Understanding Globalization: The Social Consequences of Political, Economic, and Environmental Change

by Robert K. Schaeffer

This best-selling book examines the political, economic, and environmental changes that affect people's lives in the United States and around the world. Using an accessible, narrative approach Robert Schaeffer explains contemporary global processes and developments. Just as a storm that moves across an area has differing local, regional and even national and global impacts that are welcome to some and disastrous to others, global events can have very different consequences--good and bad--for people in different settings. Though many of the global changes that he examines are interconnected, the stories Schaeffer presents are told separately. The result is a text that provides readers with accounts of change that can be studied individually or read collectively. In this fourth edition Schaeffer offers a new chapter on global migration in which he examines the causes and consequences of contemporary economic, environmental, and gender-based migrations. He also looks at the economic problems of 2008 which plunged the United States into a recession and triggered a global economic downturn. Throughout Understanding Globalization Schaeffer examines developments in past years that shaped or resembled current global challenges, making this text an excellent primer for understanding current global developments.

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Alvaro Berrios · Rating 3 out of 5]

The purpose of this book is not so much to understand what is globalization, but rather, what the historical circumstances are that brought about globalization. As a result, this is a history book and not a theory or business strategy book. It provides great historical context and helps you realize that many aspects of globalization were not brought about by evolution in operational efficiencies, but by political and social events that altered the global landscape. So chances are there is a lot of information in this book that you didn't know, and in that sense it is a very informative and useful book.

The reason I give it 3 stars though is that there are a few fatal flaws with the book. First off, globalization is one of those hot business buzz words, and there are many definitions of it. So you would think that someone who is writing a book about globalization would try to define it in his or her own words. However, the author fails to ever do so. Secondly, when reading this book it is brutally apparent that the author is staunchly against the process of globalization. When you go digging for information on the author, this suspicion is confirmed. As a result, the book is extremely biased and only talks about the negative side effects of globalization (which there are plenty of, without a doubt). But a lot of good things have come about as a result of globalization, but you wouldn’t know that from reading this book.

Overall, it’s a decent book. If you’re going to read it you are bound to learn a lot of new information. Take everything with a grain of salt though, becase it’s a book on globalization written by someone who hates globalization. Just keep an open mind.

[Cass]

Fascinating overview of the worlds economy over the last 60 years (post WWII). Money makes the world go 'round...and you won't beleive some of the policies this country has enforced on the world, and it's own people. A relative topic considering our current economical situation...recession, housing crisis, trade deficit, falling dollar, unprecedented national debt...and a surging China!!

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another textbook from my geography class! I must have really found that stuff interesting. This is another book that I remember finding fascinating and simultaneously anxiety-inducing.