The Amoral Elephant: Globalization and the Struggle for Social Justice in the Twenty-First Century

Book Description

In what may well have been the largest popular protest in this country of the last twenty years, more than forty thousand demonstrators in Seattle effectively shut down a World Trade Organization (WTO) conference late last year. Against the backdrop of this historic event, William K. Tabb issues a comprehensive examination of the world capitalist system at the start of the twenty-first century disputing those who see globalization as the steamroller against which the most powerful nations are helpless. It is in fact the most powerful states that have created globalization.

The Amoral Elephant examines the implications of globalization, draws parallels to earlier stages of capitalist development to demonstrate the social burdens arising from the exploding financial markets. Tabb describes how international institutions, most importantly the International Monetary Fund and the WTO have focused on neoliberal goals to erode the welfare state and shift wealth from the poor to the rich.

Tabb's reasoning is that if we better understand the world, we will be better prepared to engage in the struggle for progressive social change.

Customer Reviews:

Challenging and illuminating: the new economic domination.......2004-04-10

When I assigned *The Amoral Elephant* to my upper division college students, I was looking for a relatively simple book, critical of "globalization." What we got instead was a difficult, but rewarding book about the emerging hegemony of finance capitalism. My students feel overwhelmed with the macroeconomics--they are befuddled by Tabb's casual use of terms such as deflation, the World Bank, interest rates, and Shumpeterian growth. Anyone lacking some background in macroeconomics might want to avoid this book--or at least have a good reference text in hand.

But for those of us with some basic fluency in global capitalism and its financial mechanisms, Tabb's book is a rewarding and insightful adventure. Though I have a Ph.D, I feel quite educated by Tabb in ways which I did not anticipate.

What Tabb helped me to see is the sudden emergence of finance capitalism since the 1970s--that the global economy has undergone a fundamental shift in terms of shareholder domination, capital flight, multinational production and ownership, and political control. Where large productive industries (cars, steel, etc.) once collaborated with Keynesian policies in the US, Europe, and elsewhere, they are suddenly unshackled, and have fully embraced neoliberal economics.

It is Tabb who has helped me to understand this more than any other: more than Giovanni Arrighi, David Harvey, Marjorie Kelly, Amy Chua, or the goodly field of "anti-globalization" scholars. With Tabb in hand, I feel a deep comprehension of the new global economy; one which had really eluded me.

Although Tabb is a leftist, I think that middlers and conservatives might benefit from *The Amoral Elephant* as well. Of course, they'll be bothered by his slant, but hopefully enlightened about the emergence of finance capitalism since the 1970s. For one thing, Tabb shows the serious risks which capitalism presents to itself. Like billionaire George Soros, Tabb sees the paucity of regulation as a serious threat to capitalism, as it weakens societies, foments rebellion, and undercuts the ability of consumers to absorb growing output. Even a Republican or a Tory could be alarmed by the specter of global recessions, violent insurgencies, and widespread poverty.

Tabb's book is an excellent history of capitalist political economies in the twentieth century. From railroads to microchips, Tabb takes the reader on a journey which spells out a post-World War II consensus (though he omits relevant discussion of Cold War neo-colonialism, CIA fueled coups and wars, etc.): high-wage, socially liberal "Western" states, extracting wealth from the third world, and creating a somewhat mutually profitable alliance between labor and capital. He then traces the emergence of neoliberalism, wherein labor around the world is suppressed and major stockowners are enriched, where capital surges in and out of booms, leaving horrendous busts in its wake.

No matter where you fall politically, you will benefit from Tabb's book, which shows the rise of a neoliberalism. This juggernaut is rivaled only by a growing movement of critics around the world, from Seattle to Brazil to Mecca. It is a shockingly new and powerful regime which affects the lives of most everyone on the planet. Read Tabb's book, and decide how you feel about the prospects of democracy, wealth, and power in this new epoch.

Book Description

How do organizations develop, maintain, and advance their organizational capabilities and knowledge? What happens between intention and outcome? What are the processes, information flows, coordination, control, and communication systems involved? What is the influence of the institutional context upon the evolution of corporate competences? The purpose of this book is to offer both theoretical analysis and detailed evidence from a number of studies at the levels of individual firms, sectors, and broader international patterns. These enable a richer understanding of the processes involved and highlight their contributions to business performance. The book includes chapters from leading international researchers with detailed analyses of the auto, pharmaceutical, electronics, and financial services sectors. It presents novel theoretical insights into the relationships between organizational structures and organizational capabilities, the patterns of accumulation of technological knowledge, and the management of competence-building in changing markets.

Nature and Dynamics of Organizational Capabilities

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Nature and Dynamics of Organizational Capabilities
Richard R. Nelson
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKTETE

Book Description

This best-selling text?a compilation of 28 chapters drawn from Cecie Starr's BIOLOGY: CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS, Fifth Edition? is designed for instructors who wish to focus on human biology. BIOLOGY: A HUMAN EMPHASIS includes the following coverage from the longer book: Part I (Cells), Part II (Genetics), Part III (Animal Systems), Chapter 27 (Population Ecology), and Chapter 28 (Human Impact on the Biosphere). Cecie Starr has developed this new edition to help students understand biology by engaging them in learning in every way possible. The book's extensive array of multimedia resources enriches the book's hallmark features: unique visuals on every page, applications in every chapter that show how biology is inextricably linked to everyday life, and activities and resources throughout the book that encourage critical thinking and spark curiosity in biological investigation. CD-ROM and segments on the FREE accompanying interactive CD-ROM, as well as CNN Today Videos, Web links, and reading from the InfoTrac College Edition library are all integrated with the text to support, illuminate, and reinforce the text. Cecie Starr's visuals work hand in hand with her clear writing. Each basic concept appears as a one- or two-page concept spread. This format helps student focus on information in manageable easy-to-understand segments. Main points are laid out clearly, summarized, and reinforced by visuals. The carefully written transitions between Concept Spreads help students grasp how each concept fits into the whole story. In the process, students develop an understanding of biology's amazing diversity and underlying unity.

