Rethinking Globalization

From food to freedoms, rights to royalties, globalization has left its mark across the spectrum of cultural, economic and political life. While its nature, costs and benefits remain the subject of heated debate, the developments the term describes are fundamental to understanding the 21st century. Nick Bisley's central concern in this important new text is the impact of globalization on the patterns and practice of world politics. In contrast to the proponents of extreme versions of the globalization thesis, he demonstrates that the overall framework of the world system has not been transformed and that the nation state continues to play a central role. Through a careful analysis of globalization's impact on the state, the international economy, international institutions, security and political identity, he shows instead how it has changed the relationships of states and other actors, though often in uneven, diverse and unexpected ways. Shorn of the polemic excesses of its advocates and detractors globalization remains a helpful concept for understanding a range of phenomena in all spheres of life. The author's engaging and balanced assessment of the nature and evolution of globalization, and his rethinking of the central debates surrounding it, will make this essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the contemporary world.

About the Author:
Nick Bisley is Senior Lecturer and Director of the Graduate Programme in Diplomacy and Trade at Monash University