Prime Movers Of Globalization

Author : Vaclav Smil
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 271 pages
File Size : 53,9 Mb
Release : 2013-02-08
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 9780262518765

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Prime Movers of Globalization by Vaclav Smil Pdf

The story of how diesel engines and gas turbines, used to power cargo ships and jet airplanes, made today's globally integrated economy possible. The many books on globalization published over the past few years range from claims that the world is flat to an unlikely rehabilitation of Genghis Khan as a pioneer of global commerce. Missing from these accounts is a consideration of the technologies behind the creation of the globalized economy. What makes it possible for us to move billions of tons of raw materials and manufactured goods from continent to continent? Why are we able to fly almost anywhere on the planet within twenty-four hours? In Prime Movers of Globalization, Vaclav Smil offers a history of two key technical developments that have driven globalization: the high-compression non-sparking internal combustion engines invented by Rudolf Diesel in the 1890s and the gas turbines designed by Frank Whittle and Hans-Joachim Pabst von Ohain in the 1930s. The massive diesel engines that power cargo ships and the gas turbines that propel jet engines, Smil argues, are more important to the global economy than any corporate structure or international trade agreement. Smil compares the efficiency and scale of these two technologies to prime movers of the past, including the sail and the steam engine. The lengthy processes of development, commercialization, and diffusion that the diesel engine and the gas turbine went through, he argues, provide perfect examples of gradual technical advances that receive little attention but have resulted in epochal shifts in global affairs and the global economy.

Author : Vaclav Smil
Publisher : National Geographic Books
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 2013-02-08
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 9780262518765

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Prime Movers of Globalization by Vaclav Smil Pdf

The story of how diesel engines and gas turbines, used to power cargo ships and jet airplanes, made today's globally integrated economy possible. The many books on globalization published over the past few years range from claims that the world is flat to an unlikely rehabilitation of Genghis Khan as a pioneer of global commerce. Missing from these accounts is a consideration of the technologies behind the creation of the globalized economy. What makes it possible for us to move billions of tons of raw materials and manufactured goods from continent to continent? Why are we able to fly almost anywhere on the planet within twenty-four hours? In Prime Movers of Globalization, Vaclav Smil offers a history of two key technical developments that have driven globalization: the high-compression non-sparking internal combustion engines invented by Rudolf Diesel in the 1890s and the gas turbines designed by Frank Whittle and Hans-Joachim Pabst von Ohain in the 1930s. The massive diesel engines that power cargo ships and the gas turbines that propel jet engines, Smil argues, are more important to the global economy than any corporate structure or international trade agreement. Smil compares the efficiency and scale of these two technologies to prime movers of the past, including the sail and the steam engine. The lengthy processes of development, commercialization, and diffusion that the diesel engine and the gas turbine went through, he argues, provide perfect examples of gradual technical advances that receive little attention but have resulted in epochal shifts in global affairs and the global economy.

Author : Martin Wolf
Publisher : Yale University Press
Page : 690 pages
File Size : 48,7 Mb
Release : 2005-06-10
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780300251739

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Why Globalization Works by Martin Wolf Pdf

A powerful case for the global market economy The debate on globalization has reached a level of intensity that inhibits comprehension and obscures the issues. In this book a highly distinguished international economist scrupulously explains how globalization works as a concept and how it operates in reality. Martin Wolf confronts the charges against globalization, delivers a devastating critique of each, and offers a realistic scenario for economic internationalism in the future. Wolf begins by outlining the history of the global economy in the twentieth century and explaining the mechanics of world trade. He dissects the agenda of globalization’s critics, and rebuts the arguments that it undermines sovereignty, weakens democracy, intensifies inequality, privileges the multinational corporation, and devastates the environment. The author persuasively defends the principles of international economic integration, arguing that the biggest obstacle to global economic progress has been the failure not of the market but of politics and government, in rich countries as well as poor. He examines the threat that terrorism poses and maps the way to a global market economy that can work for everyone.

Author : Gordon Mathews,Gustavo Lins Ribeiro,Carlos Alba Vega
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 266 pages
File Size : 53,8 Mb
Release : 2012
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780415535083

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Globalization from Below by Gordon Mathews,Gustavo Lins Ribeiro,Carlos Alba Vega Pdf

This book deals ethnographically with economic globalization from below in its broadest sense, from producers to traders to vendors to consumers across the globe.

