There Is An Alternative: Subsistence and Worldwide Resistance to Corporate Globalization

by Veronika Bennholdt-Thomsen (Editor), Nicholas Faraclas (Editor)

In this book a group of distinguished authors explodes the defeatist myth that ‘there is no alternative’ to corporate sponsored globalization. Theoreticians and activists from feminist, environmental, anti-imperialist and anti-racist struggles across five continents report on existing community-based initiatives, and demonstrate how we can all defy the creed of corporate globalization.

Inspired by the groundbreaking work of Maria Mies and her colleagues, which culminates in the elaboration of the ‘subsistence perspective’, the book is in three parts, dealing first with the theory of subsistence, then considering globalization as colonization and finally reporting on concrete cases of resistance to globalization in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, Australia and the Pacific. The subsistence perspective emerges as a fertile matrix for creative thinking and action to reclaim our labour, our communities, our environment, our bodies and our lives.

Anyone who refuses to believe that corporate globalization is our inevitable destiny will find this book a solid basis for formulating ideas and implementing strategies for the creation of a future in the image and the interest of the world’s peoples.

256 pages, Paperback

First published December 7, 2001

Reviews

[Hannah Wattangeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book with lots of useful information and facts about the impact of global capitalism and patriarchy - how it disenfranchises, dislocates, removes people from communities and in the process creates environmental destruction. It is based on the work of Maria Mies and her colleagues and is an edited book with perspectives and approaches from different areas, including feminist, environmental, anti-imperialist and anti-racist perspectives. I was particularly pleased with the strong feminist approach. What was very useful were the concrete examples of resistance in all parts of the world, Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, Australia and the Pacific. The book also closely examines what is meant by the theory of subsistence. I would highly recommend this book.

[Menser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am rereading. Like "The subsistence perspective" another lost classic for those interested in the global justice movement and EXISTING alternatives to neoliberalism/capitalism etc. Lots of case studies in this volume as well as an excellent interview with feminist, anticapitalist anthropologist/sociologist Maria Mies.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a couple of good essays in this book, but overall, it seemed to be more of an homage to Margaret Mies than anything else.