Globalization Capatalism and Its Alternatives

by Sklair, Leslie

• ISBN13: 9780199247448
• ISBN10: 0199247447
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-06-20
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Capitalist globalization has been instrumental in globalizing civil and political rights all over the world as a condition of 'free' markets and trade, but capitalist globalizers have no answer to the rapidly accelerating demands for universal economics and social rights, expressed in theenormous growth of local, national, multinational and global NGOs and anti-globalization movements.In this book, based on his highly successful Sociology of the Global System, Leslie Sklair focuses on alternatives to global capitalism, arguing strongly that there are other alternative futures that retain and encourage the positive aspects of globalization whilst identifying what is wrong withcapitalism.The negative aspects of capitalist globalization are explored in a new critique which argues that there are two main crises of capitalist globalization: the class polarization crisis and the crisis of ecological unsustainability. The book also presents a new analysis of a long-term alternative toglobal capitalism: the globalization of human rights.

Table of Contents

Boxes, Figures, Tables	xiii
Selected Abbreviations	xiv
Introduction	1	(11)
The problem of globalization	1	(2)
Globalization and everyday life	2	(1)
Capitalist globalization	3	(5)
Globalization, capitalist globalization, and the state system	5	(3)
Transnational practices	8	(2)
Structure of the book	10	(2)
Notes	11	(1)
Thinking About the Global	12	(17)
Classifying the global system	13	(13)
Income-based classifications	13	(3)
Trade-based classifications	16	(2)
Resource-based classifications	18	(2)
Quality of life-based classifications	20	(2)
Region and bloc-based classifications	22	(4)
Conclusion	26	(3)
Notes	27	(2)
From Development to Globalization	29	(30)
Theories of development as embryonic theories of the global	30	(5)
Imperialism	30	(1)
Modernization	31	(1)
Neo-Marxism	32	(2)
Modes of production	34	(1)
Competing conceptions of globalization	35	(13)
World-systems	40	(2)
Global culture	42	(2)
Global polity and society	44	(1)
Global capitalism	45	(2)
Summing up the approaches	47	(1)
The class polarization crisis	48	(5)
The crisis of ecological unsustainability	53	(6)
Notes	57	(2)
Transnational Corporations and Capitalist Globalization	59	(25)
Economy, polity, culture-ideology	60	(3)
History and theory of the transnational corporation (TNC)	63	(9)
Research on TNCs	63	(7)
TNCs and foreign direct investment	70	(2)
TNCs and governments	72	(12)
The Volta dam and the Enron project	74	(5)
Indigenization in Nigeria	79	(2)
Notes	81	(3)
Transnational Practices: Corporations, Class, and consumerism	84	(34)
The conceptual space for transnational practices [TNP]	84	(2)
The physical spaces for transnational practices	86	(3)
Economic transnational practices	89	(7)
Jobs	91	(4)
Linkages	95	(1)
Political transnational practices	96	(2)
The transnational capitalist class	98	(7)
Labour and the transnational capitalist class	100	(1)
Downgrading of indigenous practices	101	(4)
Culture-ideology transnational practices	105	(3)
The culture-ideology of consumerism	108	(7)
Consumerism and the information technology revolution	111	(4)
The theory of the global system: a summary	115	(3)
Notes	116	(2)
Transnational Practices in the Third World	118	(46)
Economic transnational practices in the Third World	121	(1)
Transnational corporations in the Third World	122	(16)
TNC employment	125	(3)
TNCs and the sexual division of labour	128	(4)
Transnational pressures on TNCs	132	(3)
Training and technology	135	(3)
The global food system	138	(5)
Women and food	142	(1)
Agribusiness	143	(9)
Genetically modified crops	149	(3)
Political transnational practices in the Third World	152	(3)
The transnational capitalist class in the Third World	155	(5)
The African bourgeoisie	158	(2)
From triple alliances to the transnational capitalist class	160	(4)
Notes	161	(3)
The Culture-Ideology of Consumerism	164	(44)
Consumerism and producerism	164	(3)
Cultural imperialism and media imperialism	167	(7)
Latin American research on the media	171	(3)
The new world information order	174	(6)
Control of global media markets	176	(4)
Advertising and the spread of consumerism	180	(7)
Global exposure	183	(1)
Delivering the goods	184	(3)
Case studies in global consumerism	187	(17)
The baby bottle feed controversy	187	(3)
Drugs, health, and profits	190	(3)
Cola wars	193	(4)
The global smoke ring	197	(7)
Conclusion	204	(4)
Notes	206	(2)
Capitalist Globalization in Communist and Postcommunist Societies	208	(36)
Communism and socialism defined	208	(2)
The socialist Third World	210	(4)
Cuba	210	(2)
Nicaragua	212	(2)
Socialism in sub-Saharan Africa	214	(8)
Tanzania	215	(3)
Mozambique	218	(4)
Transnational practices and the Old Second World	222	(5)
TNCs in the Old Second World	224	(3)
Transitions from communism to postcommunism	227	(13)
Choices for socialist societies	236	(4)
Conclusion	240	(4)
Notes	241	(3)
Capitalist Globalization in China	244	(28)
New China	244	(6)
The opening door	244	(6)
The labour market	250	(2)
Classes in the New China	252	(11)
Officials	254	(1)
Private entrepreneurs	255	(1)
Globalizing executives and professionals	256	(3)
Is there a transnational capitalist class in China?	259	(4)
The culture-ideology of consumerism in China	263	(9)
Media in China	267	(3)
Notes	270	(2)
Challenges to Capitalist Globalization	272	(27)
Counter movements	273	(4)
Protectionism	273	(2)
New social movements	275	(1)
Green movements	275	(2)
The anti-globalization movement	277	(16)
The defeat of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI)	287	(4)
The battle of Seattle and after	291	(2)
The nonviolent alternative to capitalist globalization	293	(6)
Notes	296	(3)
From Capitalist to Socialist Globalization through the Transformation of Human Rights	299	(23)
Alternatives to capitalist globalization	300	(6)
Seeds of socialist globalization	302	(4)
The globalization of human rights	306	(11)
Human rights and social responsibilities	311	(2)
The official human rights movement	313	(1)
NGOs and civil society	314	(3)
Protecting human rights	317	(5)
Notes	319	(3)
Conclusion: the End of Capitalist Globalization and Alternative Futures	322	(5)
Socialist globalization	322	(5)
Democracy	322	(1)
Human rights	323	(1)
Socialism	324	(3)
References	327	(34)
Index	361