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Biology: A Human Emphasis with CDROM
Cecie Starr
Manufacturer: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Paleoclimate and Evolution, with Emphasis on Human Origins

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Paleoclimate and Evolution, with Emphasis on Human Origins

Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0300063482

Book Description

Written by leading evolutionists and physical geologists from all over the world, this book focuses on how climatic change during the last fifteen million years-especially the last three million-has affected human evolution and other evolutionary events.

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Biology: A Human Emphasis- Text Only

Manufacturer: Thomson; Brooks Cole
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0006446124

Product Description

BIOLOGY: A HUMAN EMPHASIS supplies an introductory issues-oriented approach to human biology with enormous instructional power. Starr supports mastery throughout while encouraging the critical thinking students need as citizens, voters, parents, and consumers. This text is a split version of Starr's BIOLOGY: CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS containing only the human biology topics, and while it has the same index as BIOLOGY: CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS, it is not renumbered. The "Impacts, Issues" and "How Would You Vote?" features new to this edition make biology come alive. An "Impacts, Issues" case study opens each chapter focusing on a biology-related societal issue. Short films that expand on the issue are on the free Student CD. Each chapter's "How Would You Vote?" asks students to consider biology-related news, apply knowledge, cast a vote on the web and see voting tallies. The access codes that accompany all new copies provide online access to 1) BiologyNow, a learning tool that helps students assess their unique study needs through pretests, post-test and personalized learning plans; 2) InfoTrac, a library of full text articles; 3) vMentor, a live tutoring service and 4) "How Do I Prepare," a feature that allows students to review basic math, chemistry, and other skills that will help them more easily master introductory biology. And now with an MP3 download of this title, you don't have to lose prep time during a long commute?any MP3 player lets you or your students listen and review the text at the gym, in the library, at the office ? anywhere! Starr is the most successful author in non-majors biology because of her clear and engaging writing, trend-setting art, and unparalleled student and instructor media.

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Spanish Economy: From the Civil War to the European Community (New Studies in Economic and Social History)

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Fulfilled its purpose- an Informative look at Spain
Fulfilled its purpose- an Informative look at Spain

The Spanish Economy: From the Civil War to the European Community (New Studies in Economic and Social History)
Joseph Harrison
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Economic Conditions | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0521557720

Book Description

This book presents a concise survey of the Spanish economy from the end of the Civil War of 1936-39 to the present. In it the author analyzes the transformation of Spain from a backward agrarian economy--committed by Franco and the country's military rulers to the impossible quest of self-sufficiency--to a modern, rapidly growing, outwardly oriented economy. Spain is now fully integrated into the international economy and, since January 1986, has been an active member of the European Community.

Customer Reviews:

Fulfilled its purpose- an Informative look at Spain.......1999-11-05

This book was relatively dry but that can be expected with an economic/historical topic. It did, however, give an informative look at Spain's economy in different subjects such as Agriculture and Industry. I learned a lot about Spain's economy and Spain in general from reading this book and I recommend it for anyone who wants to fulfill that purpose as well.

Fulfilled its purpose- an Informative look at Spain.......1999-11-05

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The Spanish Economy in the New Europe
Carmela Martin
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Policy & Current Events | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

This book assesses how EU economies have fared in their project of economic and monetary union. Drawing on an entirely new data bank for all fifteen member countries, it takes the Spanish economy as a point of departure to compare their gains and losses. It also considers the implications for the welfare state, enlargement towards Easten Europe, and the political integration of Europe.

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The Spanish Economy in the New Europe
Carmela/ Hill, Philip (Trn)/ Nic Martin
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OT9N82

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Inspirational!

Common Sense With Chrome Trim: How A Bankrupt Truck Driver Used Free Publicity, No-Cost Email Advertising and Affiliate Programs To Build A Six-Figure Internet Marketing Income
George McKenzie
Manufacturer: Mastermind Learning Systems
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

Web Marketing | Business & Culture | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0972978267

Book Description

It's one of the great Cinderella stories in business today. When a lot of mega-buck dotcom's were going bust, a former bankrupt truck driver from New Jersey was quietly building a substantial income using the internet. Creating his own business model through trial and error, he was able to accelerate his revenue even though he hadn't produced a single product of his own and was promoting his business on a near-zero budget. In this two-hour interview with veteran journalist George McKenzie, Frank Garon explains how he did it -- and how almost anyone with enthusiasm, work ethic, and a functioning computer with an internet connection can do the same.

Customer Reviews:

Inspirational!.......2003-09-05

This set is inspirational the way Tony Robbins is, but at a fraction of the cost! It does not give step by step procedures, but they discuss a lot of ideas and common sense approaches, and also refer to and direct us to examples of the practices of which they speak.

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