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copy 2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
International Journal of Consumer Studies
27
4 September 2003 pp349ndash350
349
Blackwell Science LtdOxford UKIJCInternational Journal of Consumer Studies1470-6431Blackwell Publishing Ltd 200327
4349350
Book Review
Book reviewsBook reviews
Book reviews
Localization A Global Manifesto
Ed by Colin Hines(2000) London Published by Earthscan PublishingISBN 1-85383-612-5 (softcover) In Canada the bookis available from httpwwwrenoufbookscom forCan$2900 In the UK the book is available athttpwwwearthscancouk for pound1099 or httpearthinfoearthscancouk
If like me you have read widely about the woes ofglobalization and were left wondering what couldreplace it then this is the book for you Colin Hines hassucceeded in writing and publishing lsquothe unfashionablersquo(p vi) a book that not only faults globalization but putsforth a plausible replacement ndash localization I was drawnto this book after reading the list of people he drewupon for his conceptualization of an alternate economysuch world renowned names as Tim Lang Maude Bar-low Helena Norberg-Hodge Vandana Shiva WaldenBello John Cavanagh Susan George Jeremy Rifkinand David Korten With these thinkers shaping thebook it had to be a good read I was not disappointed
The book is 290 pages has a short introduction isdivided into three parts (problems with globalizationlocalization as a solution and how to bring localizationinto being) and has 19 chapters a conclusion chapter aswell as two appendices There is also a great summaryof the entire book at pages 256ndash264 followed by notesand references a suggested list of other related readingsand an index It is endorsed by such notables as TimLang Caroline Lucas and Anita Roddick
Hines explains that localization is discrimination infavour of nation states or regional groupings of stateswhile globalization is in favour of transnational corpo-rations (TNCs) The policies bringing about localizationwould increase control of the economy by the commu-nities and nation states resulting in an increase in socialcohesion more sustainable communities a reduction inpoverty and inequality and an improvement in liveli-hoods social infrastructure environmental protectionand benign technological developments hence overallsecurity (p 5)
He explains that localization is something that will bedone by the people not something done for them Ithink this is profound Funny how one sentiment canstick out after reading an entire book He recognizes
that bringing about localization will involve dramaticradical change but that we are ready for this thanks tothe growing momentum of the globalization from thebottom-up world movement Many things have tochange (there are chapters on each of these) includingproduction and control of TNCs money competitionpolicy taxes democracy trade aid government sover-eignty the role of activists and media He also discussessuch issues as job insecurity deflation the role ofunionist and the future of food security the environ-ment and international development if globalization isnot replaced by localization Indeed he faults any polit-ical activist who calls for a lsquokinder gentler globaliza-tionrsquo asking us to reject globalization in its entiretyreplacing it with localization He sets out four shortpages providing counter arguments for the seven mainarguments against the localization approach (pp 242ndash245) In another section of the book Hines providesinitial thoughts on how government could raise moneyto aid citizens in their movement to bring about local-ization (pp 246ndash255)
Hinesrsquos book is about how to take back control of oureconomies through a change of course in society leadingto the development of an alternative humane and sus-tainable international system of trade and relationshipsIt is full of radical wonderful ideas that challenge the
status quo
ndash my kind of book I highly recommend it
Alternatives to Economic Globalization
The Interna-tional Forum on Globalization (2002) San FranciscoCA Published by Berrett-Koehler ISBN 1-57675-204-6 (softcover) httpwwwbkpubcomproductsproductshowadpcode=341 for US$1595 for ordersoutside the US see httpwwwbkpubcomcontactusdistributorshtml
Alternatives to Economic Globalization
is the culmi-nation of a 3-year project by the International Forumon Globalization (IFG httpwwwifgorg) to definealternatives to the current corporate model of global-ization The IFG is an alliance of 60 leading activistsscholars economists researchers and writers formed tostimulate new thinking joint activity and public educa-tion in response to economic globalization Written bya premier group of 19 of these thinkers (profiled at
Book reviews
350
International Journal of Consumer Studies
27
4 September 2003 pp349ndash350
copy 2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
pages 253ndash255) this book lays out alternatives to cor-porate-led globalization If you are familiar with theirrespective work you will see evidence of their individ-ual approaches in this collective consensual book
