A Future Perfect; The Essentials of Globalization

by John and Wooldridge MICKLETHWAIT

The integration of the world economy is re-ordering the lives of ordinary people and redefining politics. From Washington to Beijing, London to Tokyo, Frankfurt to Johannesburg, politicians are increasingly defined in terms of their attitude towards globalization. But as globalization gathers pace, so does the backlash against it. The world`s economics are poised on the brink of the new century -some like America enjoying steady growth, other In the Far East enduring massive recession and facing political crisis. But the forces pushing globalization - the digitalization of information, falling trade barriers, the universalization of successful management techniques - are real enough. How are we as nation states, and individual citizens, going to cope?

Genres: Economics, Politics, Nonfiction, Business, Society

406 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Jim Sta Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The authors' main points are sometimes lost in some parts of the book. The first half is better argued, more organized, more consistent and better written than the second half.

[Grant · Rating 2 out of 5]

File under "what were they thinking?" IE a good place to start on sussing out what was regarded as the shining city on the hill for the liars, thieves & creeps who charged off the cliff in 2008, thus launching the longest & most intractable recession since the 30s. Either the authors were completely oblivious to the rottenness and rapidly approaching collapse of the worlds financial crime syndicate operations known laughably as banks, or more likely they were blinded by (right wing) ideology. There's a desperation about it inasmuch as giving the timing of it's writing & publication it seems like a massive denial of all the evidence that so radically & shockingly exploded into focus in 1999 in Seattle. At no point do the authors admit what has been an ongoing mantra through the last decade; that it's not a "There Is No Alternative" world, Neoliberalism has lost its credibility, another world IS possible & on the plane of ideas and values that mentality and practise has already won.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the better books which introduces globalization for lay readers (i.e. non-specialist). For those with graduate degrees in political science, economics, or related fields there are perhaps "better" books that get into the weeds of global economics, geopolitics, and a connected world. But A Future Perfect is significantly better than much of the other options and its limitations are manageable.

[Evan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's hard to make good arguments in a book so short about a topic so broad. This one is at least very well-written, and the authors do occasionally bring new analysis to the debate, but like most (all?) books about globalization, pro or con, it's unsatisfying, and is little more than propaganda with which you can't help but disagree in part or in whole.

[Gemini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good book that I think really goes though how everything is tied together around the world on many different aspects. Totally liked the beginning portion of this book better then the last. This is not a quick read though since it is pretty long but it does make you think.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read in business school at the same time as Friedman's "Lexus and Olive Tree." This has some of the same ideas, but is far more thoughtful.