Rethinking Globalization: Production, Politics, Actions (Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI Studies))

The globalization of human affairs replaces familiar, localized processes with abstract, fluid boundaries. The theoretical discussion of this trend has largely been a celebration of progress, but the worldwide financial crises of 1997 have undermined its credibility. In 'Rethinking Globalization,' Richard Worthington reveals the conceptual foundations of global processes, describes the political economy of high-tech global production, and challenges its authenticity and inevitability. Policy, he argues, is driven by a technocratic mindset that addresses social and ecological problems through ineffective half-measures. In the final chapters, Worthington shows that the most compelling examples of social improvements stem from grassroot activism and social movements. These movements arise from local realities and common sense, enabling people to challenge global fantasies and promote equitable, sustainable alternatives.

The Author: Richard Worthington is Professor of Politics and chairs the Program in Public Policy Analysis at Pomona College in Claremont, California. He has also led programs in science, technology, and society at the Claremont Colleges, as well as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Worthington has written widely on environmental activism, science policy, and politics in the Americas, and has been a consultant to leading companies in the global information industry.