Globalization Reader by Frank Lechner

Globalization Reader by Frank Lechner and John Boli, addresses what has become one of the most important buzz words of the 21st century. Globalization refers to a process that is complex and involves many different theories and facets. Lechner and Boli present some of the most recent research on globalization in a format that is easy to understand. The book highlights the work of some of the top scholars on the topic of globalization. The book focused on the forces that affect the globalization process, as well as the effects of globalization on both industrialized and developing countries.

The purpose of the book was to give the reader a rounded view of globalization, its many components and the effects of globalization on various segments of the population. Upon reading the table of contents, it appears that the authors have accomplished their goals. However, as one begins to read the articles themselves, it becomes apparent that a certain amount of bias is present in the articles that the authors have chosen to represent the topic of globalization. This research will explore the book as a whole and in relation to its intended purpose of giving the reader a balanced perspective on the topic of globalization. It will support the hypothesis that even though the authors had noble intentions, they introduced a high degree of bias into the work through the selection of their articles.

Purpose of the Work

Before we begin to examine book in detail, it is important to take into consideration a few of the characteristics of the book that make it different from other works of this nature. The first thing to remember about this work is that it represents a compilation of the works of other authors. Therefore, it does not stand alone in and of itself as a piece of research. It more resembles and anthology of selected works than the research of a single author.

It was the intention of the authors to give the readers an understanding of what globalization is and of the many issues that are contained within this topic. From the beginning of the work, it is clear that it is not the intention of the authors to sway the audience towards one viewpoint or another, but rather to give them a deeper understanding of the topic at hand. The authors wished to allow the audience to make up their own mind regarding how they felt about globalization and the many effects that it has and will have on the world in which we live. A further examination of the individual chapters will give us a better perspective on whether they accomplished their goal or not.

Opposing Forces

One of the most important points that is emphasized throughout the book is that globalization is a process that involves opposing forces. While the movement gravitates towards a sense of global interconnectivity, it also gravitates towards greater homogeneity. This homogeneity is necessary in order to carry out the functions of interconnectivity. Many obstacles must be overcome on the road to globalization. One of the most apparent is language and culture differences. Homogeneity is necessary in order to accomplish a truly global marketplace. These ideas are most emphasized by Lechner and Boli in the article included by Hans King, "A Global Ethic as a Foundation for Global Society" and in EJ Hobsbawm's, "The World Unified."

While globalization requires a movement towards increasing homogeneity, an opposing force resists the loss of national identity and loss of culture that are a result. As cultures blend, it is more often the case than not, that a dominant culture emerges, to the detriment of the weaker culture. In recent times, this often means that developing nations succumb to the forces of corporations that force a Eurocentric view. This was emphasized by the article, "Disjuncture and Difference in the Global Economy" by Arjun Appadurai.

Globalization is filled with opposing forces that seek to keep their autonomy and culture. Some completely reject the ideal of globalization altogether, while others attempt to find a happy medium where globalization can coexist with local culture and a sense of cultural identity. The ability to strike this balance is one of the greatest challenges facing globalization today. Lechner and Boli present both sides of the argument, but they place an emphasis on cultures who are attempting to resist globalization and retain their own cultural identity.

Globalization is a social force that will bring social change on some level in every country in the world, whether they willingly choose to participate or not. This is bound to bring tension among many competing factions. Globalization has a different effect on everyone and every culture in the world. This is one of the key points that were brought out in the Globalization Reader. Lechner and Boli support the ideal that the stronger forces to unify and unite become, the greater the resistance to these changes will be. Tribal wars have been a part of human history since its early beginnings. Now these forces are being strained and as they become more strained, the more likely they are to resort to their tribality as a means to find comfort. However, as Lechner and Boli point out as forces within the tribe and between tribes causes conflict, the more likely forces from the outside are to place pressure on them to conform to the norms of the rest of the world.

Although, they did not state it. Kitchner and Boli stress the importance of three key forces on rogue countries to conform. These three forces are economic, technological and ecological forces. These three forces demand integration, and as a result homogeneous the culture and integrate it into the whole of the global community. Technology and the need to participate in the global economy are perhaps the greatest driving forces that are helping to shape the future of the world. Kitchner and Boli provide one key example of the resistance to of the extent to which indigenous peoples are making an effort to resist globalization, even if it means greater prosperity for the country. The Papuans have resisted installation of the world's largest coal mine, placing environmental concerns over those of corporation and profits for the Papuans. The authors used this example to illustrate their point about how some cultures are making a concerted and public effort to resist globalization and the loss of cultural identity that comes with it.

Once of the key questions that Kichner and Boli ask is where religion stands in light of globalization. As the world continues to morph and commute into one economy with a single set of ethics driving it, the obvious question is what to do about religion. Often religion is a point of contention that has divided humans since early times. Cultures have been forced, in many cases, to give up many of their beliefs and traditions in order to participate in the global economy and to provide all of the advantages of doing so to their people.

Kitchner and Boli address the issue of fundamentalism and women's rights, bringing up the point that Islam in the country of Iran represents a central area of dispute on the topic. This section could have been much stronger if the authors had included more examples to illustrate their point rather than just those that address the issues concerning women and the suppression of their rights according to Islamic Law and custom. The issue of where religion fits into globalization is an issue that needs to be addressed in the future, but it is likely, as the examples from the authors point out, that it will be unlikely to be resolved any time in the near future, but it is an issue of concern in the globalization process. At this point, it is not clear where religion stands in the globalization process, which was the main point that the authors managed to convey.

