Customer Reviews

The World in Their Web: Dynamics of Textile Multinationals (Imperialism series)

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A quick glance at the title suggests something to do with the World Wide Web. But no! The book predates the Web by 12 years. Its Web is a metaphor of the textile makers who use cotton. It studies the makeup of companies throughout the world who dominate the purchasing of cotton, for clothing production.

A serious tome that requires some economic background. Heavily documented with footnotes, to emphasise the depth of their research. Their basic message is that bargaining power rests in these makers, instead of in the often poor third world farmers.

Current readers will see analogies with how WalMart now dominates its suppliers, or how coffee chains like Starbucks often have the upper hand over growers.

But while the book decries the fate of the cotton farmers, it pays to attention to the worldwide benefit of cheap cotton. It has enabled many people, even in the third world, to have affordable clothing. A global social good.