Reviews

Ramaswami Haridranath (2006) Perspectives on Global Cultures

Berkshire, Open University Press. 192 pages. ISBN: 0335205690. £19.99 paperback.

This book is a challenging, intellectually demanding and vigorous examination of contemporary thought on globalisation. It offers a thorough, rigorous and detailed dissection of much of the hyperbole and more grounded academic ideas on the spread and impact of globalisation. Central to this is the argument that much theorising of globalisation comes from Euro-American (and though Haridranath does not mention it, Australasian) academia. Ironically, commentary on the topic of globalisation from outside of the academic 'metropole' gets little if any coverage. The book is highly commendable for this argument alone not to mention its scope, immense critical acumen and sheer power of argument. Moreover, the book goes someway to filling the gap it identifies and will be a valuable contribution to the field.

Unfortunately, little of this comes across from the title or cover and these make it appear a friendly, introductory and student orientated text. Such presumptions are soon destroyed - this text is far from introductory in scope, language used or presumed theoretical understanding of the reader. The text is a largely theoretical discussion of what the author notes are very complex issues. In short it is merciless, both in terms of much of the material it covers and of the inattentive reader - let your mind drift just for a few sentences and you are lost.

The book consists of seven chapters divided into two parts. There is an inappropriately brief introduction that does not really serve to lay out what the book does - this is a shame as the book is of real merit but the introduction does not provide a very strong 'road map' of what it will do.

The first part of the book is a conceptual framework to examine the cultural politics of Globalisation. The intention here is not to fall into the trap of only narrating globalisation from above; instead Haridranath seeks to offer a perspective from 'below'. Chapter one, titled 'One global culture or many?' asserts that the majority of accounts of globalisation fail to fully engage with its negative effects upon those not in the 'West'. The experience of globalisation by those in the West is seemingly the only experience documented while the devastating effects that globalisation may have on others on the 'underside' are barely noted. This argument is advanced in Chapter two, 'The cultural politics of difference', where issues related to the Culture Wars and ideas of cultural difference are examined. The 'Culture Wars' refer to the challenges offered to the totalising narratives of globalisation, to the interpretations, categories and vehicles through which culture and difference are experienced and theorised. These categories are critically evaluated for their potential to subjugate and exercise power. The expression of such categories in representation constitutes the subject of Chapter three, 'The subaltern and the politics of representation'. Here the concept of hegemony is discussed and Hall's work on the productivity of marginality is used to examine the importance of the position of the 'speaker' or producer.

Part two offers different 'case studies' to illustrate the arguments made in part one. Chapter four examines the highly complex issue of multiculturalism - the issues of identity, sameness and difference and are explored with considerable finesse. Perhaps an exploration of cosmopolitanism would have been useful here but this is not a serious omission. Chapter five examines one area of cultural production that is thought to afford cultural production from the margins and of political emancipation, that of Third Cinema. Here Third Cinema is cinema produced outside of the hegemony of commercial Hollywood system (First Cinema) and also outside of the Arthouse and auteur cinema (Second Cinema). Third cinema is a truly radical project with a decidedly political edge. This leads onto a discussion of the representation of national identity, and national cinema or the cinema of nationalism. Chapter six discusses the indigenous and explores how it is linked to the subaltern in representation, particularly in nationalist discourse. What most contributes to the subaltern is the indigenous people's interests being advocated by others, be they the advocates of the Orient of former colonial powers or modernisers of nationalist movements, and the implicit denial of indigenous people's agency. By having their voice spoken for by someone else they are denied their ability to speak and act. Chapter seven examines the issue of emergent nationhood in the face of globalisation. While some have predicted and encouraged the demise of the post-Westphalian nation state Harindranath offers a more subtle exploration of the issues. Nationalism, especially ethnically orientated nationalism and that from 'below' which challenges the existing nation state boundary, can only be understood through an appreciation of globalisation, particularly the pan-national financial organisations now extant.

The book lacks a conclusion and this may have been helpful to pull together some of the many themes explored. This omission does not detract too much from the book but it would have been a better finish than the rather abrupt end that exists. There is a brief glossary offered but this does not prove particularly helpful - if a reader was confused by one of the terms in the glossary there are plenty of other terms and concepts that would confuse them in this text.

This is a challenging, important book and it offers a powerful contribution to the field from a perspective that deserves and needs to be heard. Perhaps more effort could have been put into making the text more readable and a stronger introduction together with a conclusion would assist the reader in getting more from the book. These points should however, not dissuade the reader from what is a rewarding text.

Marcus Leaning, University of Wales.