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Globalization summer reading series
Shinto
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I was thinking this morning about doing a reading series on globalization here over the course of the summer. Basically a book discussion group reading a sequence of books about globalization and talking about them. I think maybe six books with three weeks to read each would work, starting mid-May or the beginning of June.
Our six books are, in this order:
1. Globalisation and its Discontents - Joseph Stiglitz - DUE JUNE 1st.
2. In Defence of globalization - Jagdish Bhagwati
3. Confessions of an economic hitman - John Perkins
4. Empires of Profit: Commerce, Conquest and Corporate Responsibility - Daniel Litvin
5. The coming anarchy - Robert Kaplan
6. Why Globalisation Works - Martin Wolf
Our six books are, in this order:
1. Globalisation and its Discontents - Joseph Stiglitz - DUE JUNE 1st.
2. In Defence of globalization - Jagdish Bhagwati
3. Confessions of an economic hitman - John Perkins
4. Empires of Profit: Commerce, Conquest and Corporate Responsibility - Daniel Litvin
5. The coming anarchy - Robert Kaplan
6. Why Globalisation Works - Martin Wolf
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That's a cool thought, but I'd like to focus on the economics. It's a big topic and I think if it isn't focused then we'll just be all over the map.
The Lexus and the Olive Tree by Thomas Friedman
and
The Coming Anarchy by Robert Kaplan
The first is frothingly pro, the second not so much.
Ah... economics are where I am completely out of my element. Although I will watch this thread with great interest to expand my knowledge.
The Lexus and The Olive Tree by Thomas Friedman is supposed to be good, but I haven't read it yet.
In Defense of Globalization by Jagdish Bhagwati
World on Fire by Amy Chua
are also good ones.
I'm in the midst of reading Stiglitz's Globalization and its Discontents, and have his other book around my house somewhere.
Fascinating topic, and certainly something I'd like to focus on as I pursue my degree in Econ.
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy by that reporter guy who writes in the UK has a rather large section on globalization, but it also covers some other topics rather extensively as well (most notably Bush's stolen election in FL).
I'd rather not get sidetracked by things like that personally.
So far our prospective list of books is:
Pro:
In defense of globalization
The lexus and the olive tree
The world is flat
Empires of Profit: Commerce, Conquest and Corporate Responsibility - Daniel Litvin
The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger - Marc Levinson
Why Globalization Works - Martin Wolf
Anti:
The coming anarchy
World on fire
Globalization and its discontents
Confessions of an economic hitman
Other:
Making globalization work
All politics is global
If you had the interest to read the books I don't think you'd have a problem. All of these books, as far I know, are written for the lay public.
I'd like to read this book this summer, purely on the basis of me liking the author, but I'm not certain how closely it's aligned with the subject.
I'm glad I read it, but I also didn't enjoy it.
All politics is global seems on topic enough. At least, the reviews make it sound that way.
I'll dig through my library and see what I can find. Took a class on this exact topic (Globalization: Threat or Promise? was the title) freshman year and thought it was fun.
Should we read Huntington? Clash of Civilizations isn't really about economics but it has been a hugely influential book.
Is the book better than sensationalism?
Plus the easy read bit. Plus there's one passage in it I'd love to talk about on here.
I'm not sure if Friedman even believes half of what he argued in that book anymore, though. He seems to be all over the place when it comes to describing the Middle East and North Africa, these days. He seems geniunely confused as to why things aren't turning out as rosy as he had hoped. Not to say that I or others know much more than he, but it is amusing to watch him thrash around in his op-eds.
I nominate In Defense of Globalization for pro.
And maybe Jihad vs. McWorld.
Those are pretty fair accusations but you can often level the same at works done for the lay-person. When I told my Dad I was going to be an anthro major concentrating on the middle east and north africa, he bought a bunch of works that he thought would help him understand what I was studying. They were pretty horrible and useless, overall.
If anything, it's useful to read Friedman to get an idea of where lay-people get their information and how to situate his ideas in a larger social context. I find him hilarious at times because he has a very positive view of the world by nature and tries to cram all of the evidence into his vision of a shiny world. Now that the region has become a veritable shit-fest, he's really horribly confused about how it all could have gone so wrong.
Still a fun read though, if only for laughs at this point
Drop one of Friedman's books. (I'd prefer dropping both, but I suppose this is a democracy)
Oh yeah. Frankly I'd rather not have either, but I figured that if we were going to start in two weeks we have a couple days to just brainstorm.
The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger.
I don't expect you to take this seriously.
I used a line from that review as a sig, in another forum.
I should start using it again.
I'd take this in place of Box, if you guys don't want to talk about boxes.
I work in shipping and was just researching containers. I now want to read this.
Also, damn you USA for using 40ft, 45ft, 48ft, and 53ft containers. just stick to the basics!
1. Empires of Profit: Commerce, Conquest and Corporate Responsibility - Daniel Litvin
2. The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger - Marc Levinson
3. Why Globalization Works - Martin Wolf
4. In Defense of Globalization - Jagdish Bhagwati
Anyway, I'd be up for this - though I won't have much time in the next three weeks (but that's what, one book or so?). I'm completely drawing a blank on recommendations . . . maybe when I get home I can find some stuff that I've been assigned over the years, or authors I've used.
Actually, one comes to mind but I have no idea exactly how relevant it is: The Collapse of Globalism and the Reinvention of the World by John Ralston Saul.
"The dissolution of the corporations is the sine qua non of democracy"
Is there an anti- book that isn't overly dramatic?
I really like Friedman, The World is Flat is good. It's pro-, but certainly not Republican or conservative.
Actually, my understanding is that Globalization and its Discontents is a serious work. The title is a pun on Henry Kissenger's foreign policy book Detante and its Discontents.
But yes, the anti-globalization press has a problem with overheated rhetoric.