In Defense of Global Capitalism

Infobox Book
name = In Defense of Global Capitalism
title_orig = Till världskapitalismens försvar
translator =


image_caption = Cover of the US version of the book.
author = Johan Norberg
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = Sweden
language = Swedish
series =
subject = Globalization, capitalism, free trade
genre =
publisher = Timbro (Sweden)
release_date = May 2001
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (hardcover & paperback)
pages = 277
isbn = ISBN 978-1-93-086547-1
preceded_by =
followed_by = När människan skapade världen

"In Defense of Global Capitalism" (in Swedish: "Till världskapitalismens försvar") is a book by Swedish writer Johan Norberg promoting economic globalization and free trade. The book was originally published in May 2001 by the Swedish think tank Timbro. Since then, a number of translations into other languages have followed.

In the book, Norberg examines the arguments put forward by the anti-globalization movement. According to Norberg, "the diffusion of capitalism in the last decades has lowered poverty rates and created opportunities for individuals all over the world. Living standards and life expectancy has risen fast in most places. World hunger, infant mortality and inequality have diminished. This is because of an economic and technological development that is the result of free market policies. The poor countries that have liberalized their economies have shown impressive results, while those that have not are stuck in deep misery. Therefore, we need more capitalism and globalisation if we want a better world, not less". [cite web |url=http://www.johannorberg.net/?page=indefense_about |title=Summary of In Defence of Global Capitalism |accessdate=2008-02-18 |publisher=JohanNorberg.Net]

As of 2008, the book has been translated into a dozen of languages including: English (including British, American, Australian and Indian English)cite web |url=http://www.johannorberg.net/?page=indefense_lang |title=Foreign language editions |accessdate=2008-02-18 |publisher=JohanNorberg.Net] , German, Dutch, Turkish, Estonian, French (including Canadian French), Finnish, Spanish, Chinese, Polish, Czech, Arabiccite web |url=http://www.johannorberg.net/?page=news |title=News |accessdate=2008-02-18 |publisher=JohanNorberg.Net] , Russian and Mongolian.

The book was also the basis for the Channel 4 2003 documentary film "Globalisation is Good", which was presented by Norberg.

Reviews

Nick Gillespie, editor-in-chief of "Reason", wrote on the book: "A powerful moral and economic case for globalization. Norberg throws rhetorical Molotov cocktails both at left-wing critics who would condemn developing countries to poverty by insisting on First World workplace and environmental standards as a prerequisite for trade and at Western governments whose free market rhetoric is shamefully undercut by draconian tariffs on textiles and agriculture, the two areas in which the developing world can actually compete." [cite news |first=Nick |last=Gillespie |authorlink=Nick Gillespie |title=Poor man's hero: controversial writer Johan Norberg champions globalization as the best hope for the developing world |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1568/is_7_35/ai_110361468|publisher=Reason (magazine) |date=December 2003 |accessdate=2008-02-19]

Samuel Brittan of "Financial Times" wrote:"Giving clear and verifiable sources, he nails one by one the fallacies and selective statistics that are used by the anti-capitalist protesters." [cite news |first=Samuel |last=Brittan |authorlink=Samuel Brittan |title=Capitalism, global and local |url=http://www.samuelbrittan.co.uk/text98_p.html |publisher=Financial Times |date=2001-12-17 |accessdate=2008-02-19]

Anne Applebaum of "Washington Post" wrote: "Johan Norberg makes the case that free trade is good for the developing world, good for freedom, good for social progress, even if the dull old Marxists refuse to see it. It can be no accident that not one but two glamorous young pro-capitalists have emerged in Europe over the past year. [Norberg and France's Sabine Herold] ...the [anti-globalization] movement has in recent years provided a cushion for those politicians -- European, American, Japanese and developing world alike -- who drag their feet about opening markets. Maybe now, if the young, the hip and the free-thinking start pushing the other way, the ministers in their suits will be forced to listen too". [cite news |first=Anne |last=Applebaum |authorlink=Anne Applebaum |title=The New Radical Chic |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51927-2003Sep9.html |publisher=Washington Post |date=2003-09-10 |accessdate=2008-02-19]

Ben Stein, former speechwriter for U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, wrote: "Johan Norberg's book is a stunningly insightful, brilliantly detailed refutation of the crank theories of the anti-globalists. "In Defense of Global Capitalism" is a shining example of what a gifted mind can do working with the truth to advance the cause of capitalism, which in the end is the cause of every decent man and woman".cite web |url=http://www.johannorberg.net/?page=indefense_rev |title=Reviewers' opinions |accessdate=2008-02-18 |publisher=JohanNorberg.Net]

William H. Peterson of "Washington Times" wrote: "I hail him [Norberg] for making his case for globalization with solid facts, statistics, bar-charts, and lots of flesh-and-blood examples drawn from his travels"

Dave O'Brien of "Winnipeg Free Press" called Norberg "Europe's answer to our own Naomi Klein" and Jacqueline Thorpe of the Canadian "National Post" wrote: "It is a sweet irony that the task of defending global capitalism from the likes of Canada´s own Naomi 'No Logo' Klein has fallen on the shoulders of a pony-tailed Swede who started out as an anarchist obsessed with goth music and black clothes. But it is a role Johan Norberg, author of In Defence of Global Capitalism and at 30, every bit as good-looking as left-wing pin-up Ms Klein, has easily morphed into. ...His book, which won the Antony Fisher Memorial Award in 2002, counters anti-globalization arguments with facts, figures, but mostly common sense".

Former chairman of the National Bank of Poland Leszek Balcerowicz wrote: "The liberal cause has obtained a powerful communicator, Mr Johan Norberg from Sweden. He combines mastery of facts and a deep understanding of theories, with the gift of lucid and emotionally moving argumentation." [cite web |first=Leszek |last=Balcerowicz |authorlink=Leszek Balcerowicz |url=http://www.hayek-stiftung.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Preisverleihungen/2003/balcerowicz.pdf |title=Laudatio in honour of the recipients of Friedrich Hayek Prize, 2003 |date=2003-10-12 |accessdate=2008-02-18 |publisher=Friedrich-August-von-Hayek-Stiftung |format=PDF]

Swedish Professor of Philosophy and socialist Torbjörn Tännsjö wrote: "Johan Norberg has written an agreeable book in defence of capitalism and globalisation... Even in labour movement discussion circles I think it would repay close study". [cite news |first=Torbjörn |last=Tännsjö |authorlink=Torbjörn Tännsjö |title=Ett sympatiskt försvar för världskapitalismen |url=http://lotidningen.lo.se/?id_site=8&id_category=336&id_item=14237&criteria=johan%20norberg |publisher=LO-Tidningen |date=2001-09-28 |accessdate=2008-02-19 |language=Swedish]

Awards

References

External links

* [http://www.johannorberg.net/?page=indefense JohanNorberg.net - In Defence of Global Capitalism]
* [http://www.timbro.se/bokhandel/books.asp?isbn=9175665581 Timbro - Till världskapitalismens försvar] (also downloadable as [http://www.timbro.se/bokhandel/pdf/9175665581.pdf pdf] )
* [http://www.catostore.org/index.asp?fa=ProductDetails&method=cats&scid=20&pid=1441157 Cato Institute - In Defence of Global Capitalism]