A Case for Author Bias

The authors begin the first three chapters of the book with a relatively explanatory approach to globalization. However, in Chapter IV, "Economic Globalization," the idea that globalization is not good for everyone and that in some cases it could hurt some by increased class inequality begins to emerge. However, at this point, the authors still try to present a balanced representation of the topics. They make the case that opinions differ as to the effects of globalization and that it has different effects on different people. The key point that is being made, at this point, is that not everyone has the same opinion of globalization.

In Chapter V, the authors include an article that asks the question, "Has Globalization Gone Too Far?" Although the article is credited to Dani Rodrik, the opinion expressed in the article is influential in shaping the reader's opinion. Therefore,. this article should be considered to be representative of the opinions of Lechner and Boli. Rodrik feels that this is the one issue that unites those on the extreme left and the extreme right. The general attitude and concern is that globalization will create the disintegration of society, and that regardless of the economic wealth that it will bring, globalization will have a negative effect on the everyone. Rodrik's intent was to provide a balanced look at these issues, but in the end, the book was decidedly anti-globalization, which leads to an anti-globalization slant in the Globalization Reader.

Throughout the book, the authors provide subtle hints that they are biased against further globalization through their selection of material. However, it is not until Chapter VIII that the book demonstrates a truly biased perspective. When the authors address the issue of globalization and the role of religions, it is difficult to discount the bias that is present in the work. The first article that is presented was authored by Frank Lechner, "Global Fundamentalism." In this article, Lechner argues that fundamentalism is on the way out and that it cannot survive in the face of the emergence of a global culture.

Chapter VIII seems to focus on Muslims and Muslim fundamentalists, to the exclusion of almost any other group. It is not known what the reason is behind this focus on fundamentalism, but a majority of the articles in this chapter are focused on Muslim culture. The focus of the article "Bin Laden and Other Thoroughly Modern Muslims" is the reaction of the Islamic world to the actions of fundamentalists such as Bin Laden. Kurzman divides these reactions into two categories, those who take the lead by example approach and those who feel that conquest is the proper course of action.

Kurzman's article focuses on radical Islamists who are trained in modern universities, but who give the illusion of religious authority as if they had been trained in a seminary. Kurzman points out that radical Islamists use modern methods, but use ancient language in their attempt to restore Islam to its "golden age." Kurzman warns against Western generalizations, such as lumping the Taliban into the same category as the Republic of Iran, pointing out that they are fundamentally different, particularly in their treatment of women in the workforce. Kurzman's article focused more on the effects of fundamentalism on the Muslim world and Muslim attitudes than on globalization. At the end of the article I found myself wondering what this article had to do with understanding globalization. I did not think that it belonged in the book at all, as it did not tie closely to the theme of the book.

The next article in this chapter, "The Challenge of Fundamentalism" supports that viewpoints of the previous article, in that it is anti-Islamic movement. It at least makes the point that the author does not feel that Islam will be able to integrate into the New World Order. The book does not speculate as to whether this will prevent them from participating in commerce or the effects that the inability to participate will have on either the nations states, or how it will affect the globalization process. This article is food for thought, but it leaves many more questions than it answers. The same can be said about the next article, "Globalized Islam: The Search for a New Ummah," by Olivier Roy. The most striking similarity in these articles is that they appear to have little to do with globalization and much more to do with understanding terrorism and the various Islamic factions.

It appears that the authors strayed from the topic of Globalization in Chapter VIII, further supporting the thesis that this chapter is biased. I the last two articles of the chapter, the authors discuss the globalization of certain religious movements. They discuss the globalization of Pentacostalism and Catholicism. Lehner and Boli remind the readers that the idea is a global religion is not new and that the Catholic Church and the Muslim religion have been widespread throughout many different periods in history. The idea of a global religion is not new.

Lechner and Boli attempted to draw the subject of religion into the topic of globalization, I would not consider this attempt to be a success. What resulted instead was an examination the global and internal views of the various religious factions. It is apparent that the authors do not feel that the New World Order has room for radical Islam. I did not feel that the authors tied these articles to their intended purpose, creating the perception of bias in this Chapter.

Lechner and Boli pose the question as to whether fundamentalism has any place in the globalized world at all. Shahla Haeri's article in Chapter VIII brings out the conflict between traditional Islamic law and practice and human rights in the global society. The conflict between the need for global autonomy and obedience in the Islamic world are in direct conflict. It is apparent that Lechner and Boli wish to make the point that fundamentalism and religion are going to be the most contradictory issues in the development of the global economy. They also bring out the point that regardless of how unrelated religion might seem to the development of the global economy, the cultural biases that result will have an impact on the ability to form successful global relations.

Conclusion

It can be assumed that the authors of a book agree with their own arguments and perspectives, otherwise they would not have written it. Therefore, any biases that are present in the work can be assumed to be representative of the author's own viewpoints and perspectives. With this in mind, one has to conclude that Kirchner and Boli's treatment of Islam and its affects on globalization are representative of their personal viewpoints.

Chapter VII was of greatest concern regarding the issue of bias against fundamentalist Islam. At first it would appear that the authors were anti-muslim, but a closer examination of the chapter makes it apparent that the authors are careful to point out the differences between muslims and Islamic fundamentalists. They do not feel that fundamentalism of any type can survive in the face of globalization. The one thing that was not clear was if Islam was chosen as an example because it was the best choice to illustrate the point being made, or if it was because the authors wanted to point out that it was on its way out in lieu of a more global and humanitarian viewpoint. Perhaps a better explanation of why these pieces were chosen would clear up the reasons behind the author's choice of these articles. However, it does appear that the authors were biased against Islamic fundamentalists in this chapter.