The New Asian Hemisphere:
		The Irresistible Shift of Global Power to the East
		Kishore Mahbubani
		New York: Public Affairs
		ISBN: 978-1-58648-466-8

Rapid modernization contributes to the rise of Asia in terms of economic and social power, and Kishore Mahbubani's book, "The New Asian Hemisphere: The Irresistible Shift of Global Power to the East," documents that rise. Mahbubani, dean and professor with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, the National University of Singapore, explains why it's in the best interest of the democratic West and global institutions to accommodate additional power centers and even celebrate an increasing number of responsible stakeholders in world affairs. Fair distribution of power and global democracy can contribute to a more stable and peaceful world. continue...

		Exploited: Migrant Labour
		in the New Global Economy
		Toby Shelley
		London: Zed Books, 2007
		ISBN: 978-I-84277-852-4

Unprecedented flows of migrant workers, a result of economic liberalization, characterize the start of the 21st century. Toby Shelley, journalist with the Financial Times, documents how a global economy has come to depend on a work force that endures low wages as well as abuse from employers and governments in his book, "Exploited: Migrant Labour in the New Global Economy." Shelley argues that a tough "law and order" approach sanctions the abuse, and this review points to the need for a long and specific plan of action that touches many social bases. continue...

		The Paradox of a Global USA
		Edited by Bruce Mazlish, Nayan Chanda and Kenneth Weisbrode
		Stanford University Press
		ISBN: 978-0-8047-5156-8

The US presided over much of the technological innovation that spurred globalization throughout the 20th century. Yet Americans remain wary about the international influence and global governance. "The Paradox of a Global US," edited by Bruce Mazlish, Nayan Chanda and Kenneth Weisbrode analyzes the simultaneous US pursuit and hesitation about global connections in politics, religion, media, foreign affairs and security. In her review, Susan Froetschel suggests that the US might have more to fear from its own way of handling globalization than the phenomenon itself. continue...

		Democracy's Good Name: The Rise
		and Risks of the World's Most Popular Form of Government
		Michael Mandelbaum
		New York: Public Affairs
		ISBN: 978-1-58648-514-6

Democracy spread rapidly throughout the world during the 20th century. But that does not mean the system is free of risks. Michael Mandelbaum, a leading US foreign policy thinker, explores the history of democracy and the necessary conditions for its establishment in his book, "Democracy's Good Name: The Rise and Risks of the World's Most Popular Form of Government." In the book, Mandelbaum focuses on leadership and institutions. In her review, Susan Froetschel keys in on another remarkable aspect of democracy - the fact that large groups of people live with decisions that do not go their way. continue...

		Good Capitalism, Bad Capitalism, and
		the Economics of Growth and Prosperity
		William J. Baumol, Robert E. Litan and Carl J. Schramm
		New Haven: Yale University Press
		ISBN: 978-0-300-10941-2

Capitalism is not a simple monolithic system and comes in more than one form: entrepreneurial, big firms, state-directed and oligarchic. Some forms are better than others at delivering innovation, opportunity, economic growth and wealth, argue authors William J. Baumol, Robert E. Litan and Carl J. Schramm in their book "Good Capitalism, Bad Capitalism, and the Economics of Growth and Prosperity." In a review, Susan Froetschel points out how nations must take care to avoid the forms that encourage greed, inequality and complacency rather than the passion for innovation and solving problems that confront the globe. continue...

		Bound Together: How Traders,
		Preachers, Adventurers, and Warriors Shaped Globalization
		Nayan Chanda
		New Haven: Yale University Press
		ISBN: 978-0-3001-1201-6

Globalization, the process of growing interconnectedness, is not a new phenomenon. All that's new is the ease and speed of the connections. In his book, Nayan Chanda, editor of YaleGlobal Online, follows the exploits of historical traders, preachers, adventurers and warriors in shaping our world, and identifies their modern counterparts at work today. The categories provide insights into globalization's ongoing process, and Paul Freedman, chair of the Department of History at Yale University, points out how Chanda's background as an international journalist allows for perceptive observations at both the personal and global levels. Describing Chanda's analysis as both exciting and sobering, Freedman also ponders why globalization has failed to penetrate some of the poorest places of the world, emphasizing that, despite unprecedented opportunities, the world is still inequitable. continue...

		Overthrow: America's Century of
		Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq
		Stephen Kinzer
		New York: Times Books (2006)
		ISBN: 987-0-8050-7861-9

Regime change has been an integral part of US foreign policy for more than 100 years. Stephen Kinzer tells the story of 14 interventions and coups, from deposing the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 to the Iraq invasion in 2003. Susan Froetschel examines the author's narrative style, emphasizing how the expensive and disruptive operations may achieve US economic or political goals for the short term, but can pose devastating consequences generations later. continue...

		The Case for Goliath:
		How America Acts as the World's Government in the 21st Century
		Michael Mandelbaum
		New York: Public Affairs (2005)
		ISBN: 978-I-58648-360-9

Michael Mandelbaum analyzes the US role as the world's sole superpower, providing global security as a government service. The US may not continue that role for long though. The biggest threat comes not from rival countries but rather the US public, no longer willing to pay the costs. In this review, Susan Froetschel highlights the author's approach to understanding the US role in the world order. continue...

		Globalinc.
		An Atlas of The Multinational Corporation
		Medard Gabel & Henry Bruner
		New York: The New Press (2003)
		ISBN: 1-56584-727-X

One of the major agents of globalization - the multinational corporation - has been alternately portrayed as global villain and global economic booster. In "Global Inc.", a new "atlas of the multinational corporation" by Medard Gabel and Henry Bruner, companies with an extensive global reach are subjected to a more objective critical eye. In this review article, Nayan Chanda highlights the authors' somewhat surprising data and assesses the book's significance for globalization studies. continue...

		Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and the
		Lessons for Global Power
		Niall Ferguson
		New York: Basic Books (2003)
		ISBN: 0-465-02328-2

In the lead up to the invasion of Iraq - and especially with the difficulties the US has encountered since - there is a renewed interest in the historical experience of past imperial efforts. Not surprisingly, the publication of British historian Niall Ferguson's provocative history of the British Empire has aroused special interest. In this review of the book, noted historian and World Systems theorist Immanuel Wallerstein focuses on Ferguson's defense of the British Empire. continue...

		World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability
		Amy Chua
		New York: Doubleday (2003)
		ISBN: 0-385-50302-4

In her recent book, World on Fire, Yale University professor Amy Chua argues that it is the resentment of long-standing minority domination that has so much of the world's citizens ready to take up arms. Pat Sewell examines the author's contentions and assesses her sweeping proposals for solving the most challenging problem facing global society since the Second World War. continue...

		Globalization And Its Discontents
		Joseph E. Stiglitz
		New York: W.W. Norton & Co. (2002)
		ISBN: 0-393-05124-2

"This book recounts Stiglitz's experiences, opening a window on previously unseen aspects of global economic policy. It is designed to provoke a healthy debate and… shows us in poignant terms why developing nations feel the economic deck is stacked against them." continue...

Click here for a critique from the IMF

		Re-Thinking the Network Economy: The True Forces That Drive the Digital Marketplace
		Stan Liebowitz
		New York: Amacom (2002)
		ISBN: 0814406491

"Rethinking the Network Economy examines exactly where, how, and why so many e-commerce firms went wrong, and how, utilizing traditional economic concepts, businesses can build the foundation for success in the future. " continue...