Jihad vs. McWorld: How Globalism and Tribalism Are Reshaping the World |  | Author: Benjamin Barber
Publisher: Ballantine Books
List Price: $16.00
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Seller: keen_northwest
Rating:  75 reviews
Sales Rank: 46750
Media: Paperback
Pages: 432
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.5 x 1
ISBN: 0345383044
Dewey Decimal Number: 909.829
EAN: 9780345383044
ASIN: 0345383044
Publication Date: July 30, 1996
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Amazon.com Review
As soon as you hear the conceit of this book--that there are two great opposing forces at work in the world today, border-crossing capitalism and splintering factionalism, and that they are the two biggest threats to democracy--you know it rings true enough to be worth reading. Although capitalism could have only grown to current levels in the soil of democracies, Benjamin Barber argues that global capitalism now tends to work against the very concept of citizenship, of people thinking for themselves and with their neighbors. Too often now, how we think is the product of a transnational corporation (increasingly, a media corporation) with headquarters elsewhere. And although self-determination is one of the most fundamental of democratic principles, unchecked it has lead to a tribalism (think Bosnia, think Rwanda) in which virtually no one besides the local power elite gets a fair shake. The antidote, Barber concludes, is to work everywhere to resuscitate the non-governmental, non-business spaces in life--he calls them "civic spaces" (such as the village green, voluntary associations of every sort, churches, community schools)--where true citizenship thrives.
Product Description
"An important new book."
--Newsweek
"Mr. Barber is. . . the first to put Jihad and McWorld together in an inescapable
dialectic . . . . [It] stands as a bold invitation to debate the broad contours and future of society."
--Barbara Ehrenreich
The New York Times Book Review
"COMPELLING. . . IMPRESSIVE. . . A thorough, engaging look at the current state of world affairs."
--The American Reporter
Jihad vs. McWorld is a groundbreaking work, an elegant and illuminating analysis of the central conflict of our times: consumerist capitalism versus religious and tribal fundamentalism. These diametrically opposed but strangely intertwined forces are tearing apart--and bringing together--the world as we know it, undermining democracy and the nation-state on which it depends. On the one hand, consumer capitalism on the global level is rapidly dissolving the social and economic barriers between nations, transforming the world's diverse populations into a blandly uniform market. On the other hand, ethnic, religious, and racial hatreds are fragmenting the political landscape into smaller and smaller tribal units. Jihad vs. McWorld is the term that distinguished writer and political scientist Benjamin R. Barber has coined to describe the powerful and paradoxical interdependence of these forces. In this important new book, he explores the alarming repercussions of this potent dialectic for democracy.
A work of persuasive originality and penetrating insight, Jihad vs. McWorld holds up a sharp, clear lens to the dangerous chaos of the post-Cold War world. Critics and political leaders have already heralded Benjamin R. Barber's work for its bold vision and moral courage. Jihad vs. McWorld is an essential text for anyone who wants to understand our troubled present and the crisis threatening our future.
"CHALLENGING AND INSTRUCTIVE."
--San Francisco Chronicle
"BARBER IS WELL WORTH READING. . . FOR AN INTRODUCTION TO THE REAL WORLD, LOOK AT JIHAD vs. McWORLD."
--The Nation
"STIMULATING, TARTLY WRITTEN."
--Publishers Weekly
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 75
 A Framework with which to Comprehend the Post-Cold War World January 30, 2010
Miguel B. Llora (Bay Point, California USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Much like Huntington's The Clash of Civilization, Benjamin Barber's Jihad vs. McWorld suggests a perspective or framework from which to comprehend the post-Cold War world. Jihad vs. McWorld is an examination of the basic conflict of post cold-war period: consumerist capitalism versus religious and tribal fundamentalism (Barber, Jihad vs. McWorld 5). According to Barber, culture's impact is more urgent (Barber, Jihad vs. McWorld 4).
