[Wodstock Report, October 1999, No. 59] The following books and articles represent a sample of what is available
in English. There are excellent books and articles in French, Spanish,
German, and other languages. We also might keep in mind that each author
approaches globalization from the perspective of his or her field of sociology,
political science, economics, anthropology, etc. No one of them can provide
us with a comprehensive understanding of the full and complex nature of
this world wide process. Each of us has to do this for ourselves. Baldwin, Richard E., Martin, Philippe. "Two Waves of Globalization:
Superficial Similarities, Fundamental Differences," Working Paper
6904, January, 1999. National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc., Cambridge,
MA. This helpful economics paper explains that the historical and social
context of today's economic globalization is radically different from
the first wave which ended in 1920. In their final section on lessons
of history, the authors argue that, just as misguided beliefs of nineteenth
century policymakers negatively affected the outcome of the first
wave of globalization, the same can happen today. Boyle, Nicholas. Who Are We Now: Christian Humanism and the Global
Market from Hegel to Heaney. Notre Dame, IN: Notre Dame Press, 1998. Boyle, who teaches literature at the University of Cambridge, explores
the implications of our increasingly integrated world economy for
our sense of political, cultural, and personal identity, as we feel
the push toward greater local diversity and the pull toward global
unification. Burtless, Gary, Lawrence, Robert Z., Litan, Robert E., and Shapiry, Robert
J. Globaphobia: Confronting Fears about Open Trade. Washington,
DC: Brookings Institution Press, 1998. In a rather technical treatment, these Brookings fellows argue for
open trade policies that promote economic globalization. They propose
"remedies" that deal with the negative impacts of globalization
on workers and companies in the United States who can be hurt by free
trade. Friedman, Thomas L. The Lexus
and the Olive Tree. New York: Farrar Strauss & Giroux, 1999. Like his editorials on the op-ed pages of the New York Times,
Friedman's stimulating book invites us to experience the tension between
globalization and ancient forces of culture, geography, tradition,
and community, from an American cultural perspective. Gray, John. False Dawn: Delusions of Global Capitalism. New York:
New Press, 1998. Gray, professor of European thought at the London School of Economics,
quite provocatively challenges the laissez faire global economic
viewpoint, from the perspective of economic philosophy. Huntington, Samuel P. The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking
of the World Order. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996. From the perspective of American political science Huntington, chairman
of the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, sets globalization
in the context of westernization and argues that contemporary global
politics must take into consideration a profound conflict of cultural
identities among civilizations. Jameson, Frederick and Masao Miyoshi, eds. Cultures of Globalization.
Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1998. This is a collection of scholarly papers given at a conference sponsored
by Duke University on the very topic of globalization and culture.
Intellectuals from around the world address the basic question: Is
globalization a matter of transnational domination and uniformity
or is it the source of the liberation of local culture from hidebound
national limitations? John Paul II. "Ecclesia in America" (Church in
America), Origins, vol. 28: no. 33, Feb 4, 1999. The Pope's 1998 "apostolic exhortation" is based on the
Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops held late in
1997. In Paragraph 20 he says that the ethical implications of globalization
can be positive or negative. He also distinguishes economic globalization
from cultural globalization. Robertson, Roland. Globalization:
Social Theory and Global Culture. London: Sage Publications, 1992;
and Religion and Global Order. New York: Paragon House, 1991. Professor Robertson teaches sociology at the University of Pittsburgh.
His sociological approach takes the role of religion seriously and provides
solid theoretical background for those who seek to practice cultural dialogue. Rodrik, Dani. Has Globalization Gone Too Far? Washington, DC:
Institute for International Economics, 1997. Rodrik, Dani. The New Global Economy and
Developing Countries: Making Openness Work.
Washington, D.C.: Overseas Development Council, 1999. These two books by Rodrik, the Rafiq Hariri Professor of International
Political Economy at Harvard University and Senior Advisor to ODC,
treat economic globalization from a development perspective. They
provide us with some of the best available American economic thought
on Globalization. Schaeffer, Robert K. Understanding Globalization: Social Consequences
of Political, Economic, and Environmental Change. Lanham, U. K.: Rowman
& Littlefield Publishers, 1997. A San Jose State University professor of sociology, Schaeffer's contribution
to our project is his treatment of concrete case studies of the impact
of globalization in various regions of the world. His treatment of
environmental change is particularly helpful. Schreiter, Robert J. New Catholicity: Theology between the Global
and the Local. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1997. Father Schreiter, professor of doctrinal theology at Catholic Theological
Union, Chicago, gives us what is perhaps the best theological approach
to globalization available. He provides us with a way of understanding
how religious identity is at the heart of the globalization and culture
discussion. Waters, Malcolm. Globalization. New York: Routledge, 1995 Professor of sociology at the University of Tasmania, Australia, Waters
provides the best introduction to the globalization process in its broadest
sense. Besides a critical summary of the main theories of globalization,
he opens the way for us to trace its effects in the workings of economy,
politics, and culture. Compiled by Gasper F. Lo Biondo, S.J., September 1999
Copyright © 1999 Woodstock Theological Center
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