Book Description

Acclaim for the first edition: Even those who dislike the word globalisation cannot avoid using it. This remarkable book clarifies the concept of globalisation, and the ways in which it should be used. It is an invaluable guide to the economic and social processes of the 21st century. Daniele Archibugi, Italian National Research Council, Italy Admirably edited. With a wealth of applied detail, the contributors visit all the interesting questions in international political economy. Ciaran Driver, University of London, UK This Handbook brings together a stunning range of writing on a subject which has tended to be wrapped in mystery and controversy. From the opening chapters that debate the newness of globalisation to the chapters that analyse the hegemony of neo-liberalism this book weaves together the most up to date and challenging academic work. . . Vishnu Padayachee, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa Globalisation is a ubiquitous buzzword. But what does it really mean and what are its implications for human well-being? The Handbook of Globalisation pulls together current work from a sterling cast of innovative thinkers on these questions. It is no surprise that one finds penetrating insights and innovative policy approaches on nearly every page. Robert Pollin, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, US Globalisation is an issue that has been high on the research agenda for several years, spawning a vast and at times unwieldy literature. A concept often ill-defined, it has generated a plethora of unresolved and fiercely contested questions, the nature of which depends on which side of the ideological divide one stands. The 2008 global credit crunch, which in 2009 created the first global recession since the 1930s, demonstrated that the capitalism unleashed model of globalisation which had been promoted from the 1980s onwards was both damaging and unsustainable. With contributions from the leading commentators in the field and an over-arching introduction from the editor, the concerns of this updated and revised handbook are two-fold. Firstly, to redefine the concept of globalisation and dispel the haze that surrounds it through a systematic and thorough examination of the debate. Secondly, to advance the frontiers of current critical thinking on the role and impact of globalisation, on the winners and losers in the process, and on the implications for society, the economy and governance. Offering a genuinely inter-disciplinary perspective, this Handbook represents the definitive guide to what is an all-pervasive issue. It should be on the bookshelves of all postgraduate and advanced undergraduate students in economics, business, international studies and related fields, as well as scholars and policymakers with an interest in the global economy and in the functioning of an increasingly globalised world.