In this work, he argues that world conflict increasingly will center on tensions between local values and globalizing forces much in the same way the Thomas Friedman argues in his book The Lexus and the Olive Tree. Barber writes that if you look only at the business section of the daily newspaper, you would be persuaded that globalization is happening and seamlessly. Conversely, if you focus on the front page, you see the opposite: that the world is increasingly fractured by fratricide, civil war, and the realignment of borders and nations. Barber is however convinced that capitalism and fundamentalism have much in common - an aversion for democracy (Barber, Jihad vs. McWorld 6). For the two, in dissimilar ways, attack the nation-state itself - for Barber the only sponsor of circumstances that have allowed democracy to survive. Democracy, Barber advocates, is losing to this two front attack. On the one hand, global capitalism run rampant whose essential driving force is profit, seeks to maximize profit taking an amoral position. On the other hand, belligerent, religious, tribal, and ethnic fanatics whose various beliefs are characterized by bigotry and anger against the "other" (see Huntington) take the position of the alternative world existential angst (Barber, Jihad vs. McWorld 11). The inconsistency in this book is that according to Barber, both Jihad and McWorld are at work, both visible sometimes in the same country at the same time. I argue the reverse is true, while Jihad pursues a passionate politics of identity; McWorld seeks a dispassionate economics of profit. Barber, however, is looking for the citizen (Barber, Jihad vs. McWorld 15, and 20). In addition, queries Barber, how can there be democracy without citizens?
Digestible, precise and insightful August 27, 2009
Mani Tadayon (Los Angeles, CA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
One of the few American scholars of recent times to offer deep and creative insight into the chaotic world we live in today.
Barber is not as revolutionary in his thought as Manuel De Landa (War in the Age of Intelligent Machines and A Thousand Years of Nonlinear History) or Continentals like Foucault (The Order of Things: An Archaeology of the Human Sciences), Deleuze (A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia) and Baudrillard (The Spirit of Terrorism, New Revised Edition).
On the other hand, Barber's work is much more approachable, and its popularity is a hopeful sign amidst the sea of influential drivel masquerading as knowledge these days (e.g. all of Thomas Friedman's writings of the past decade).
Although one may validly criticize some aspects of Barber's work, one cannot underestimate its value as food for thought. I read this nearly a decade ago, and its ideas still propel my mind in new directions.
 The Brave New World of Redistribution and Relativity April 20, 2009
Sunshine T (Valparaiso Indiana)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Written as only a political scientist with the world view of ivory tower academia could ever write, Barber makes a valiant attempt to explain relativity and redistribution theory. Bigoted beyond belief, he chooses the term "McWorld" to explain the West and Capitalism and conservatism, as though Americans come straight from the highlands of Scotland and carry their feudal ideas with them. Imagine the dirty Scots in their ragged kilts, beating their war drums and you'll get the picture. Now take off the dirt, the kilts, and replace with Wall Street Business attire and you have the mental picture of McWorld.
Long story short, Barber compares terrorist activities by taking a sidelong glance at the concept of jihad (which he does not equate with Islam--he obviously doesn't know much about the five pillars of Islam) and attempts to show that American fringe groups are every bit as likely to take deadly force as jihadists on innocent civilians. Of course, the main thrust of his expose is to point out the evilness of Timothy McVeigh, his military training and his adherence and trust in the 2nd amendment. Alarmingly, Barber says this McWorld type jihadism is not finished and may be just beginning to flex its muscle.
If only we could just 'spread the wealth' we could all just live happily ever after! He uses examples of distribution tables for energy use and signs of prosperity and wealth, even equates the top grossing films to support his argument that American values are steadily exported with few if any cultural imports as evidenced by the top grossing movies in one year. Now explain Il postino, will you?
Perhaps Mr. Barber needs to study the experiment in the heartland state of Indiana that believed the same thing, a hundred years ago at New Harmony Indiana. The experiment was not disastrous, but it certainly didn't succeed. We have been there and done that, sir.
I would recommend this book to those thirsting for the ideals and notions from the far left and progressives.
If you are a traditionalist or conservative, you will probably see through the errors in logic and continuity pretty easily and will consider it a mental vacation to another mindset. I don't think it will change many intents and minds. It probably will not influence too many others to be important.
