At the beginning of the twentieth century much hope for the future was vested in the labour movement, whose centralised and bureaucratic power relations were analysed by Robert Michels. Today, hope has been transferred largely to the alternative globalization movement as a form of social action seemingly far less centralist and power-driven than union bureaucracy and more attuned to the ... Read morepressing issues of our times. However, all forms of social relations are characterised by power relations and this broad-based social movement is no exception. While it opposes centralised and hierarchical power relations it is not itself power-less. it's organization is certainly less formal, more emergent, but, much as Michels might have predicted, it has developed a permanent leadership with the capacity to creating procedures and other astute mechanisms so as to ensure, among other things, its own continued grip to power, whilst at the same time, veiling the mechanism with which this is accomplished. This book is a worthy addition to the social movements and organizations literature providing a sophisticated power-oriented analysis.
Stewart Clegg, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia This book is a must read for scholars as well as social movement players in search of a fresh and pertinent perspective in comprehending organizational theory and power relations in understanding the 'alternative globalization movement'. The value-oriented approach to organizational theory analysis which Ghimire applies to his case studies is an excellent contribution in transnational social movements theory and practice.
Teresa S. Encarnacion Tadem, University of the Philippines, Diliman Show Less