Open World: The Truth about Globalisation

In a timely and provocative book, Philippe Legrain, formerly trade and economics correspondent for the Economist, argues that the idea and practice of globalization has been misrepresented by political activists who fail to understand its workings. Globalization, he insists, is neither a label for Americanization nor an excuse for worldwide corporate domination, and it does not eliminate local cultures or make governments irrelevant. Reassessing the pros and cons of the most controversial economic movement of our time, Mr. Legrain finds no real foundation for the alarm that globalization has generated among a variety of protest groups. His compellingly readable and balanced evaluation analyzes all the major forces in the economic equation―workers, companies, governments, national economies, industry and agriculture, patents and profits, money and finance―and makes a clear case that we are free to choose our future and to shape globalization for the benefit of all. Open World is a spirited and incisive work of socio-economic analysis and a clarion call to restore our faith in government.

"At last a good book on globalization...lucid and persuasive."―Financial Times

"If you have been convinced by Naomi Klein or Noreena Hertz, you owe it to yourself to read Legrain's persuasive defense."―New Statesman

"One of those rare books that grabs the conventional wisdom and turns it on its head....Anyone who cares about our world and its future should read it."―Jonathan Freedland

Philippe Legrain, who studied at the London School of Economics, is chief economist of Britain in Europe, the campaign for the United Kingdom to join the European Union. He was previously special adviser to the director-general of the World Trade Organization, Mike Moore. In addition to his work on the Economist, he has written widely for British and American publications, including the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New Republic, Foreign Policy, and the Chronicle Review. He lives in London. To find out more about Mr. Legrain, visit www.philippelegrain.com.