What you can't miss

Identity and Violence: The Illusion of Destiny (Issues of Our Time) (Amartya Sen, 2006) is a philosophical work in which the author defends the idea that today’s brutalities are driven by the illusion of a unique identity. According to Sen, the “miniaturisation” of human beings, ie the tendency to identify someone withonly one key trait is a promoter of “terrorism” and violence. He passionately rails against what he calls the “solitarist” approach, under which people are very wrongly partitioned into Western or Eastern, Muslim or Christian or Hutu and Tutsi and even as being Pro-Globalization and Anti-Globalization- with no space for the assumption and exercise of other identities. Sen defends the idea that rejecting the limited sense of identity and embracing a broader, richer and more complex understanding of ourselves will promote peace worldwide.

Making Globalization Work (Joseph Stiglitz, 2006) primarily focuses on the economics of globalization. It surveys the iniquities of the global economy and the mechanisms by which developed countries exert an excessive influence over developing nations. It exposes the problems of how globalisation is currently being managed, the vested interests behind many decisions and the prospects for negotiating fairer terms for those worst affected. It reviews the progression of the positive and negative effects of globalization and offers information about the future prognosis of the world. Among others, Stiglitz argues that strong, transparent institutions are needed to turn globalisation to favor the world's poorest and to address the democratic deficit that is so keenly felt across the world.

Why Globalization Works (Martin Wolf, 2004) makes the apology of globalization opposed to isolationism and protectionism. It is clear to the author that the previous alternatives to globalization have miserably failed and that policies designed to integrate “economic activities, via markets” are the most efficient (not to say least bad) means of increasing the welfare of the largest number of people. Reviewing the trends towards trade liberalization and globalization over the past 150 years, the author remarks that, in many respects, the world economy was more integrated around 1900 than a century later. Martin Wolf examines a large range of the different issues linked to globalization, going from poverty alleviation to environmental issues, from political freedom to the protectionist burden or even more from anti-globalization arguments responses to a convinced defence of liberalization.

High Noon: 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them (Jean-François Rischard, 2002) relates what the author sees as the most urgent global issues of the decades to come. Critical towards the terms “globalization” and “global problem-solving”, the author states that the real issues the world is confronted with are (i) demographic explosion and (ii) a global economic revolution centred on markets and very inexpensive technologies, causing greater dislocations than any past industrialization. Rischard emphasizes the need of imagination and of a different type of thinking. A great book for those who are concerned with our future and seek solutions to the main issues of the next few years.

How to judge Globalism (Amartya Sen, The American Prospect, 2002). In this article, Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen refutes that globalisation is a synonym of Westernisation and underlines the importance of correcting inequities and imbalances to enable everyone to get a "fair share" of global opportunities.

Where to start from

Development, Trade and the WTO (Edited by Bernard Hoekman, Philip English, Aaditya Mattoo, World Bank, 2002). This handbook sets out major issues regarding trade related policy and institutional architecture, paying special attention to how international trade agreements should be designed to serve economic development.

Globalisation, Growth and Poverty: Building an Inclusive World Economy (World Bank, 2002). This handbook sets out major issues regarding trade related policy and institutional architecture, paying special attention to how international trade agreements should be designed to serve economic development. It analyses the integration of individual countries and regions in the global economy and identifies points of action to ensure a successful and effective integration of countries that have until now been left behind.

Why you should care

The Elusive Quest for Growth: Economists' Adventures and Misadventures in the Tropics (William Easterly, 2001). In this book, Easterly analyses the development remedies that were applied to developing countries since World War II and how they failed because of their ignorance of a basic principle of economics: people respond to incentives. He then suggests alternative solutions.

The Protest Ethic: How the Anti-Globalisation Movement Challenges Social Democracy (John Lloyd, Demos 2001) argues that a fundamental reform is needed and that true social democracy on an international scale will make it possible for globalisation to benefit all citizens of the world.

Spreading the Wealth (David Dollar and Aart Kraay, Foreign Affairs, January/February 2002), argues and illustrates that the current wave of globalisation is actually promoting equality and reducing poverty.

Looking for a historical perspective?

Globalization and Inequality: A Long History (Peter H. Lindert/Jeffrey G. Williamson, 2001) identifies "winners" and "losers" of globalisation since Columbus, taking a closer look at inequities between and within nations, in order to place the contemporary evolution in a better perspective.

The Wealth and Poverty of Nations (David Landes, 1998) casts a view on the last 1000 years asking why certain societies achieve wealth (and sometimes, eg Spain in the 16th century, China in the 18th, then lose it) and why some mire in poverty. Often provocative, excellent learning and stimulation.

Leading Proponents of Globalisation

The Race to the Top: The Real Story of Globalisation (Thomas Larsson, Cato Institute, 2001). In this book, Thomas Larsson argues that if globalisation can disrupt, it can also empower. By giving "real" examples, he aims at illustrating what globalisation means for people struggling to survive and prosper in economies all over the world.

A Future Perfect: The Challenge and Hidden Promise of Globalization (John Micklethwait & Adrian Wooldridge, New York, 2000). The authors argue that globalisation is not inevitable or irreversible and that it needs to be energetically supported, so that the global integration process can continue and deepen.

In Open World:/ The Truth about Globalisation (Philippe Legrain, 2002) globalisation is recognised as being far from perfect but, at the same time, anti-globalisation movements arguments are refuted. Legrain argues that local identities are not going to disappear and that choices are still possible.