Globalization from Below (Paperback)

~ (Author), Tim Costello (Author), Brendan Smith (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'Neophyte or social movement veteran, you need this succinct guide to avoid the pitfalls, ambushes, and ordinary stupidity ready to waylay the well-meaning activist. Thanks to Brecher, Costello, and Smith, we can put winning strategies in their place. We may even get it right this time-and, believe me, this time, it's urgent. Bravo.' Susan George; 'Globalization from Below is a concise and very readable book that assists the reader in understanding the "new world order" and its impact on society.' Edward Asner; 'This lean, thoughtful, and incisive book examines the most important political question raised by the advent of globalization: will the growth of a broad grassroots protest movement grow, succeed in entering the political lists, and transform the corporate-led global agenda.' Professor Frances Fox Piven, City University of New York"

Product Description

World business leaders' greed-as-usual came to a dramatic halt last November when tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Seattle and shut down the 1999 meeting of the World Trade Organization. This powerful but virtually unknown organization was spotlighted through coordinated actions by such diverse constituencies as environmental, labor, and human rights advocates, catching the attention of the world. The New York Times declared its amazement, "The surprisingly large protests point to the emergence of a new and vocal coalition." According to the Times, that movement includes "a wide swath of Main Street America."

As fewer people take greater control of the world's wealth, natural resources, and decision-making power, more and more people are feeling enraged at what amounts to the theft of democracy. Working with their neighbors to wrest power back from the multinational corporations, these citizens will find Globalization from Below an invaluable tool, a concise presentation of the reasons and the means to galvanize a winning challenge to the powers that be.

This accessible, practical guide lays out a strategy that will reverse the damaging effects of unfettered pursuit of profits: environmental degradation, a widening gap between rich and poor, and a lack of accountability in international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization. Globalization from Below will inspire ordinary citizens and challenge veteran organizers as it delineates a process of forging lasting links with activists around the world to gain economic and environmental security now and in the future.

Jeremy Brecher is the author of Strike! Tim Costello is a union activist based in Boston and has co-authored several books with Brecher, including Global Village or Global Pillage. Brendan Smith is a former staff assistant to Representative Bernie Sanders (Independent, Vermont) and is currently working at Stone Soup, Inc. in Connecticut.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: South End Press (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896086224
• ISBN-13: 978-0896086227
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #921,087 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There are alternatives to the status quo, May 18, 2002

By	S. Calhoun "rhymeswithorange" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Although globalization is an inevitable force thoughout modernity we can have a voice in how globalization is enacted. As citizens of the global community, we do not have to sit back and be content with the pathway of globalization that is defined by such global organizations as the WTO and the IMF in addition to transnational corporations and the American government.

"Globalization from Below" investigates the emergence of the anti-globalization social movement that targets the negative actions and consequences of various institutions and corporations in their effort to increase their profits and power. Unlike other social movements the anti-globalization movement is unique because it consists of a multitude of social agendas ranging anywhere from environmental to labor rights causes. Although they have differential agendas together they strive for the same objective of returning to a democracy of business decisions made by institutions that don't favor the status of the wealthy minority. The true promises of globalization never became realized. Instead social problems are increasingly becoming more intensified. The disparity between the rich and poor grows larger and the environment is under constant attack. Due to the decline of national power many previous hard-fought laws and regulations protecting consumers and workers are being overruled by global treaties and trade agreements. The influence of global capital and unregulated markets puts both humans and the planet in danger. In the midst of the rapid acceleration of globalization within the past century basic human rights often take a back seat.

This book is a good introduction to the anti-globalization social movement that continues to gain more momentum as individuals become increasingly aware of the dire and drastic consequences of the current trajectory of globalization. It's a short read but well worth it.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars extremely repetitive, August 26, 2004

By	mitzigg04 "mittzigg" (VA) - See all my reviews

Though I really like the points brought out by this book, and Ithink they are very valid, they are continually repeated throughout. I think just having 10 pages or less would have given the same message. After reading the book front to back, I don't think all the pages needed to be wasted repeating and reiterating what was already very clear in the first chapter.