Global meltdown : the Washington consensus goes bust -- What's wrong with the Washington consensus? : it forces alien, irrelevant models on developing societies -- The world needs an alternative : confessions of a former commercial lawyer -- Grassroots approaches that solve real problems : founding an NGO in the Himalayas -- The anti-globalization breakfast club : emergence of a global justice movement -- Time to revamp the WTO : joining the anti-globalisation breakfast club -- Redefining contemporary development : trash the ideology and use what works -- The environmental priority : we are ruining the earth faster than the global economy is growing -- The micro-credit revolution works : small finance is beautiful and can improve lives -- Begin by reshaping values : the "gross national happiness" alternative -- Empowering the marginalized : to stop terrorism, focus on its roots -- "High time to shut up" : moving towards multilateralism -- The revolt against cyclical poverty : Nepalese Maoists come in from the cold -- Starting from the villages : in Sri Lanka's countryside, a middle road -- The Buddhist revolution : why compassion should be combined with capitalism -- Enter the Himalayan consensus : manifesto for a peaceful revolution.

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “A new masterpiece from one of my favorite authors… [How The World Really Works] is a compelling and highly readable book that leaves readers with the fundamental grounding needed to help solve the world’s toughest challenges.”—Bill Gates “Provocative but perceptive . . . You can agree or disagree with Smil—accept or doubt his ‘just the facts’ posture—but you probably shouldn’t ignore him.”—The Washington Post An essential analysis of the modern science and technology that makes our twenty-first century lives possible—a scientist's investigation into what science really does, and does not, accomplish. We have never had so much information at our fingertips and yet most of us don’t know how the world really works. This book explains seven of the most fundamental realities governing our survival and prosperity. From energy and food production, through our material world and its globalization, to risks, our environment and its future, How the World Really Works offers a much-needed reality check—because before we can tackle problems effectively, we must understand the facts. In this ambitious and thought-provoking book we see, for example, that globalization isn’t inevitable—the foolishness of allowing 70 per cent of the world’s rubber gloves to be made in just one factory became glaringly obvious in 2020—and that our societies have been steadily increasing their dependence on fossil fuels, such that any promises of decarbonization by 2050 are a fairy tale. For example, each greenhouse-grown supermarket-bought tomato has the equivalent of five tablespoons of diesel embedded in its production, and we have no way of producing steel, cement or plastics at required scales without huge carbon emissions. Ultimately, Smil answers the most profound question of our age: are we irrevocably doomed or is a brighter utopia ahead? Compelling, data-rich and revisionist, this wonderfully broad, interdisciplinary guide finds faults with both extremes. Looking at the world through this quantitative lens reveals hidden truths that change the way we see our past, present and uncertain future.

The Monfort Plan is a five-year, forward looking plan to eradicate extreme poverty from the developing world, and details how microfinance has made a difference to developing countries. This book proposes a new institution based in the developing world with the potential to provide a basic, free, and universal service in the areas of water, sanitation, healthcare, and education to the extreme poor worldwide. The provision will be subject to a certain degree of conditionality in areas ranging from corruption to legal environment. The new institution will be established in a new international territory based within a specific country in Subsaharan Africa and will emerge in 2015. In The Monfort Plan author Jaime Pozuelo-Monfort engineers and designs a solution to lessen the burden of poverty. In order to do so he relies on the social sciences to bring about innovation and forward looking economic policies and financial instruments in the context of a paradigm shift. This book presents a multidisciplinary approach to policymaking that combines a range of fields in the social sciences, looking at the history behind the Marshall Plan, the formation of the European Union, and the Bretton Woods Institutions, in order to determine how a Marshall Plan for Africa-and the creation of New Institutions in the developing world-could work. We live a moment of crisis in which creative policymaking might prove useful when proposing outcomes for a revitalized framework for capitalism to thrive and better serve the world. Walks you through the technicalities of the new architecture of capitalism in a straightforward manner Provides a holistic view of how microfinance combined with the right economic policies and financial instruments could help change the world for the poor Contains sweeping and detailed recommendations on how to build a new capitalist paradigm that helps elevate the poor and improve the human condition Incorporating commentary from some of the top minds in the field of microfinance, this book puts the method of microfinance in perspective.

KT Euzen, a lifelong learner, explores the joy of being an entrepreneur in this memoir. She chronicles a transformative decade across France, Bhutan, China, and Singapore, allowing readers to traverse diverse cultures and join her on a quest toward knowledge and happiness. Her odyssey towards joy began with introspection, a message she highlights with vivid stories of individuals finding bliss in passion, mindfulness, generosity, and authenticity. A theme running throughout the book is that it’s often the simplest things that bring us the greatest joy. A burst of laughter from a baby, the aroma of a home-cooked meal, the delicate touch of a loved one’s hand, the comforting hug of a friend—these moments, though seemingly trivial, hold within them the essence of the universe. She also highlights how happiness is found in our struggles, as well as in the resilience we must show to overcome challenges. The author also delves into her Ph.D. work on Bhutan’s unique happiness ethos, offering profound insights. In the end, her book is not only a memoir – it’s a passport to understanding joy’s global language.

The prospects and value of economic integration and regionalism in Asia are increasingly evident in what could turn out to be 'the Asian Century'. It is within this context that this important book explores the critical economic issues, security concerns and political themes pertinent to Asia in general, and to East Asia in particular. The book features contributions by both Asian and Western scholars who take an interdisciplinary approach encompassing economics, political science and culture. They address various issues including the application of European experiences to Asia, and blend regional country perspectives with broader external views from Russia and the US. In conclusion, the book suggests a tentative roadmap and future directions for an Asian community asserting the importance of cultural and value studies. This objective analysis of Asian regionalism explores perspectives from both within and outside the region. As such it will prove a fascinating read for academics and researchers, practitioners and policy-makers in a wide variety of fields, including Asian studies, economics, public policy, political economy, international relations and regional science.

Globalization: Prospects and Problems, by JoAnn Chirico, provides a comprehensive and enlightening overview of globalization issues and topics. Emphasizing the theory and methods that social scientists employ to study globalization, the text reveals how macro globalization processes impact individual lives—from the spread of scientific discourse to which jobs are more or less likely to be offshored. The author presents a clear image of “the big globalization picture” by skillfully exploring, piece by piece, a myriad of globalization topics, debates, theories, and empirical data. Compelling chapters on theory, global civil society, democracy, cities, religion, institutions (sports, education, and health care), along with three chapters on global challenges, help readers develop a broad understanding of key topics and issues. Throughout the text, the author encourages readers to relate their personal experiences to globalization processes, allowing for a more meaningful and relevant learning experience.

This title was first published in 2002. Placed within the broad fields of International Relations and International Political Economyš this book specifically focuses upon the conceptual and strategic debates concerning the relationship between social movements and the politics of globalization. Outlining current theories concerning the activity and interaction of social movements and globalizationš Watson reconsiders this debate by mapping an alternative conceptual and strategic account of the politics of resistance to globalization. Considering the responses of neoliberal institutionsš the book also assesses the implications of struggles for understanding the site and nature of political power and authority in the present and future global political economy. This text is an important addition to the collections of those involved in issues that impact on international politicsš international political economyš the politics of development and democracyš third world politics and sociology.