Harry Bull's List: Diigo Assignment

Essay 'how does shopping shape our world'. A really good debate perhaps a little subjective but this only emphasises the differances between the two guys debating, they offer valid points and is a good read while summing up your own views on consumerism etc clearly not something to base an essay upon but is worth reading to understand varying view points and make up your own mind.

"If sovereign power is in decline, and anarchy on the rise, the soft power of the West - its branding and commercial influence - flourishes" this opening statement of the peice instantly made me want to read on, which led to brilliant insights for reference for example the explanation of how sovereingnty is a precondition of democracy which is impossible without a state and as the sovereign state erodes as does democracy.

This is one of my favourite books by Mr Russell and this chapter especially as i believe regardless of the exact topic you may be studying, his view of man's rationality i think helps answer many questions that plague the human race. i find this chapter extremely benefecial when writing on the failures of capatalism and globilisation in particular as this essay goes someway to answering the human error involved. As we consider the society we would like, Russell argues whether this is possible by drawing on his historical and philisophical knowledge and determines the problem maybe man itself rather than the systems of society we have in place.

Shakira the popstar letting us in on how to stop recession, ironic and maybe worth referencing to add a little humour to an essay. She states that to help the economy we must shop, undoubtedly true.

A interesting blog drawing together some examples of how we are involved in consumerism day to day aswell as some factually astute comments about how globilisation works.

Feachem argues that globilisation offers far more benefits than problems and demonstrates the attittudes of protesters and there lack of understanding in the global political arena. I find with most comments of this nature that it is one sided in favour of a neo liberal globilisation, however Feachem does imply there are negatives which is refreshing.

This again being a view point i disagree with but i concede he makes his point in a concise and intelligent manner aswell as providing me with a counter argument. He basically argues the case that there is not enough globilisation in the forms of MNC's etc and the more there are the better globilisation will become.

i really like this book as it shares and informs my opinion of the role of the media in globilisation or rather lack of it, a very good reference point for an essay drawing on the media's lack of indepth coverage of the ailments of globilisation.

This article interested me as it showed the media in a rarely seen light, in this case as an example of the media highlighting recent demonstrations on globilisation, as a sceptic it was taken with a pinch of salt, however still very necessary when constructing my argument to be able to cite such defenses of the media.

Aswell as defining neo liberalism in an understandable fashion, it also contains chomskys usual attack on the pitfalls of capitalism and the establishments that go with it however like most of chomskys work, it stays objective and rational but still is packed full of the determination chomsky has to show the world the problems with the neo liberal perspective.

A brilliant insight into the intricate connections between trans and multi national corporations and the most influential governments/states involved in the more undesirable than desirable problems and instigation of globilisation. excellent source of reference.

An introduction to the concept of third world tourism

An insight into how the retail industry in its attempts to curb the use of sweatshops but are however finding it extremely difficult in the globalised world, where the production line is on a global and untrackable scale.

An interesting adaption of Christallers 'central place theory', i have found useful when looking into the spread of shopping centres around the uk and the effect they have economically

In this journal David Coburn argues that there is a clear link between neo-liberal political policys, wage inequality and less social cohesion. He explains his view in a knowledgable yet lucid way, a very reliable link for information aswell as an enjoyable read.

I found this journal to be extremely useful in its ability to introduce difficult concepts in a readable manner, for example the Equivalence scale relativities applied to the worlds poor was tough to understand as my algebraic skills are poor however it was presented in a way that bypassed this inability of mine.

A really useful introduction to the global village in that it provides simple but yet critical analysis of the make up of the globalised world

An informative selection of statistics that are useful when discussing the implications of consumerism in the uk.

A brilliant insight both statistically and for its readable nature into the inequalitys that plague our world.

The question i shall be answering is 'how does shopping shape our world?'. A good, in depth, look into the effects of consumerism, covering several key areas of debate.