Globalization: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) | 
| Author: Manfred B. Steger
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Category: Book
List Price: $11.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 91339
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 168
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.5
ISBN: 019280359X
Dewey Decimal Number: 303.482
EAN: 9780192803597
Publication Date: June 19, 2003
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Product Description
This book offers a stimulating introduction to globalization and its varying impacts across, between, and within societies. It is a highly readable text that contributes to a better understanding of the crucial aspects and dimensions of the developments and transformations that go by the name of globalization.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 Very Short Review of Globalization June 12, 2008
Manfred B. Steger's book Globalization is part of the Very Short Introductions series put out by Oxford University Press. The series is called that because each book in the series is a brief treatment of a particular topic, like Cosmology, Postmodernism, Intelligence, Drugs, or Animal Rights. In Globalization, Steger keeps his introduction to 147 pages, making it true to the series name.
Steger has written Globalization with both erudition and clarity. Striking that balance between precision and perspicuity is no easy task, but Steger manages to succeed. In chapter 1, Steger decides not to protect the reader from the controversies surrounding the concept of globalization. He then takes his readers on a historical tour, showing how globalization has been happening in different ways ever since humans appeared on the scene (ch. 2). The meat of the book comes in chapters 3-5, where Steger expounds on the economic, political, and cultural dimensions of globalization. In chapter 6 Steger makes a careful distinction between globalization and globalism. The former, he explains, is a description of social processes, while the latter is an ideology endowed with neoliberal meanings and values. Earlier in the book Steger gave his readers another helpful distinction, separating globalization as social processes from globality as a social condition (p. 7). Chapter 7 highlights the recent key challenges to globalism in the form of particularist-protectionism and universalist-protectionism. Chapter 8, capping off the introduction, contains a brief assessment of the future of globalization.
Although I had read about globalization before, and most of the concepts discussed inside are not new to me, Steger's volume on globalization has turned out to be the best introduction to the topic that I've come across
 Unbalanced presentation October 22, 2007
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
The point of a "very short introduction" is to present a topic with a minimum of bias; then, if the reader wishes to delve deeper, s/he can do so.
This book is unfortunately quite biased against globalization, the economic aspects of which are leading millions out of poverty (see India, China). Steger takes a typical Socialist view and runs with it.
His multifaceted approach is quite commendable, however. His identification of the political, social, cultural, etc. aspects of globalization are too often ignored, although, again, I think he overstates the negatives.
What I find most unfortunate is that the browsing book buyer might see this book and be inspired to learn something about an important topic. S/he will come away with a sadly jaundiced view of a process that has very much to commend. Steger the political scientist seems put off that economists get most of the globalization press (he sees politics as the driver behind everything, which is a suspect position IMO), and his use of "neoliberal" is seldom used in any positive sense even though classical liberalism has given Steger the very freedom to trash the "Global North" which he criticizes. It's too bad, really. The topic deserves better.
 Socialist rant against globalization and the free market April 9, 2007
4 out of 13 found this review helpful
The book starts, ominously, with the author "deconstructing" (sic, comas and all) Bin Laden. It turns out the 9/11 attacks were all America's fault, for trying to force fed globalization into an unwanting world. The rest of the book continues in the same vein, with the author lambasting multinationals, neoliberals, the North, and above all evil Americans for all the worlds troubles. A mugshot of Bill Gates is included.
Steger has no grasp of economics whatsoever, so all his economic assumptions about the effects of globalization are totally wrong. The classical example is trying to demonstrate the widening gap between rich and poor countries without taking account of countries population size or PPP. With China growing at a rate of 10% this looks specially silly.
I strongly recommend Why Globalization Works (Yale Nota Bene) instead of this drivel.
Globalized Conservatism August 31, 2006
0 out of 8 found this review helpful
Book was informative, this is a text book. The last two sections give seemingly unsupported statements, but tries to be balanced.
 Excellent overview of globalization June 3, 2006
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Steger begins by defining the term "globalization": A "set of processes" (not a "condition") towards greater interdependence and integration among the various cultures of the world. He makes a point to emphasize that economics is only ONE aspect of globalization: there are also political, cultural and ideological aspects. Moreover, he dedicates one chapter to showing that globalization is by no means a NEW phenomenon: cultural exchanges can be traced back to the prehistoric period.
I found the chapter on the economic aspects of globalization (chapter 3) very useful. It explains the history and role of the IMF, WTO and the World Bank in the global economy. It also discusses the West's transition from "controlled economies" to "free market capitalism." Arguing that globalization is an uneven process, the author shows how it is having very different effects on the various regions of the world. This gives us a clear vision of some of the negative impacts of the new world economy, such as a larger gap between rich and poor nations. His realistic view of globalization is a nice antidote to the cheerleading of hyperglobalizers like Thomas Friedman.
The chapter on opposition to globalization (chapter 7) does an excellent job of explaining challenges that are coming from both the right and the left. The particularist protectionists (on the right) feel threatened by multiculturalism because they want to maintain a sort of cultural purity. This often leads to their rallying against immigration and appealing to nationalism. However, like the left, they also criticize the power of the corporate elite and the negative effects globalization is having on the average domestic worker (i.e., jobs going overseas, lower wages). In the US, Pat Buchanan is a good example of this view. The universalist protectionists (on the left) tend to criticize the poor working conditions of both domestic and foreign workers. In general, universalist protectionists "are concerned with protection of the environment, fair trade and international labor issues, human rights, and women's issues." Ralph Nader is an example of a universalist protectionst.
Overall, an excellent introduction to the various facets of one of the most important issues of our time.
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