Six Faces of Globalization: Who Wins, Who Loses, and Why It Matters

International law scholars Roberts (Is International Law International?) and Lamp survey arguments for and against globalization in this evenhanded guide. Documenting the viewpoints of liberal investors, leftist populists, protectionist nationalists, and others, the authors pay particular attention to commonalities and potential points of agreement. They note, for example, that classical liberal economists and corporate interests both support the free movement of people, and that the Trump administration’s China tariffs won favor with U.S. trade protectionists as well as national security experts. The authors’ focus on how each side makes its case, however, means that some details and counterarguments get skipped. For instance, the political maneuvering behind the 2018 renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement is underdeveloped, while a mention of how Covid-19 exposed the fragility of “just-in-time” production methods doesn’t mention that Toyota, the company credited with innovating lean manufacturing, largely avoided the semiconductor chip shortage that has impacted other automakers. A chapter on the legacy of colonialism incisively challenges the Western viewpoints that make up the rest of the book, though it makes the selection of six “prominent narratives” about globalization to focus on seem somewhat arbitrary. Still, policymakers and business leaders will appreciate this levelheaded and wide-ranging look at a hot-button issue. (Sept.)