Pluto Press Vulnerability and Violence: The Impact of Globalisation

'Vulnerability' is now a key term in globalisation studies. It is used to describe how globalisation impacts on individual security, local communities and even global flows of trade, finance and investment. Yet there has been little attempt to interrogate the term and what it is trying to express about globalisation. Peadar Kirby examines what is really meant by 'vulnerability' and links it to new forms of violence that have resulted from decreased security and social cohesion. He argues that vulnerability and violence are characteristic features of a new world order dominated by neoliberal globalisation. Illustrating his argument with a wealth of examples taken from all over the world -- from the sudden collapse of the middle class in Argentina to increased levels of poverty internationally -- he offers a robust theoretical grounding that will be of use to anyone studying vulnerability and violence and their relation to contemporary globalisation. Review What impressed me was the novelty of the analysis presented and its great usefulness in understanding...globalisazation-related phenomena.... -- David Molineaux, Maryknoll Mission Association of the Faithful, Santiago, Chile Synopsis 'Vulnerability' is now a key term in globalisation studies. It is used to describe how globalisation impacts on individual security, local communities and even global flows of trade, finance and investment. Yet there has been little attempt to interrogate the term and what it is trying to express about globalisation. Peadar Kirby examines what is really meant by 'vulnerability' and links it to new forms of violence that have resulted from decreased security and social cohesion. He argues that vulnerability and violence are characteristic features of a new world order dominated by neoliberal globalisation. Illustrating his argument with a wealth of examples taken from all over the world - from the sudden collapse of the middle class in Argentina to increased levels of poverty internationally - he offers a robust theoretical grounding that will be of use to anyone studying vulnerability and violence and their relation to contemporary globalisation. This book is accessible to the general reader and the scholar both. While offering the general reader a clear exposition, with many concrete illustrations, of the destructive impact of globalisation, it offers the scholar a novel way of conceptualising this impact. For this reason, it is a unique work, a valuable and original addition to the growing number of books on globalisation appearing today. About the Author Peadar Kirby is a senior lecturer in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University where he lectures on International Relations and Globalisation. He was previously a journalist at the Irish Times covering Latin American issues. He is the author of Reinventing Ireland (Pluto Press, 2002).