Globalization and Marginality in Geographical Space : Political, Economic, and Social Issues of Development at the Dawn of a New Millennium

It is widely assumed that marginal areas are threatened, both economically and socially by the current force of globalization. This volume provides a truly global overview on the actual effects that economic globalization has on the development of marginal and critical regions. A team of leading specialists provide a geographical perspective to these issues illustrating their theoretical arguments with a wide range of empirical studies from Europe, the Americas, Africa and Australia.Opening with a critical analysis of globalization from various theoretical perspectives, the book looks at economic importance, the role of transnationals and nation blocs and highlights how geographical research can contribute significantly to the understanding of the effects policies and politics of globalization have on the more marginal areas of the world. It then proceeds to examine the policy aspects of globalization analyzing different policy options and the implementation of these policies on specific regions. It stresses that in many cases the hidden indirect impacts may in the long run have more important effects on development than the direct impacts which are taken into account.This collection does not, in spite of the problem all marginal areas are faced with, point to destitution of these regions, but it does argue that more accurate information is required in order to understand the various direct and indirect effects of globalization .