Partisan Politics in the Global Economy (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics) [Paperback]

Geoffrey Garrett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 13, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0521446902 | ISBN-13: 978-0521446907

This book discusses the future of the nation-state in a world of global markets. Unlike most studies asserting that global markets dominate national politics, this book argues that countries still possess considerable autonomy over policy choices. Furthermore, citizens' demands for government protection from market forces (economic insecurity) are rising, while countries with strong trade union movements that can restrain the wage demands of workers (corporatism) are attractive to investors. As a result, there is still a viable leftist alternative to the free market in the global economy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This bold and exciting book challenges conventional wisdom concerning the impact of globalization and argues that the prospects of social democracy are much better than most of us have supposed. Garrett's analysis bridges the analytical concerns of comparative and international political economy, and exemplifies state-of-the-art methodology in these academic fields. A tour de force on several counts, Partisan Politics in the Global Economy is a book that we will be talking about for many years to come." Jonas Pontusson, Cornell University

"Partisan Politics in the Global Economy brings theory and data to bear on the common assertion that today's levels of international economic integration have made national politics and policies irrelevant or impossible. In it, Geoffrey Garrett argues forcefully that domestic partisan politics, labor market institutions, and other forms of social organization continue to have an important impact on economic policy and performance in the advanced industrial countries. The book cogently addresses the crucial question of how the international economy affects domestic politics, and provides a powerful statement of a convincing perspective on this issue." Jeff Frieden, Harvard University

"In this richly empirical study, Geoffrey Garrett explodes popular shibboleths about the irrelevance of state policy in an era of globalization. Although Partisan Politics in the Global Economy contains as many questions as answers, it suggests that the death of European social democracy has been greatly exaggerated, and that at least through the 1980s democratic publics retained significant scope for macroeconomic choice. Any student of the world economy needs to come to terms with the arguments in this book." Robert O. Keohane, Duke University

"...the clarity of the book's organization and the breadth of its analysis are likely to make this volume a focal point for research in the politics of open economy macroeconomic policy for years to come." William Roberts Clark, Political Science Quarterly

Book Description

This book discusses the future of the nation-state in a world of global markets. Unlike most studies asserting that global markets dominate national politics, this book argues that countries still possess considerable autonomy over policy choices. Furthermore, citizen's demands for government protection from market forces (economic insecurity) are rising, while countries with strong trade union movements that can restrain the wage demands of workers (corporatism) are attractive to investors. As a result, there is still a viable leftist alternative to the free market in the global economy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (March 13, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521446902
• ISBN-13: 978-0521446907
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,730,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Outdated?, February 16, 2012

By 

Enjolras (Springfield, MA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Partisan Politics in the Global Economy (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics) (Hardcover)

It's interesting to see a different perspective on the relationship to globalization and social welfare policies. However, I can't help but think this book has already become a bit outdated. The theory rests heavily on empirical observations from the 1980s, arguably before globalization really kicked off with the fall of Communism and China's entry in the world market. Subsequent events seem to contradict his evidence (left parties did indeed move rightward during the 1990s). Obviously, the author couldn't control for future events, but it you read the book just be mindful that times have changed.

8 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An important book about globalization and politics!, March 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Partisan Politics in the Global Economy (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics) (Paperback)

This is a book which is bound to be quite controversial. Garrett explodes the argument that global economic integration is making national politics irrelevant; the evidence presented in this book is overwhelming. This is a book which must be read by all serious students of international relations, comparative politics, and political economy.

9 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A singularly disappointing tome, March 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Partisan Politics in the Global Economy (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics) (Paperback)

This is not a good book. I was hoping for an empirical and logical analysis of the present world system of politics and how it relates to global market politics. What I ended up reading was a clarion call for protectionist measures and increased control.

While there are arguments to muster in defense of protectionist measures, they are not presented but merely assumed. The main cliam of the book- a comparative vision of partisan politics, is only really hinted at. This book amounts to an extended screed for leftist market measures, not an argument or an analysis of the same. It is a polemic dressed as alalysis.