Globalization Books

I worry about what can be done about all the problems in the world. This book looks at it from a number of viewpoints and perspectives. It explains how the ordinary people are exploited by others and deprived of democratic rights. It has a lot of good ideas about what to do, and the last chapter is full of resources--other books and websites--if you care where humanity and the environment are going.

I had the opportunity to meet briefly with Professor Jin while vacationing in Beijing and subsequently read her book on "Global Technological Change: From Hard Technology to Soft Technology". Without reservation, this work is highly recommended to anyone working with the human side of technology development and use. In fact, I'm inclined to say that Professor Jin's work is a breakthrough and fills a significant gap that exists in the new global economy. We need a comprehensive theory, set of principles, terminology, framework and model that describes how we create and use technology. More focus needs to be clearly on the "we" or the human dimension.

During the last two or three decades there have been a series of efforts to bring attention to the human dimension of work as it relates to technology advancements. For example, Calvin Pava's work at Harvard with socio-technical analysis provided this perspective for the environment of the knowledge worker. There have also been continuous developments in the discipline of human factors; however, human factors addresses only a specific set of domains and issues. We do need a more generic comprehensive approach. As Professor Jin puts it, we need an approach that addresses "skills, tools and rules that are employed by humans to alter, accommodate and manage nature for human survival and development." To that end, she defines soft technology as the intellectual technology of creation and innovation centered in human thought, ideology, emotion, values, world view, individual and organizational behaviors, as well as in human society."

Professor Jin presents a solid foundation for espousing her work on soft technology. This includes frameworks that have philosophical roots in Chinese culture. I find her use of the harmony and balance dynamics from eastern "yin-yang" philosophy to be extremely useful in the relationship between hard technology and soft technology. This analogy is easily communicated and the resulting framework has enough breadth to expand and structure our views about how we should consider soft technology in the creation of hard technology.

This book is also a must read for people who are doing business in China, especially those involved in research and development. Numerous Chinese examples are provided that relate to the academic basis of soft technology as well as to Chinese business, cultural, and political considerations. Researchers will find the bibliography to be a substantial source for Chinese publications in related disciplines. I would recommend that future editions of the book provide an index for reader convenience. In the effort to accomplish the challenging work of translation, the index may have been overlooked.

Without any doubt Trouillot's book has been reviewed in scholarly journals by his colleagues around the world. They have mounted either learned attacks or heaped learned praise on his work. I never read any such reviews. Though I can call myself "anthropologist" with some justification, I cannot say that I have ever moved in the rarefied atmosphere of ratiocination that surrounds GLOBAL TRANSFORMATIONS. I have not engaged in such debates, perhaps from lack of ability, perhaps also from lack of desire to do so. This book is aimed at the highest level of scholars; it is extremely difficult, but if you discipline yourself to hack through the dense jungle of ideas and verbiage, you will glean a rich harvest of thoughts to consider on a wide variety of topics.

GLOBAL TRANSFORMATIONS discusses the previous and future directions of the field of Anthropology in the light of globalization. It is a strong critique of almost everything that has been done up to the present. Anthropology, says the author, has ignored history to its own peril. Anthropologists have fetishized field work--making it into a ritual beloved for its own sake----and continually tried to describe discreet cultures, rather than link their chosen area or people up to wider processes and trends. Anthropology has been too fascinated with "the Other" a.k.a. the Savage. Trouillot makes a big point of arguing that globalization is hardly new, that it is not just a phenomenon of the 1990s and after, but that in their search for the pure, untrammelled "savage", anthropologists did not acknowledge this. There are so many ideas in this book that it reminds me of a smoker who lights one cigarette with another, a continuous cycle of smoke, a filmy tower of ideas that reach up to the stars. Are they all firmly anchored to the earth ? Maybe, maybe not. While there are occasional concrete examples given in the text, and they are excellent, many times I felt as if I had to take it all on faith, not a style that I relish in anthropology books. Trouillot's criticisms are trenchant and well-argued, they are legion. He manages to disparage nearly everyone and all work done so far. As for work that he approves, only a few minor works seem to get the nod. His arguments cover the relationship between academe and politics too. He delineates two models, a nineteenth century one and one that arose in the 1960s. Saying that both are flawed, he hopes that anthropologists could work out a new "model of engagement" that would better reflect the relationship between political power and academic work. Certainly the relationship between power and
anthropologists has been problematic over the whole time the field has existed.

Arriving at the end of this short work of 139 pages (plus notes)-which took me nearly a month to read---my feeling was that I had been painted into a corner. Which way to turn ? Every action seemed politically naïve or incorrect, if I wanted to describe life in some corner of Indonesia or Uruguay, I would have to relate my writing to the legion of negative forces abroad in this world, to weave my way through a vast minefield of caveats and no-nos. The brilliant mass of ideas in the book produced a great gloom in me; I felt that it would be better to stay home and grow strawberries. But, if anthropology is your field, you can't avoid reading this book. If you are young, perhaps you will have the enthusiasm to work out a way in which Trouillot's critique could be coupled with a plan of action. I should say that though GLOBAL TRANSFORMATIONS had a rather depressing effect on me, it is the most interesting or challenging book that I've read for several years. It made me think---perhaps that's why it depressed me.

