Network power : the social dynamics of globalization / David Singh Grewal.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 377-393) and index.

Introduction -- Defining network power -- The power of sociability -- English and gold -- Power and choice in networks -- Evaluating network power -- Countering network power -- Network power in technology -- Global trade and network power -- Global neoliberalism -- Network power and cultural convergence -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.

"David Singh Grewal's remarkable and ambitious book draws on several centuries of political and social thought to show how globalization is best understood in terms of a power inherent in social relations, which he calls network power. Using this framework, he demonstrates how our standards of social coordination both gain in value the more they are used and undermine the viability of alternative forms of cooperation. A wide range of examples are discussed, from the spread of English and the gold standard to the success of Microsoft and the operation of the World Trade Organization, to illustrate how global standards arise and falter. The idea of network power supplies a coherent set of terms and concepts - applicable to individuals, businesses, and countries alike - through which we can describe the processes of globalization as both free and forced."--Provided by publisher.