The softcover book is 350 pages comprised nine sec-tions (including a powerful inspiring introduction anda conclusion chapter) There is a spirited acknowledge-ment section a list of sources and references and anindex The seven sections making up the book take thereader through (a) a critique of corporate-led global-ization (b) 10 principles of sustainable societies (c) acollection of ideas about what should be off limits toglobalization leading to a modern commons (includingwater genes waste and land) (d) a case for shiftingdecision making from global to the local (e) a set ofideas for how to alter and limit corporate power andhold transnational corporations accountable (f) an out-line of alternative energy transportation agricultureand manufacturing systems that are responsive tohuman needs and (g) suggestions for local focused insti-tutions under the auspices of the UN that can replacethe triumvirate World Bank IMF and WTO
I love the courage of the statement tendered in theconclusion lsquoHistory will likely view the 1980s and 1990sas historical anomalies a time when a single dominantmodel [corporate-led capitalistic globalization] waspromoted despite its inherent unsustainability and its
failuresrsquo (p 239) The authors conclude that the WorldSocial Forum is but one example of the new alliancesemerging from the lsquobottom uprsquo to challenge corporate-led globalization and reshape society so it is humanesustainable and able to replace the legacy of exclusionand inequality of the current economic model To thatend the book allocates scarce space to the woes ofcorporate-led globalization (36 pages) and instead putsforth an inspiring vision of an alternative future (184pages)
By framing the issues as they have they emboldenmembers of the global citizen movement to take actionto create the world they want by redirecting globalnational and local priorities towards the task of creatinghealthy sustainable human societies that work for all(p 3) I will end my review with another favourite clausefrom the book lsquoThe issue is governance Will ordinarypeople have a democratic voice in deciding what rulesare in the best interests of societyrsquo (p 4) I think theanswer is yes because we are all ordinary people ndash thereal wealth This book stands out from others on thistopic because it seems honest fair well written com-prehensive and is definitely worth reading
Sue McGregor PhD Professor
httpwwwconsultmcgregorcomhttpwwwmsvucaPAXindexhtml
Book reviews
350
International Journal of Consumer Studies
27
4 September 2003 pp349ndash350
copy 2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
pages 253ndash255) this book lays out alternatives to cor-porate-led globalization If you are familiar with theirrespective work you will see evidence of their individ-ual approaches in this collective consensual book
The softcover book is 350 pages comprised nine sec-tions (including a powerful inspiring introduction anda conclusion chapter) There is a spirited acknowledge-ment section a list of sources and references and anindex The seven sections making up the book take thereader through (a) a critique of corporate-led global-ization (b) 10 principles of sustainable societies (c) acollection of ideas about what should be off limits toglobalization leading to a modern commons (includingwater genes waste and land) (d) a case for shiftingdecision making from global to the local (e) a set ofideas for how to alter and limit corporate power andhold transnational corporations accountable (f) an out-line of alternative energy transportation agricultureand manufacturing systems that are responsive tohuman needs and (g) suggestions for local focused insti-tutions under the auspices of the UN that can replacethe triumvirate World Bank IMF and WTO
I love the courage of the statement tendered in theconclusion lsquoHistory will likely view the 1980s and 1990sas historical anomalies a time when a single dominantmodel [corporate-led capitalistic globalization] waspromoted despite its inherent unsustainability and its
failuresrsquo (p 239) The authors conclude that the WorldSocial Forum is but one example of the new alliancesemerging from the lsquobottom uprsquo to challenge corporate-led globalization and reshape society so it is humanesustainable and able to replace the legacy of exclusionand inequality of the current economic model To thatend the book allocates scarce space to the woes ofcorporate-led globalization (36 pages) and instead putsforth an inspiring vision of an alternative future (184pages)
By framing the issues as they have they emboldenmembers of the global citizen movement to take actionto create the world they want by redirecting globalnational and local priorities towards the task of creatinghealthy sustainable human societies that work for all(p 3) I will end my review with another favourite clausefrom the book lsquoThe issue is governance Will ordinarypeople have a democratic voice in deciding what rulesare in the best interests of societyrsquo (p 4) I think theanswer is yes because we are all ordinary people ndash thereal wealth This book stands out from others on thistopic because it seems honest fair well written com-prehensive and is definitely worth reading
Sue McGregor PhD Professor
httpwwwconsultmcgregorcomhttpwwwmsvucaPAXindexhtml