If you think international trade and finance can only be viewed in the light of MacDonalds, Starbucks and the Gap, then you might not like this book - stick to your Krugmans and your Salvatores.

However, if you think there is a world outside the United States and that different countries' concerns need to be taken into account, then this book is for you.

Statistically impressive and brilliantly written, this book is the current benchmark for anyone wanting to know about the world economy as a whole.

this is the second best argument I've read on globalization. the best one is Giddens's theorizing. the edge point of Giddens's theory on globalization, for example The Consequences of Modernity, is overarching reach of conception. but he ignored the economic dimension of globalization. upto recent work, Runaway World, he has focused on social and political dimension of globalization. yep. it's the legimate territory of sociology. when his theory is coupled with global village(McLuhan) or global consciousness (Roland Robertson) I think it can be powerful tool to capture the global integration of lifestyle or culture. but isn't the economic impetus the dominant feature of globalization?
on this point, I've relied on world system theory to get the overall picture. but the author pinpoints that theory blurs off the uniqueness of recent phenomenon. the distinction the author makes, of globalization and internationalization, transnationalization is insightful and provocative to me. for it can serve to depict somewhat new phenomenon. he points out the new chracteristics of global economic system like this.
A Global Market Discpline & Principle: Unlike previous international econmic situation, it must be argued that there was global market-place where Licardian international division of labor and international product-service exchange dominated the time. but now since mid 70s, there has been a global market discipline i.e., system. the its concrete content is somewhat standard: Intra-firm trade or integrated international production system, Inter-product trade, intra-product trade. but he systemizes those facts under new conception. for exaple, he use the term ?iscpline to indicate the internalization of cut-throat competition in global market into market participant? code of conduct. this could be the intersection between economic, political and social theory.

This book, which is a compilation of articles from The Economist, is one of the most insightful texts on the mechanics of globalization.

The book is written in the refreshing style of The Economist: concise, factually precise, and opinionated. First, it makes the liberal case for globalization, tracing the benefits of international exchange and competition to the classical economists; and it supports that case with logic and numbers.

Then, one by one, it discusses equity markets, tax policies, global businesses, inequality, aid, the environment, technology and international finance. In the process, this book puts together an impressive collection of facts: it asks the question "what are people saying about globalization" and then evaluates perceptions and prescriptions against data from think-tanks and academics.

This balance between theory and fact makes the book appealing. Globalization could not have a more articulate advocate than The Economist, and this book includes the best articles that have appeared in the magazine; if one had to read only one book on globalization, this should be it.

Mr Appadurai's book "Globalisation", should not be considered a purely "Acedemic" book, which is primarily one of it's most important

functions. This book can & does reach a wider audience of those interested in the social, political & cultural emergence of nostalgia as a way

for us to identify with sentiments of the past & the role the play in the present & the future. The overall communication sentiments of nostalgia

are a form of social manipulation as well as the by product of globalisation which has a very real effect on our society & media throughout the

world, everyday...By suppressing that, which perhaps, we are expected to regret acknowledging as realities in the world. Our present day

"ethos" is one that struggles to distinguish questions of real value & of those that seek to bridle the world & economy towards integrating

markets to meet the expectations of the political & economic powers that we live under.

Mr Appudarai accomplishes this task of exploring the above objectivity by allowing the reader to not only be informed of the manifestations of

globalisation & it's effects but to have us think & question our roles within this emerging system, as the reader.

It is our hope & perhaps even delusion as global citizens that globalisation would mobilize productive & social hybrids that would emancipate

us from our own social subjectivity..When in reality we are doing nothing more than creating the same dependancies & presenting them to

other cultures, sometimes forcefully & at times , disasterous effects.

This book allows us to explore the fabric of all our dependancies, from a micro-& macrocosmic perspective, allowing us to be enriched &

determine for ourselves a little better our role in the "Big" picture. Mr Appudarai presents examples locally & globally which allow the reader

to digest this reality & make suit of what is determined on ones own..It is a informative & exciting read. The research is extensive & unique, the

writing gradual & enjoyable, as well as timely & informative..A book to read & to suggest to those who seek to determine more about the

concept, reality & impact of globalisation.

D. Clayton Brown's Globalization And America Since 1945 provides a book surveying the nature of the international world community since 1945. From the growth of networking and agricultural connections to world economic competition, Globalization And America Since 1945 provides surveys of many different facets of global expansion.

This was great. no trouble buying. Will do it again. Delivery was fast and book in good order as expected.

I think this is a very good book on the subject. Providing quality education is one of the prime objectives for HK. Yet, not all attempts can be termed as successes. This book looks into this area with quite some depth, and provides a history as well as a critical analysis on the situation. Very useful for educators.