Abstract

'Globalization is irreversible and irresistible.' Tony Blair This book gives the lie to that claim. Economic globalization has never been an inevitable part of human history. It is eminently reversible and hugely resistible. Greg Buckman argues there are two broad approaches within the anti-globalization movement. One, perhaps the most widely supported and influential strand today, calls the Fair Trade and Back to Bretton Woods school. This argues for immediate reforms of the world's trading system, capital markets, and global institutions, notably the World Bank, IMF and WTO. The other, the Localization school, takes a more root and branch position and argues for the abolition of these institutions and outright reversal of globalization. Buckman explains the details of each school's outlook and proposals, their weaknesses, where they disagree, their common ground, and where they might come together in campaigns.
This book gives the lie to the claim that globalization is 'irreversible and irresistible'. Greg Buckman argues there are two broad approaches within the anti-globalization movement, explaining the details of each school's outlook, their weaknesses, where they disagree, their common ground, and where they might come together in campaigns.
Greg Buckman is former national finance manager for The Wilderness Society of Australia and currently Treasurer of the Australian Greens and has been co-editor of their magazine, Green. He has undertaken much economic research, particularly on issues concerning globalization, forestry and energy. His long involvement with the environment movement goes back to the successful international fight to save the Franklin River in Tasmania, Australia in the early 1980s.
'So refreshing and useful to read a book that goes beyond the usual bleatings about the problems of globalization in order to analyse in detail the alternatives that are at last emerging.' Colin Hines, author of Localization: A Global Manifesto 'Greg Buckman has done the global justice movement a valuable service in clearly outlining the major debates around taming versus scrapping globalization, and then attempting to find common ground. I urge everyone who wants a fairer, safer and more sustainable world to read this book.' Rod Donald MP, Co-Leader, Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 'Greg Buckman's work opens up the all-important debate between the ideas of localization and fair trade on the one hand, and economic globalization on the other.'Senator Bob Brown, leader of the Australian Greens 'The clearest and most succinct explanation of the origins and processes of economic globalization yet to appear in English, plus the best coverage of the debates over what to do about it. A useful tool for anti-globalization activists everywhere.' Christine Dann 'The value of the book lies in providing an accessible account, shorn of excessive intellectual economic and political jargon, of policy alternatives to neo-liberal economic globalization...those wishing [for] an accessible introduction to a history of the globalization and anti-globalization movements need look no further.' Arthur L. Wilson, Studies in Continuing Education