Suggested Readings on Globalization

Suggested Readings on Globalization

Richard Nohel

Spring 2007

Listed in no particular order. Annotations provided where some explanation may be necessary or useful.

Friedman, Thomas.

The Lexus and the Olive Tree-Understanding Globalization

First Anchor Books edition 2000

The World is Flat-A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century

Farrar, Strauss and Giroux 2006

Most noteworthy works on the subject that really brought the phenomenon of globalization into the mainstream media I feel that Friedman is simply presenting how things are without a particularly slanted view. However many authors have criticized his work from both the left and the right.(Greg Palast most notably, listed below)

Steger, Manfred. Globalism-The New Market Ideology

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. 2002

Extremely interesting review of the ideological debate surrounding globalization(the process) and globalism(the ideology). Has a good description and analysis of the “Battle of Seattle” protest of the 1999 World Trade Organization meeting.

Stanislaw, Joseph and Yergin, Daniel. The CommandingHeights-The Battle for theWorld Economy

Simon & Schuster-Touchstone 2002

Companion text to the PBS video series which is now somewhat outdated(produced in 1998)

Definitely falls into the conservative camp and very pro-globalization

Mac Gillivray, Alex. A Brief History of Globalization. Carroll and Graf 2006

Unique approach to the subject, ties in well with world history and has an excellent section on cultural aspects of globalization

Palast, Greg. The Best Democracy Money Can Buy-An Investigative Reporter Exposes the Truth about Globalization, Corporate Cons, and High Finance Fraudsters (Bush Family Fortunes-companion DVD)

Pluto Press 2003

Armed Madhouse-Who’s Afraid of Osama Wolf?, China Floats, Bush Sinks, The Scheme to Steal ’08. No Child’s Behind Left, and Other Dispatches for the Front Lines of the Class War

Dutton/Penguin 2006

Palast has the unique perspective of a leftist who studied economics at the University of Chicago with Milton Friedman. He takes on the global aspects of oil politics, terrorism, NAFTA, the “stolen” 2000 and 2004 elections, and the joke that is “No Child Left Behind” with humor and a poignant, and biting sense of urgency. Palast is highly critical of BOTH Clintons.

Mander, Jerry and Goldsmith, Edward editors. The Case Against the Global Economy and FOR a turn toward the local Sierra Club Books 1996

A dated and biased anti-globalization anthology that counters the similarly dated Commanding Heights mentioned above. Very manageable readings from10-20 pages each written on a wide variety of subjects.

Wolf, Martin. Why Globalization Works. YaleUniversity Press 2004

Historical analysis of globalization with an examination of the economics and politics of the global market economy. A lot of good data and interesting take on the future.

Fishman, Charles. The Wal-Mart Effect-How the World’s Most Powerful Company Really Works and How It’s Transforming the American Economy. Penguin Press 2006

A truly amazing and thorough study that examines every aspect in which Wal-Mart has a hand in the American(and the world) economy. Also recommended: “Is Wal-Mart Good for America?” PBS Frontline video from 2004

Corsi, Jerome R. and Smith, Craig R.. Black Gold Stranglehold-The Myth of Scarcity and the Politics of Oil. Cumberland House Publishing 2005

A fascinating yet annoying book that proposes(quite convincingly) that oil IS NOT a non-renewable resource nor is it a FOSSIL FUEL, nor is it scarce. The problem with this book is it’s conclusion that: 1) Hubbert’s Peak(theory posited in the 1950s that we would run out of oil sometime early this century) is NOT somehow a reflection that big oil wanted us to believe oil was scarce. [the authors conveniently leave out the fact that Hubbert worked for Shell Oil] 2) The authors immediately blame environmentalists and the global warming hysteria for limiting oil exploration and increased refining operations while completely ignoring big oil’s collusion with the political elite to maximize profit and play into the hands of OPEC. 3) Hugo Chavez(Venezuelan president) is exclusively a villain because he stood up to the US and is a leftist-referring to him several times as a “narcotrafficker”. If this interests you, read selected sections from Armed Madhouse mentioned above that discuss Hubbert and Hugo Chavez and the Bush-Saudi connection.

Kamdar, Mira. Planet India-How the Fastest Growing Democracy is Transforming America and the World. Scribner 2007

An extremely detailed look at the emerging giant that is the Indian economy and how it is intimately connected to the U.S.. However Kamdar goes beyond simple economics to discuss some truly remarkable things going on inside India such as a new growing sense of corporate responsibility to empower and better the Indian under classes. A provocative text that is easily accessed and useful for economics, world studies or geography.

Faux, Geoffrey P.. The Global Class War- How America’ Bipartisan Elite lost our future-- and what it will take to win it back. Wiley 2006

A very left-leaning although not the least bit sympathetic take on the events of the 1980s-2000s. Some of the sections are: NAFTA : class reunion -- "Good jobs" and other global deceptions -- The governing class: America's worst-kept secret -- How Reagan and Thatcher stole globalization -- A bipartisan empire -- Alan, Larry, and Bob save the privileged -- NAFTA : who got what? -- The constitution according to Davos -- America abandoned -- After the fall -- Imagining North America -- Towards, and beyond, a continental democracy. His ideas about a continental democracy are quite interesting and thought provoking.