Global Transformations: Politics, Economics and Culture

This widely acclaimed book throws new light on the complex processes that are reshaping the contemporary world. All too often debates about globalization - and about whether it implies the end of the nation-state - have descended into polemics and confusion. Please visit the accompanying website at: http://www.polity.co.uk/global

Table of Contents:
Introduction. . The Globalization Debate. Sources of Contention in the Globalization Debate. Rethinking Globalization: An Analytical Framework. Determining the Shape of Contemporary Globalization. The Book Ahead. 1. The Territorial State and Global Politics. . 1.1 From Empires to Modern Nation-states. 1.2 The Emergence of Global Politics. 1.3 Multilayered Governance and the Diffusion of Political Authority. 1.4 Historical Forms of Political Globalization: The Transformation of Political Community. 1.5 Differential National Enmeshment. 1.6 Conclusion: Political Globalization and Structural Impacts. 2. The Expanding Reach of Organized Violence. . 2.1 Introduction. 2.2 What is Military Globalization?. 2.3 The Globalization of the War System: Geopolitics and the Evolution of a World Military Order. 2.4 A Global Arms Dynamic?. 2.5 Emerging Forms of Geogovernance: Organized Violence. 2.6 Historical Forms of Military Globalization: A Comparison. 2.7 Contemporary Patterns of National Enmeshment in the World Military Order. 2.8 Contemporary Military Globalization and its Political Consequences. 3. Global Trade, Global Markets. 3.1 Trade and Globalization. 3.2 Trade: From Antiquity to the Rise of the Nation-State. 3.3 From the Industrial Revolution to the Second World War: The Rise and Fall of World Trade. 3.4 The Rise of a Global Trading Order. 3.5 Historical Forms of Trade Globalization: The Transformation of Global Trade. 3.6 National Enmeshment in the Global Trading System. 3.7 The Impact of Global Trade Relations. 3.8 Conclusion: State Autonomy and Sovereignty. 4. Shifting Patterns of Global Finance. . 4.1 Indicators of Financial Globalization and Financial Enmeshment. 4.2 Early Patterns of Global Financial Activity. 4.3 The Classical Gold Standard Period: 1870-1914. 4.4 The Interwar Years: Global Monetary Disorder. 4.5 The Bretton Woods Era: The Reinvention of Global Finance. 4.6 The Shape of Contemporary Financial Globalization. 4.7 Comparing Historical Forms of Financial Globalization. 4.8 Global Finance and National Enmeshment. 4.9 Economic Autonomy and Sovereignty in an Era of Global Finance. 4.10 Conclusion. 5. Corporate Power and Global Production Networks. 5.1 MNCs and Global Production. 5.2 International Business Before the Industrial Revolution. 5.3 International Production in the Industrial Age: Multinational Business Expansion 1850-1939. 5.4 The Rise of the Multinational Corporation and the Transnationalization of Production. 5.5 MNCs and Global Production Networks. 5.6 Historical Forms of Business Globalization. 5.7 Contemporary Patterns of National Enmeshment in Global Production Networks. 5.8 The Globalization of Business: Domestic Impacts. 5.9 Conclusion. 6. People on the Move. . 6.1 Globalization and Migration. 6.2 Historical Forms of Global Migration. 6.3 Contemporary Patterns of Migration. 6.4 Historical Forms of Global Migration: A Comparison. 6.5 Migration and National Enmeshment. 6.6 Globalization, Migration and the Nation-state. 6.7 Conclusion. 7. Globalization, Culture and the Fate of Nations. 7.1 Analysing Cultural Globalization. 7.2 Cultural Globalization in Historical Perspective. 7.3 The Shape of Contemporary Cultural Globalization. 7.4 Historical Forms of Cultural Globalization: In Sum. 7.5 Contemporary Cultural Globalization and its Political Impact. 7.6 Conclusion. 8. Catastrophe in the Making: Globalization and the Environment. . 8.1 Globalization and the Environment. 8.2 Environmental Globalization in Historical Perspective. 8.3 Changing Historical Forms of Environmental Globalization. 8.4 Stratification of Environmental Degradation and National Enmeshment. 8.5 The Contemporary Pattern of Global Environmental Change and its Political Impacts. 8.6 Conclusion. Conclusion: the Shape of Contemporary Globalization. . Methodological Appendix. References. Index.

About the Author :
David Held is Graham Wallas Professor of Political Science at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Anthony McGrew is Senior Lecturer in Government at the Open University. David Goldblatt is Lecturer in Social Sciences at the Open University. Jonathan Perraton is Lecturer in Economics at Sheffield University.

Review :
'An indispensable counterweight to optimists and pessimists alike.' Will Hutton, The Observer "I was pleasantly and genuinely surprised by the depth and intensity of analysis and argument contained in the book despite its wide-ranging subject matter ... Students of international affairs who long for books that go beyond the minutiae of globalisation and look at the big picture should consider this book compulsory reading." Nick Grimwade, Times Higher Education Supplement "The book provides a scholarly and deep exploration of the facts and the issues, and deserves wide reading." Charles P. Kindelberger, Global Economy Quarterly "This is a work with many strengths, but perhaps its most important virtue is the breadth and depth... with which the authors explore the topic. Unlike many studies that focus almost exclusively on the economic sources and consequences of globalization, this volume conceives of the topic broadly. . For better or worse, globalization will shape our future, and this work prepares us to understand and act in that brave new world." Vincent A. Auger, The Journal of Developing Areas "A must have for any student of globalisation is Global Transformations. This 515 page survey, packed with facts and theories, provides a comprehensive account of the widespread impact of globalisation" Mark Perryman, New Statesman "A thought-provoking textbook on the numerous political, economic, social and cultural themes behind the concept of globalization have long been sought after by those involved in first- and second-year courses that attempt to broach this theme. The good news is that one has finally arrived ... The disciplinary approach is very much one of political sociology but the multidisciplinary focus will be of great value and interest to geographers." The Geographical Journal "[A] sweeping literative survey and synthesis ... bustling with data, ideas, viewpoints and references to more detailed reading." Alan M. Rugman, University of Oxford 'There can be little doubt that globalisation has now become the key discussion point in the social sciences. A seemingly endless supply of books and articles are being published that refer to "the global" or globalisation. Many of these are far too abstract and lacking in concrete empirical research. Global Transformations is a welcome exception.this book is the definitive work yet published on the subject." Ray Kiely, Journal of Development "Global Transformations is the most thorough and wide-reaching account of the global forces that are reshaping our lives. It is a wonderful combination of history, political science and economics that casts new light on the changes we will see in the new century." Joseph Nye, Harvard University "What a pleasure it is to read a book about globalization which is comprehensive yet carefully researched, where arguments are laid out precisely and then tested, and where the conclusions actually flow from the evidence. This is easily the best account of what globalization has and has not accomplished to date. It is essential reading for anyone who seeks to understand the way the world impinges on our lives." Michael Mann, University of California at Los Angeles "A most impressive and comprehensive analysis of the complex political, economic and cultural processes shaping and reshaping the world in which we live. The authors critically interrogate the much-abused term globalization and demonstrate, in a highly convincing and eminently readable manner, our need to adopt a far more creative political response to the forces currently transforming society at different scales." Peter Dicken, University of Manchester