Author : The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research
Publisher : Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research
Page : 63 pages
File Size : 47,7 Mb
Release : 2008-09-15
Category : Antiques & Collectibles
ISBN : 9789948009597

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Globalization in the 21st Century by The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research Pdf

Globalization is an ongoing and pervasive phenomenon which is redefining the economic, social and cultural dynamics of contemporary societies. Increased interconnection between nations through expanding political ties and greater economic and cultural integration, combined with expanding global wealth has resulted in greater interaction between diverse countries across the globe. The process of globalization is generally considered a beneficial one, but it is also viewed in some quarters as a threat to national sovereignty and indigenous culture. Furthermore, although globalization has largely arisen as a result of a more stable and secure world, the factors that have contributed to its rise also assist factions that are interested in destabilizing the world. Without global integration, terrorist groups, for example, would find it much more difficult to unobtrusively communicate, travel, and transfer money and materials. Globalization has also facilitated illegal international trade, be it in materials, people or money. In order to contribute to the ever-expanding debate concerning the impact of globalization on global development, the ECSSR hosted a specialized conference under the title Globalization in the 21st Century: How Interconnected is the World? in Abu Dhabi on April 23–25, 2007. Visiting experts at the conference were invited to share their views on globalization and to examine the phenomenon, thus introducing as many perspectives as possible. The conference speakers hail from diverse academic, professional and decision-making backgrounds and represent a broad range of opinions and a high level of expertise. This volume is a valuable collection of these expert views, covering: globalization and its economic foundations and manifestations; migration and freedom of mobility; the social implications of globalization; politics in a globalized international system; new security threats resulting from globalization; and evolving national and commercial global responsibilities.

Author : Wayne Ellwood
Publisher : New Internationalist
Page : 154 pages
File Size : 41,5 Mb
Release : 2010
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781906523473

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The No-nonsense Guide to Globalization by Wayne Ellwood Pdf

Globalisation has become one of the most used and encompassing words over the past decade, of undeniable influence in economics, politics and activism. Globalisation is literally all around; every aspect of life is affected by a global structure of communication and economy. This fully revised and updated guide condenses this complex subject into clear, concise commentary. It examines the debt trap, the acceleration of neoliberalism, competition for energy resources, the links between the war on terror, the arms trade and the alternatives to corporate control.

Author : Finbarr Livesey
Publisher : Vintage
Page : 224 pages
File Size : 43,5 Mb
Release : 2017-09-19
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781101871225

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From Global to Local by Finbarr Livesey Pdf

This brilliantly original book dismantles the underlying assumptions that drive the decisions made by companies and governments throughout the world, to show that our shared narrative of the global economy is deeply flawed. If left unexamined, they will lead corporations and countries astray, with dire consequences for us all. For the past fifty years or so, the global economy has been run on three big assumptions: that globalization will continue to spread, that trade is the engine of growth and development, and that economic power is moving from the West to the East. More recently, it has also been taken as a given that our interconnectedness—both physical and digital—will increase without limit. But what if all these ideas are wrong? What if everything is about to change? What if it has already begun to change but we just haven't noticed? Increased automation, the advent of additive manufacturing (3D printing, for example), and changes in shipping and environmental pressures, among other factors, are coming together to create a fast-changing global economic landscape in which the rules are being rewritten—at once a challenge and an opportunity for companies and countries alike.

Author : Dean Baker,Gerald Epstein,Robert Pollin
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 536 pages
File Size : 44,6 Mb
Release : 1998-11-05
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 0521643767

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Globalization and Progressive Economic Policy by Dean Baker,Gerald Epstein,Robert Pollin Pdf

Prominent economists analyze the impact of the emerging global economy on national sovereignty and standards of living.

Author : Donald J. Boudreaux
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Page : 179 pages
File Size : 48,8 Mb
Release : 2007-12-30
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780313342141

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Globalization by Donald J. Boudreaux Pdf

The contemporary era of globalization demonstrates that the local and global aspects of business and government are increasingly intertwined. This volume defines and makes sense of the workings of the global economy—and how it influences businesses and individuals. Each chapter identifies common questions and issues that have gained exposure in the popular media—such as outsourcing, the high cost of international travel, and the impact of a fast-growing China—to illustrate underlying drivers and mechanisms at work. Covering international trade, national wealth disparities (the haves vs. the have-nots), foreign investment, and geographical and cultural issues, and supported with illustrations, maps, charts, a glossary and timeline of key events,Globalization illuminates the dynamics of the global economy and informs readers of its profound impact on our daily lives.

