realising these principles in the subsequent chapters of the report. It argues that these principles 'seem to be the mirror opposites of the principles that drive the institutions of the corporate global economy.'. One of the minor problems in the debate is that, whereas 'globalization' rolls easily off the tongue, 'the principle of subsidiarity' is neither easy to say nor obvious in its meaning. The report contains a chapter on the case for subsidiarity, and it is a strong one. The counter argument is almost entirely concerned with power. While there are many elements of conflict between corporate globalisation and the principle of subsidiarity - local control - they are not entirely antithetical. But the reach of the large corporates would unquestionably be reduced. You may or may not agree with the arguments in this report, but they deserve serious attention. They are well and carefully argued, they represent (in fairly sophisticated terms) the views of a growing number of people around the world who believe that current beliefs and institutions serve them poorly, and they show those who wish to promote change a path for doing so.
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Summary: The core is hollow
Review: If this book represents the views of the anti-globalization "movement", then the movement is nothing more than regurgitated Luddite socialism. The authors have a romanticized view of subsistence farming and believe it should be promoted, its past association with famine and poverty escape mention. Trade per se, is an evil that should be discouraged in place of protectionism. Again there is a selective reading of history, the hyperinflation and instability associated with populism and protectionism gets no mention. Even when they toss out some laudable ideas about alternative energy sources, they oversell its virtues. Far worse is the outright disingenuousness of the authors. They drag out the tired canard that less developed nations were "forced" to open up and globalize. No nation was forced to lower trade barriers or join the WTO, they did so because they wanted access to foreign markets and credit, for better or worse. This is a phony argument because otherwise the authors would be forced to admit there are nations that are following their prescription: Zimbabwe, Cuba, Venezuela and perhaps soon Bolivia, to name a few. In truth they don't have a successful or worthwhile recipe for an alternative to the alleged evils of capitalism. It would be wonderful is some nation would anoint itself as the model alternative, all they have to do is close their economy from the rest of world. It would be interesting to watch, if you're lucky enough not to be a resident.
Rating:
Summary: The core is hollow
Review: If this book represents the views of the anti-globalization "movement", then the movement is nothing more than regurgitated Luddite socialism. The authors have a romanticized view of subsistence farming and believe it should be promoted, its past association with famine and poverty escape mention. Trade per se, is an evil that should be discouraged in place of protectionism. Again there is a selective reading of history, the hyperinflation and instability associated with populism and protectionism gets no mention. Even when they toss out some laudable ideas about alternative energy sources, they oversell its virtues. Far worse is the outright disingenuousness of the authors. They drag out the tired canard that less developed nations were "forced" to open up and globalize. No nation was forced to lower trade barriers or join the WTO, they did so because they wanted access to foreign markets and credit, for better or worse. This is a phony argument because otherwise the authors would be forced to admit there are nations that are following their prescription: Zimbabwe, Cuba, Venezuela and perhaps soon Bolivia, to name a few. In truth they don't have a successful or worthwhile recipe for an alternative to the alleged evils of capitalism. It would be wonderful is some nation would anoint itself as the model alternative, all they have to do is close their economy from the rest of world. It would be interesting to watch, if you're lucky enough not to be a resident.
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Summary: Essential reading
Review: The authors of this incisive book issue a timely and essential wake-up call to all those who consider economic globalisation to be a positive, inevitable and irreversible process. The authors' clear and articulate arguments illustrate the extent to which a small rich and powerful corporate elite have pulled the wool over the eyes of the rest of us in selling a corporate model of global trade built on the poverty and suffering of the majority of the world's people. The book outlines a comprehensive and coherent alternative vision of a more just and sustainable world that is hard to argue with. Prepare to be both informed and inspired to campaign for a fairer world!
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Summary: recommended by anarchist grad student at snobby grad school
Review: This book is excellent for all those who think we can do better-that small farmers needn't be driven from the land, our water needn't be polluted, people need not go hungry while others are overfed genetically engineered chemically altered junk food, etc. It has great thinkers presenting clear, well thought out ideas about what's wrong and what we can do about it. It helps when getting in that classic argument of keynesianism/communism v. neoliberalism because it outlines the thrid alternative very well. I am a grad student and I used it for a paper i wrote recently refuting neoliberalism and it was very helpful. I highly recommend it! Also, look into Maria Mies. She is the anti-capitalist-patriarchy bomb, yo.
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Summary: Preaching to the converted
Review: This is a very important book that lays out workable solutions to the worst aspects of globalization. And it's nice to read a book that not only offers hope and solutions, but that goes beyond the 101 primers about globalization that are widely available. This book assumes you already know some of the issues and the problems that they create.
The downside to this is that it's unlikely to be a book read by the people who most need to read it. While the information is laid out clearly, it's not very readable; at times, it's even pretty dry. Personally, I would have found more examples helpful both in terms of illustrating the points and in giving a human face to the problems and their solutions. It's one thing to know how Monsanto is shutting down x-number of family farms; it would be another thing entirely to hear the story of a farmer who lost his livelihood due to a ridiculous Monsanto lawsuit.
So while it's nice to find something on the subject that's more challenging to read, I do wish it's something that the general public would be inclined to pick up and feel inspired by. The Forum has very, very important things to say about the future of work, the environment, and human life, but I'm afraid, given the format and style, that they're likely preaching to the converted.
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