Open World: The Truth about Globalization

by Philippe Legrain

Book Overview

In a timely and provocative book, Philippe Legrain, formerly trade and economics correspondent for the Economist, argues that the idea and practice of globalization has been misrepresented by political activists who fail to understand its workings. Globalization, he insists, is neither a label for Americanization nor an excuse for worldwide corporate domination, and it does not eliminate local cultures or make governments irrelevant. Reassessing...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566635470
• ISBN13: 9781566635479
• Release Date: December 2003
• Publisher: Ivan R. Dee Publisher
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.3" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Great assesment of the issues

I picked this book up because I was interested in learning something about globalization. I'm tired of hearing the same arguments from anti-globalization fanatics, and Legrain's commentary on the issue is crystal clear.He often begins each chapter with a blurb from a prominent globalization opponent, such as Naomi Klein, and then goes on to refute it. Legrain makes his case crystal clear and uses plenty of solid evidence to back up what he says. Although he does not think globalization is the best thing to happen to humanity, he does believe it benefits us more than we think.This book is written from a European perspective, so there is a lot of attention given to preserving the "welfare state" for the needy. If you can get past that, you'll love the book.

Acessible, Readable

I needed to write a whole paper overnight on globalization and the environment and just picked this book up at the store the day before. It's very readable, with ideas that are easily accessible; most of which are thoughts that probably have had crossed your mind before; you just needed someone to logically link them all together and prove them for you. makes for very compulsive reading.

So, what is real globalization?

In Open World, Phillippe Legrain (former economics correspondent for the Economist Legrain) maintains that the idea of globalization has been misrepresented - and that it is neither a label for the Americanization of the world, nor a field day for corporations who would dominate world economic systems. So, what is real globalization? Legrain does a very fine job of considering and articulating how world interactions are changing - and in many ways -- for the better.

An interesting take on globalization

Open World is a really original book. Based on his experience as a journalist for The Economist, as well as from his time working for the WTO and travelling the world, Philippe Legrain argues that anti-globalizers like Naomi Klein, Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan have got it all wrong. But he also points out flaws in the arguments of defenders of globalization like Thomas Friedman. Globalization is a good thing, he says, but we can make it even better if only we stop believing that we have lost control over our lives to corporations and markets. He believes in free trade, but also has a social conscience. He argues that globalization enriches us culturally as well as economically, but recognizes that some people lose out from it. That is why governments need to act to build a better globalization. It's a really convincing and well-written book. Even if you don't end up agreeing with all of it, it is definitely worth reading.