Jihad vs. McWorld: Terrorism's Challenge to Democracy

by Benjamin R. Barber

Book Overview

Jihad vs. McWorld is a groundbreaking work, an elegant and illuminating analysis of the central conflict of our times: consumerist capitalism versus religious and tribal fundamentalism. These diametrically opposed but strangely intertwined forces are tearing apart--and bringing together--the world as we know it, undermining democracy and the nation-state on which it depends. On the one hand, consumer capitalism on the global level is rapidly dissolving...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345383044
• ISBN13: 9780345383044
• Release Date: July 1996
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

A powerful commentary

In light of the recent past and the oncoming future, this book seems prophetic. Especially given that Benjamin Barber (BB) is not speaking of the Islamic Jihad alone in this book. The book is a scholarly erudition on the state of global affairs today, and raises some very serious and pertinent questions, which are truly un-ignorable. The central theme of the book is the interplay of the forces of tribalism/sectarianism and Capitalism; and how this interplay impacts democracy. BB has structured the book wonderfully - The first part of introduces the concept of McWorld. Its easy to read and the language used is acerbic and pointingly sarcastic at times, which makes it a very delicious read to start with. But nothing prepared me at least for the sudden explosion of ideas in the second part, where its as if BB says "enough of banter, now lets get serious" - and here is where the book translates from a hip-hop criticism of Capitalism to a very powerful dissection of political states and the developments thereafter.BB analyzes the various elements and forces and features, of what he calls Jihad; in various parts of the world. In doing so he shows what forces create Jihad, and the inextricable link between Jihad and democracy on the one hand; and Capitalism on the other. The third and final part of the book is the actual commentary where BB leaves you blitzkreiged with the force and thrust of his ideas, which I shall be humble enough to not try and summarize here!This book is definitely worth a buy...

Prophetic and relevant

I read this book prior to the September 11 attacks but returned to it for perspective on the situation. I quickly realized that Barber's analysis was both prophetic and relevant to our current crisis. In essence, Barber demonstrates that what we consider to be good in the industrialized world -- specifically, an ever-expanding capitalist, consumerist lifestyle -- is viewed with deadly suspicion by many in the non-industrialized world. That's because the wholesale acceptance of our culture is perceived by many of the world's poor as a threat to their traditional lifestyles.The author points out that capitalism originally took root and flourished because of Western democracy's ability to curb the excesses of unfettered profit-making. But today's multinational corporations are no longer restrained by democratic forces in many parts of the third world. There, capitalism works in the name of absentee investors as a predatory force, stripping communities of their material and cultural resources, creating a branded, homogenous "McWorld" that too often leaves multitudes of impoverished people in its wake. Such conditions breed anger and resentment against Westerners in general and often against the American symbols of global capitalism in particular. In the worst case scenarios, negative energy is manifested by terrorism. So as the multinationals connect the world more closely together with sophisticated communications and production systems, "tribal units" such as terrorist organizations strive at the same time to tear this world apart. Somehow, "global democracy" needs to catch up with economic globalisation, the author reasons, to secure a more stable "global civil society". Such a world should more equitably balance the needs of people with capitalism. Barber believes that if people were truly empowered as citizens they could reshape their communities to better serve their own needs. In the end, this would effectively diminish the attractiveness of joining in the ultimately self-destructive world of "Jihad". Furthermore, the long-term growth of capitalism itself also requires stable markets. Barber points out that unless we more equitably share the benefits of capitalism with so-called emerging market countries, the instabilities that are created will eventually undermine our own success too.As policy makers struggle to learn how we can prevent another attack from happening, we would do well to consider the intelligent analysis in this outstanding book.

Relevant Today

Benjamin Barber wrote this book which has become the foundation of Globalization awareness for many of us today. Barber has an extensive and well-put vocabulary. One does not have to read this from beginning to end, but by various chapter by chapter throughout the entire book. There are tons of empirical data, research, and historical footnotes in "Jihad Vs. McWorld." He provides and accurate and objective picture of what our world is transforming into today: the world is becoming smaller and more culturally homogenous. Barber doesn't focus on negative or positive aspects but on the over-all ramifications. What are the motivations? The causes? This book lists many. Transnational corporate makeups, international job allocation, and consumerism in many areas of the world, can lead to diminished liberty and political and cultural autonomy, and lesser quality of life. "Robert Murdochization," the daily extinction of languages, and massive destruction of our environment are occurring. Overpopulation is one of the major causes. One of hundreds of examples is the 1994 Chinese auto-mobilization policy of 1994. what would be the effects of a nation of 1.3 billion people acquiring mass ownership of cars? The global mineral and fossil fuel supply would be exhausted in about 5 years. Can developed nations tell LDNs not to acquire automobiles when they themselves produce, export, and use them daily? Who is the biggest energy user, and waster in the world? The United States. Yet we must however, tell other nations' what they "should and should not do," because of the negative effects on the environment. Those in former Communist countries risked their freedom to read certain works to forsake them for MTV, Coca-Cola & Baywatch. It shows that the needs and wants have changed now that "freedom" is more available. This book is not anti-consumerist nor anti-mass consumption. Read it.

This book is a must-read for the world's citizenry.

Well-respected political scientist and prolific writer Benjamin Barber's "Jihad vs. McWorld" illuminates probably the most profound and compelling argument facing us today, tribalism vs. mass consumerism. Jihad vs. McWorld is the pulling of two major socia-political forces upon the citizenry of the world, jettisoning democracy precariously towards extinction. "Jihad" as articulated in the book represents extremist tribalist nature of fundamentalist cultures. It is the study of self-serving groups, whether they be of religious factions, nation-states, or various political ideologues. Their only goal is to secure the preservation of their culture and to influence those from outside their belief system. The result is warring tribes, i.e. the feuding ideologies of the Serbia-Croat battles, the plight of the Middle East, Northern Ireland's "religious" war, and the bombing of the Oklahoma Federal State building. "Jihad" leaves no room for a free-thinking civil democracy and absolutely abhors influences from outside it's realm, hence it's ardent distrust of Western consumerist ideology - McWorld.McWorld is the term coined to define the mass consumerist ideology of global marketing. McWorld is not so much a place but is a consumerist behavior. McWorld crosses all cultural boundaries whether they be open free markets or closed sacrilegious cultures. McWorld has not a human face but a bullish influence. McWorld's ultimate goal is to integrate every nation, every country, every person, every thing into a global market, whether they be mass consumers as pompously displayed as the obesity of the "West" or as manufacturers such as in the Nike corporation's child-labour sweatshops in Thailand. Jihad vs. McWorld provides profound insight into the use of multi-media and global communications for McWorld to spread it's influence.Jihad vs. McWorld is eloquently written and provides hard, factual insights without becoming alarmist. Benjamin Barber provides the reader with though! t-provoking questions that we as a society have been too lax in addressing and bold solutions that our present political systems can't seem to accommodate. An excellent book, I strongly recommended it.