Political Globalization

Book Review # 104846

Economics
Economics > Globalization
Political Science

A book review of Adam Harmes' "The Return of the State".

1,602 words () | 3 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper examines the central thesis in Adam Harmes' book, "The Return of the State", that globalization will inevitably succumb to a reinvigorated political globalization. The paper explains the practical considerations of political globalization in the world today and looks at Harmes' use of history when it comes to explicating his thesis. The paper also discusses the direction Harmes thinks the situation will take in the years ahead. The paper is of the opinion that Harmes' work is a generally well-written and thoughtful look at an important issue, although it is not without shortcomings.

From the Paper:

"Adam Harmes' basic thesis appears to be this: globalization has gone too far and has fostered a growing sense among citizens and elites the world over that greater state regulation is necessary. Specifically, cronyism and influence-peddling have both become omnipresent and other problems - environmental degradation, growing inequality, corporate power and avarice, stagnating pay and deep cuts to social spending - have pushed their way to the fore in such a manner that political demands for reform are now greater, more strident, than they have been in some time (Harmes, 177-78). Far from the arc of history taking on the form of a steadily-climbing straight line with the free market muscling aside the state, Harmes believes it is more accurate to see history as being an oscillating pendulum that is now swinging towards greater state involvement and towards more control of Big Business."

Sample of Sources Used:

Harmes, Adam. The Return of the State: Protestors, Power-Brokers, and the New Global Compromise. Vancouver, BC: Douglas & McIntyre, 2004.
International Monetary Fund. "IMF Members' Quotas and Voting Power, and IMF Board of Governors." About the IMF: Executive Directors and Voting Power. 12 Jul. 2007. International Monetary Fund. 15 Jul. 2007 <http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/memdir/members.htm>
"International Monetary Fund 101." Third World Traveler. Jan/Feb. 1998. Thirdworldtraveler.com. 15 Jul. 2007 <http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/IMF_WB/IMF_101.html>