- Paperback: 272 pages
- Publisher: Granta Books; Revised edition edition (8 Aug 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1862075301
- ISBN-13: 978-1862075306
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 322,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
'The central message is that we are going to hell in a handcart, as free markets rip up established communities. The idea of a world of liberal democratic and prosperous states on the American model is, he argues, a fantasy...Gray is right' Andrew Marr, Independent 'False Dawn is a powerful analysis of the deepening instability of global capitalism. It should be read by all who are concerned about the future of the world economy' George Soros 'This book is teeming with arguments and ideas...it is hard to put down, and economic liberals would do well to test their ideas against it.' Economist 'We needed a powerful challenge to the simple-minded advocates of globalization. Now we have one. A compelling, important and original book' Will Hutton
Product Description
A powerful analysis of the deepening instability of global capitalism.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
John Gray argues global capitalism is an unworkable, unattainable, unrealizable economic delusion. There are several reasons for this. Among them:
1. A free market is antithetical to democracy. A democracy where everyone has a say will never want a fully fledged free market because the losers will always outnumber the winners.
2. People will never be happy in a free market because the stress in their lifes will be too high as a result from the uncertainties of the free market.
3. The free market neglects human needs for social identity and social security. This means people will have no sense of loyality to state or political edifices. Lassez faire economics can only inevitably self implode.
In his polemic, he considers several economies including USA, New Zealand, Sweden, Germany, China and Japan. It's not a bad book but I think the shortcoming of it is that it is too concerned with nit picking
all the problems with the free market. While there's nothing wrong with a detailed analysis, it just seems one eyed. Nothing is ever perfect, so it should come as no suprise to any rational thinking person that the free market has its faults. The question is what is the best way for us to have innovation, efficiency and a humane welfare state with distribution of wealth? Is that possible or is it always a see-saw act between capitalist and socialist ideologies? I thought this book was too concerned with articulating problems rather than searching for solutions.
1. A free market is antithetical to democracy. A democracy where everyone has a say will never want a fully fledged free market because the losers will always outnumber the winners.
2. People will never be happy in a free market because the stress in their lifes will be too high as a result from the uncertainties of the free market.
3. The free market neglects human needs for social identity and social security. This means people will have no sense of loyality to state or political edifices. Lassez faire economics can only inevitably self implode.
In his polemic, he considers several economies including USA, New Zealand, Sweden, Germany, China and Japan. It's not a bad book but I think the shortcoming of it is that it is too concerned with nit picking
all the problems with the free market. While there's nothing wrong with a detailed analysis, it just seems one eyed. Nothing is ever perfect, so it should come as no suprise to any rational thinking person that the free market has its faults. The question is what is the best way for us to have innovation, efficiency and a humane welfare state with distribution of wealth? Is that possible or is it always a see-saw act between capitalist and socialist ideologies? I thought this book was too concerned with articulating problems rather than searching for solutions.
Format:Paperback
For anyone wishing to understand Globalization from scratch
False Dawn is ,in my view ,an essential choice on this subject.
John Gray explains that Globalization is the spread of technology across the world. However, whilst this causes interconnection ,it does not cause the convergence of societies into a homogenous ideal. Free market ideology conflicts with religion and ethnic differences. John Gray believes that societies should not be forced to participate in modernization. False Dawn is a magnificent book written by a huge Intellectual. John Gray has a way of writing that is lucid and can appeal to the lay person as well as the academic reader.
False Dawn is ,in my view ,an essential choice on this subject.
John Gray explains that Globalization is the spread of technology across the world. However, whilst this causes interconnection ,it does not cause the convergence of societies into a homogenous ideal. Free market ideology conflicts with religion and ethnic differences. John Gray believes that societies should not be forced to participate in modernization. False Dawn is a magnificent book written by a huge Intellectual. John Gray has a way of writing that is lucid and can appeal to the lay person as well as the academic reader.
14 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
John Gray makes some powerful arguments in his case against Global Markets.
For example if one country taxes its population to pay for public goods e.g. health or education and another country doesen't then profit maximising companies will go to the lowest tax regime.
Therefore an unregulated global market will tend to destroy public goods. In my opinion the status in which public sector workers are held bears this out. It is obscene that nurses and teachers get paid so little. However if the UK wishes to retain inward investment it must keep public spending to the bone.
Gray argues that this (and other things) necessitate some regulation of the Global Market Economy.
I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a thought provoking argument.
My only slight issue is that the quotes from various economists and philosophers disrupt the flow and make the book unnecessarily complicated to understand.
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