Author : Miguel Glatzer,Dietrich Rueschemeyer
Publisher : University of Pittsburgh Press
Page : 290 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2004-12-20
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780822972693

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Globalization and the Future of the Welfare State by Miguel Glatzer,Dietrich Rueschemeyer Pdf

In the last quarter of the twentieth century, the global political economy has undergone a profound transformation. Democracy has swept the globe, and both rich and developing nations must compete in an increasingly integrated world economy. How are social welfare policies being affected by this wave of economic globalization? Leading researchers explore the complex question in this new comparative study. Shifting their focus from the more commonly studied, established welfare states of northwestern Europe, the authors of Globalization and the Future of the Welfare State examine policy development in the middle-income countries of southern and eastern Europe, Latin America, Russia, and East Asia. Previous investigations into the effects of globalization on welfare states have generally come to one of two conclusions. The first is that a global economy undermines existing welfare states and obstructs new developments in social policy, as generous provisions place a burden on a nation's resources and its ability to compete in the international marketplace. In contrast, the second builds on the finding that economic openness is positively correlated with greater social spending, which suggests that globalization and welfare states can be mutually reinforcing. Here the authors find that globalization and the success of the welfare state are by no means as incompatible as the first view implies. The developing countries analyzed demonstrate that although there is great variability across countries and regions, domestic political processes and institutions play key roles in managing the disruptions wrought by globalization.

Author : Peter Singer
Publisher : Yale University Press
Page : 206 pages
File Size : 42,8 Mb
Release : 2002-01-01
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780300128529

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One World by Peter Singer Pdf

Written by a religious historian, this is an introduction to early Christian thought. Focusing on major figures such as St Augustine and Gregory of Nyssa, as well as a host of less well-known thinkers, Robert Wilken chronicles the emergence of a specifically Christian intellectual tradition. In chapters on topics including early Christian worship, Christian poetry and the spiritual life, the Trinity, Christ, the Bible, and icons, Wilken shows that the energy and vitality of early Christianity arose from within the life of the Church. While early Christian thinkers drew on the philosophical and rhetorical traditions of the ancient world, it was the versatile vocabulary of the Bible that loosened their tongues and minds and allowed them to construct the world anew, intellectually and spiritually. These thinkers were not seeking to invent a world of ideas, Wilken shows, but rather to win the hearts of men and women and to change their lives. Early Christian thinkers set in place a foundation that has endured. Their writings are an irreplaceable inheritance, and Wilken shows that they can still be heard as living voices within contemporary culture.

Author : Alfred E. Eckes,Thomas W. Zeiler
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 356 pages
File Size : 46,8 Mb
Release : 2003-06-30
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 0521009065

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Globalization and the American Century by Alfred E. Eckes,Thomas W. Zeiler Pdf

Revolutionary improvements in technology combined with the leadership elite's enthusiasm for de-regulation of markets and free trade to fuel American-style globalization. The nation rose to economic power after the Spanish-American War, and won both world wars and the Cold war, after which America's power and cultural influence soared as business and financial interests pursued the long-term quest for global markets. But, the tragic events of September 2001 and the growing volatility of global finance, raised questions about whether the era of American-led globalization was sustainable, or vulnerable to catastrophic collapse.

Author : Anthony Giddens
Publisher : Profile Books
Page : 140 pages
File Size : 53,9 Mb
Release : 2011-05-26
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781847651037

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Runaway World by Anthony Giddens Pdf

'Before the current global era it is impossible to imagine that comparable events [like September 11] could have occurred, reflecting as they do our new-found interdependence. The rise of global terrorism, like world-wide networks involving in money-laundering, drug-running and other forums of organised crime, are all parts of the dark side of globalisation.' From the new Preface This book is based on the highly influential BBC Reith lecture series on globalisation delivered in 1999 by Anthony Giddens. Now updated with a new chapter addressing the post-September 11th global landscape, this book remains the intellectual benchmark on how globalisation is reshaping our lives. The changes are explored in five main chapters: * Globalisation * Risk * Tradition * Family * Democracy.

Author : Jürgen Osterhammel,Niels P. Petersson
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 196 pages
File Size : 54,8 Mb
Release : 2009-08-23
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780691133959

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Globalization by Jürgen Osterhammel,Niels P. Petersson Pdf

In this work, Jurgen Osterhammel and Niels Petersson make the case that globalization is not so new, after all. Arguing that the world did not turn "global" overnight, the book traces the emergence of globalization over the past seven or eight centuries. In fact, the authors write, the phenomenon can be traced back to early modern large-scale trading, for example, the silk trade between China and the Mediterranean region, the shipping routes between the Arabian Peninsula and India, and the more frequently travelled caravan routes of the Near East and North Africa, all conduits for people, goods, coins, artwork, and ideas.

Author : Hannes Lacher
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 224 pages
File Size : 55,8 Mb
Release : 2006
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 9781134355228

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Beyond Globalization by Hannes Lacher Pdf