And be sure to bring a dictionary and thesaurus. It is not written for the freshman class at Ivory Tower U. He has mastered the sound and style of elitist-speak. We are all VERY impressed! My verbal IQ score has jumped at least three points by wading through his verbiage!
 Exposes the goegraphic ignorance of both the author and the west April 10, 2009
geographer
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Throughout this book Barber makes outlandish and flat out false comments about the world. I am disappointed that so many editors and initial reviewers were not able to notice the basic factual inaccuracies Barber uses throughout the book. I won't get into his misuse of the word "jihad" as many other other amazon reviewers have already done so, but there are some other important inaccuracies which should be noted.
Outlandish comment #1: Indonesia is a Buddhist nation. Not only is Indonesia the 4th most populous nation in the world, it is the most populous MUSLIM nation in the world. Although Indonesia does include a small population of Buddhists, it is a far cry from a "Buddhist nation". This glaring error makes it clear the Barber is not opposed to throwing around false information, and he clearly does not know much about the religion, despite his use of an Islamic term in the title.
Outlandish comment #2: The tiger economies of the Koreas are fast becoming larger than Germany. At the time of publication South Korea had an economy about 5 times smaller than Germany, and North Korea was a far cry from a "tiger economy". His use of the term "Koreas" shows his ignorance of the relationship between the two countries, and he also shows off his lack of global economic knowledge.
This book is chock full of ignorant and just plain false comments. The selling power of this book is clearly representative of the geographic ignorance of the West as a whole, and it is sickening to think that Barber is held in high regard in scholarly circles and this book is used in college courses. In this ever increasing globalized world America needs to wake up and realize that there are nearly 200 other countries in this world, with a multitude of cultures, economies, and varied relationships. This book is a disgrace to the few people who have already done so, and only perpetuates the general ignorance and apathy held by Americans toward the rest of the world. DON'T READ THIS BOOK!!! You will only gain incorrect information. If you want to learn about the Westernized commercial takeover of the world simply watch the news or look at a map.
If you don't hate the west you aught to... December 12, 2008
Joseph M. Creaney
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you are considdering protesting a WTO meeting this book is for you. The book is tedious laundry lists of why the west is bad. Where Barber can't find data to show why the west is bad he will interject his opinion such as bland pop music. He bemoans corations when they succeed they bemoans them when they fail. He can't see the art and creativity that goes into music and videos, all he see is advertising.
I got to the part of jihad he twisted and spengoolied the word so much it didn't fit in constext. Jihad is not necessarly compatible with Islam as Barber said. It is like saying that confession is not exactly compatibable with being a christian once the word was misused. In a few vuage paragraphs Islam is described as not compatible with Democracy. If the book was about Jihad the topic is completly avoided. There is no mention of moral depravity and intellectual bankrupsy in many parts of Islam. The terror that binds it holds it back, to honor killing and intolerant of any dessent is not even mentioned. Just after mentioning Jihad and some bland generalities Jerry Falwell and Pat Roberstson are made moral eqelivants. Where are these guys encouraging christians to dance int he streets when thousands of muslims are killed? So there is no difference between some people that try to do somthing about morality and those that have kindergarter children recite poems about sheheed or suicide bombing.
This book is just standard run of the mill intellectual sterile elitism. I would have expected some discussion of some post modern problems like sinlge families, devorice or crime. The only mention I read of crime was kids stealing to get some Air Jordans. Jihade V McWord is the culture war in a nutshell but dismisses Buchanan and the culture war as some conservitiave that is an apostate to the religon of money. He bemoans consumption and lack of moral and at the same time diminishes religous people who make an attempt to do somthing about it.
He misses the point on the intolerance and oppression of Islam and does not consider or it even occour to him the freedom he has to write his book. He does not see the attempt at liberlism and progress in the west. All the ways we try to expand rights and opertunity but every glimmer of hope is oppressed with every negitiave assumption he can think of. This book is splat splat splat of negitiavity and no solutions are proposed. There is an idological bent when Miltons Freedmon is described as a radical and leftists like Rober Reich has astute observations.
If you want lists of justification to resent western culture and be angry this book is for you. Jihadists will just use this apology for terrorism as justification and even affirmation of thier behavior.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 75
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