Deglobalization

Contrary to much conventional wisdom, globalization is not an inevitable force sweeping across the world. Edward Ashbee shows with clarity and insight that it is a variegated process that ebbs and flows in response to political struggles, economic competition, technological innovation, and structural contingencies. Indeed, there is nothing inevitable about it at all.

-- John L. Campbell, Department of Sociology, Dartmouth College

In this excellent book, Ashbee draws out the core social, political and economic pressures that first ushered in globalization, and then a faltering process of deglobalization (or 'slowbalization'). The combination of overall analytical narrative and insightful illustrative examples throughout this period of policy discussions does a truly excellent job of bringing to the reader's attention the way in which the debate over global economic governance, and the nature of the global political economy itself, have both shifted over the past thirty years.

-- David J. Bailey, Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham

If you are intrigued by a possible common factor in the rise of Donald Trump, Nigel Farage and Viktor Orbán, and more broadly, populism and economic nationalism in many parts of the developed economies, this is a must-read. Ashbee succinctly yet eloquently captures the dynamic interaction between economic globalization and socio-political movements, and uncovers the resulting role of government in coping with the challenges.

-- Toshiya Ozaki, Professor Emeritus, Rikkyo University, J