Thinking Globally: A Global Studies Reader

by Mark Juergensmeyer (editor)

In this accessible text, Mark Juergensmeyer, a pioneer in global studies, provides a comprehensive overview of the emerging field of global studies from regional, topical, and theoretical perspectives. Each of the twenty compact chapters in Thinking Globally features Juergensmeyer's own lucid introduction to the key topics and offers brief excerpts from major writers in those areas. The chapters explore the history of globalization in each region of the world, from Africa and the Middle East to Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and cover key issues in today's global era, such Challenges of the global economy - Fading of the nation-state - Emerging nationalisms and transnational ideologies - Hidden economies of sex trafficking and the illegal drug trade - New communications media - Environmental crises - Human rights abusesThinking Globally is the perfect introduction to global studies for students, and an exceptional resource for anyone interested in learning more about this new area of study.

456 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Mark Juergensmeyer is a professor of sociology and global studies, affiliate professor of religious studies, and the Kundan Kaur Kapany professor of global and Sikh Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He was the founding director of the Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies, and is a pioneer in the field of global studies, focusing on global religion, religious violence, conflict resolution and South Asian religion and politics. He has published more than three hundred articles and twenty books, including the revised and expanded fourth edition of Terror in the Mind of God (University of California Press, 2017).

Reviews

[Kimba Tichenor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers an introduction to the different ways in which scholars (economists, political scientists, historians, social theorists, and even literary scholars) have understood globalization(s) and its impact on the contemporary world. The book is divided into twenty compact chapters, each addressing a key issue in globalization (e.g. environment, media, social movements, culture) or the experience of globalization from a regional perspective (e.g. Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, China, Sub-Saharan Africa). Each chapter contains an introduction to the topic, followed by a series of short readings (excerpts from books or articles) by experts in that field. The chapters conclude with a list of recommended readings. The language is very accessible and terms and the various theoretical approaches are clearly explained. My only critique is that in trying to be comprehensive, some of the excerpts are simply too short, so that it is difficult to see their relevance to the topic or alternatively one can identify the argument, but one does not see the evidence that allowed the author to reach that conclusion. Thus why I gave this introductory reader a 4, rather than a 5.

[Aderyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The uneven nature of globalisation is explained in a simpler understanding by the author. The term " globalisation" means economic ,corporate capitalism from my simple perspective. The author raised my higher consciousness that globalization also involved culture, communications, political and ideological changes , and much more including religion in the global order. Change seem inevitable as we adapt to the forces of globalisation as benefactors than losers. It appeared that the book raised my social awareness of the social science of thinking globally.

[Kendyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

By far the best textbook I had this semester, and by best I mean I actually read it all the way through and enjoyed it. I really appreciated the use of articles in this reader, so that in functioning as a textbook it was not just one author's opinion. The articles used are also from credible sources and written in such an engaging way as to paint a clearer picture of globalization and its effects in various parts of life.

[Sarah Feild · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not your typical pick up and read book. I read this book for an international studies course at my college and I found some of the articles interesting and others not so much. I like how every global issue has something to relate back to history, economics, religion, criminology, psychology, and politics. Which is the disciplines one would need to be successful in such a class. Over all wouldn’t pick up again but good for the class I was taking.

[Thomas Ray]

Library-of-Congress JZ1318 T456 2014 College Library Rm. 1191