Globalization: The Key Concepts

by Thomas Hylland Eriksen

For the first time in human history, the vast majority of the world's population is connected through trade, travel, production, media and politics. Ours is an era of ubiquitous mobile communication, economic outsourcing, mass migration and imported consumer goods. At the same time, people everywhere are concerned to keep their identities rooted and sense of place in the face of momentous change.

This new edition of Thomas Hylland Eriksen's concise and engaging landmark textbook outlines the main debates and controversies around globalization, and develops a unique perspective to show how globalization is an inherently double process, taking place both from above and below. Each chapter is supported by boxed case studies and bullet points summarizing the core information, suggestions for further reading, and essay and discussion questions, making this the ideal guide for both the classroom and independent study. Focusing on key concepts of globalization and drawing on international examples, this book is essential for anyone wishing to understand the fundamental processes underlying the contemporary world and the consequences these have for all of us.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Sociology, Academic

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

Geir Thomas Hylland Eriksen was a Norwegian anthropologist known for his scholarly and popular writing on globalization, identity, ethnicity, and nationalism. He was Professor of Social Anthropology in the Department of Social Anthropology at the University of Oslo. He has previously served as the President of the European Association of Social Anthropologists (2015–2016), as well as the Editor of Samtiden (1993–2001), Norsk antropologisk tidsskrift (1993–1997), the Journal of Peace Research, and Ethnos.
Hylland Eriksen was among the most prolific and highly cited anthropologists of his generation, and had been recognized for his remarkable success in bringing an anthropological perspective to a broader, non-academic audience. In Norway, Hylland Eriksen was a well-known public intellectual whose advocacy of diversity and cultural pluralism had earned both praise and scorn. Right-wing terrorist Anders Behring Breivik, perpetrator of the 2011 Norway attacks, cited Eriksen critically in his manifesto and during his 2012 trial.
In the academy and beyond, Hylland Eriksen had been highly decorated for his scholarship. He was the recipient of honorary degrees from Stockholm University (2011), the University of Copenhagen (2021), and Charles University in Prague (2021), as well as one of anthropology's most prestigious honors, the Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography's Gold Medal (2022). He was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read for Uni, an easier read than I thought it would be, some interesting points, even if a few were a little opinionated and biased, but made anthropology and sociology ideas easy to understand and interesting to read. Suitable for older teens and adults, with student focus with case studies and review questions.

[Salome Pachkoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good one to skim. There are a lot of clear examples and the whole book is easy to read.

[Lulu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very similar to his other book 'Overheating'. He gives good examples to explain the concepts.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of the very few books i read in university that i didn't hate with all my being.

i'd genuinely re-read this for fun now. it has enough information to be very useful for someone like me who studied social anthropology but it's written in a way that is accessible to anyone.