The Journal of Globalization Studies Is a New International Journal Distinguished by Its

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Editorial

Editorial

The Journal of Globalization Studies is a new international journal distinguished by its focus on the systemic aspects of globalization processes in particular political, economic, geographic, social, cultural and historical contexts. However, why do we need
a new journal on globalization?

Indeed, there are a number of journals dealing with globalization problems. However,the growing complexity, increasing interrelatednessbetween all countries and recurrent economic and political crises that have global repercussions demand new approaches. This requires a wider range of views than is usually found in other globalization journals. In particular, we believe that seeking perspectives that cross organizational, geographic and cultural boundaries may aid in reducing misunderstandings and diminish the negative aspects of globalization. The present financial crisis has only emphasized the need both to develop local solutions in a global environment and at the same timeto search for global solutions to common problems. New approaches are required that demonstrate an appreciation of the ‘local’ in particular political, economic, social, cultural and geographic contexts, while simultaneously promoting effective change in response to pressing global issues.

The Journal of Globalization Studies provides a multi-faceted analysis of globalization that is based on the understandings of authors working in both Western and non-Western traditions. We believe that current events such as the global financial crisis illustrate that discussion should not be limited to particular geographic regions or narrowly-defined methods of analysis. We intend to co-operate with scholars from many different countries; we intend to provide visions of global processes from both the developed and developing countries, including those in Africa, Asia, Latin America, East and Central Europe, Russia and the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The Journal of Globalization Studies builds on previous research and a sharing of perspectives by the four editors – two from Russia and one each from New Zealand and the USA. The idea for the journal came from the Russian editors – but why? Russia is
a place where Western and non-Western ideas and cultural processes have been meeting for centuries. In this respect Russia is a suitable country for the establishment of a journal with the aims outlined above.

In summary, the special character of the Journal of Globalization Studies is that it provides for a broad international and multicultural forum on issues associated with globalization, including the impact of globalization on particular cultural-geographic regions. The journal invites all students of globalization to enrich the discussion by presenting their perspectives.

Globalization is a very broad concept not only with respect to the diversity of regions, cultures, and actors, but also with respect to the diversity of analytical approaches that can be employed to study it. We are striving to cover various aspects and dimensions of globalization, to see both its local and its global manifestations.

We attempt to initiate this discussion with the first issue of our journal in which we consider the main dimensions of globalization (its political, economic, humanitarian andhistorical dimensions), though, of course, these dimensions are not the only ones impacted by, or through which, globalization may be studied. We have also started a ‘Philosophies of Globalization’ section where the very plural form of philosophies suggests that there is no single globalization philosophy; rather, there are diverse opinions on globalization from both itsadvocates andopponents that should be given a hearing.

From our perspective, globalization studies imply research that is not just limited to the most popular spheres of economic and political globalization, but also includes the study of global problems such as climatic change, cultural globalization, and so on. These aspects are also discussed in the present issue to a certain degree.

In general, the themes of our journal include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Theory of globalization;
• Global problems of modernity;
• Formal models of globalization processes;
• Futurological aspects of global studies; global dynamic forecasts etc.;
• Economic, scientific-technical, social, political, ecological, cultural, ethnic, religious and other aspects of globalization;
• Local solutions in a global environment;
• Analysis of problems of non-Western and Western states in the context of global processes;
• Global economic crises;
• Impact of electronic media on globalization;
• Impact of globalization on the development of information systems;
• Philosophical aspects of globalization;
• Global history and the processes of globalization in the past;
• Human problems in the light of problems of globalization;
• Civilizations and globalization;
• Impact of globalization on social relationships and human psychology within particular geographic and cultural contexts.

We hope that the new journal will make a tangible contribution to the development of globalization studies, to the improvement of mutual understanding between various cultures and societies of our unique global planet.

Introduction to the First Issue

The first section provides an historical and retrospective account of globalization. William R. Thompsonpoints out that how we make sense of world politics andepisodes of accelerated globalization depend on our historical scripts. A series of eight counterfactuals encompassing the past 1000 years are harnessed to buttress the utility of framing the development of the modern world economy around a chain of dominant economies and system leaders extending back to Sung China and forward to the United States.

The second section explores the political dimension of globalization. In the first article Randall Collins investigates world law from the viewpoint of geopolitical principles. He demonstrates how the rule of international law depends on a dominant coalition upheld by favorable geopolitical conditions; and on the extension of bureaucracy via state penetration, on a world-wide scale. In the second article Christopher Chase-Dunn presents a model of the structures and processes of the modern capitalist world-system – globalization from above. He describes how global women's movement, the labor movement, environmentalists and indigenous movements support a democratic global commonwealth – globalization from below. In the third article Tom Rockmore explores the global social contradiction between capitalism and an influential form of Islam. He argues that this contradiction, ‘which is largely due to the unfettered expansion of increasingly globalized economic capitalism, lies at the root of 9/11’.

The third section focuses on the economic dimension of globalization. Leonid Grinin and Andrey Korotayev explore global causes of the global economic crisis and the possibility that it will lead to the transformation of the global financial system. The evidence for both the negative role of the world financial flows and their important positive functions is summarized and analyzed, compared and contrasted. Rafael Reuvenyexplores the link between climate change and world trade. Hediscusses the state of knowledge on the effects of trade on the environment and evaluates whether the biosphere can accommodate perpetual economic growth.A research program is proposed that focuses on the WTO and the environment in the context of climate change. Arno Tauschanalyses economic growth and social development in 173 countries. With global economic gravitation shifting to the Indian Ocean/Pacific region, the article analyses especially the role of foreign capital penetration (as the key variable of past quantitative dependency studies) for contemporary economic growth and social performance.

The fourth section deals with the human dimension of globalization. Danielle Poe examines the principle of subsidiarity (social and legal matters ought to be handled at the most local and appropriate level). She shows how this principle has been applied in papal teachings, Catholic Social Tradition, by environmentalists, and in criminal justice work.

The fifth section introduces several philosophies of globalization studies.
William C. Gay begins his essay by defining globalization, antiglobalization, and alterglobalization. Next, a case is made for the relevance of the new international, interdisciplinary field of Global Studies for understanding and assessing globalism. Finally, a normative framework is developed for addressing global issues, specifically the one that regards ending war as the most pressing global problem. Xu Yanling analyzes antiglobalization and alterglobalization thought from philosophical, political, economic, technical, social and international perspectives. The conclusion is that globalization is delivering positive outcomes,but that evolutionary change is required to ameliorate its negative impacts. Axel Dreher, Noel Gaston, Pim Martens, and Lotte Van Boxem critically review the indices developed to measure globalization. Measurement issues associated with different methodologies, choice of variables and weights are analyzed and the value of co-operative interdisciplinary frameworks assessed.

The final section presents a review by Janet McIntyre-Mills of a book from the globalization studies literature and notes about new publications connected with the globalization problems.

Leonid Grinin (Russia)

Andrey Korotayev (Russia)

Victor de Munck(USA)

James Sheffield (New Zealand)