Because of the various media misrepresentations, the general public doesn't really understand the anti-globalization movement. The methods of activists, such as civil disobedience, can be confusing and frightening. And then there are the acronyms and terminology that activists use, like "diversity of tactics" or the "Global South."
As corporate globalization continues to expand both nationally and internationally, many activists are claiming to support the so-called anti-globalization movement. The focus on various issues that effect people, environment and or the economy are wide, and Global Uprising attempts to make sense of it all.
Global Uprising is a beginner's guide to the anti-globalization movement. It is an anthology of eyewitness accounts of past protests concerning globalization. It covers the Seattle protests of 1999 to the Republican and Democratic National Convention protests of 2000. The book is designed so you can skip pages and still understand who the major players are in this new and complicated movement. It's divided into various categorical pages. You can navigate through "Context" pages to understand the history behind the anti-globalization movement. "Organization" and "Mentor" pages guide you through some of the big names behind the movement. There are also essays on tactics and strategies.
If you're looking for a serious discussion on "diversity of tactics," the term dubbed for various methods of civil disobedience, Global Uprising is not for you. The book merely profiles those individuals who choose to follow such methods. It does not go in depth on how global politics relate to the global economy and to the environment. It explains what the issues are concerning globalization, it explains which activists and organizations are confronting the various issues. The book fails to cover how they come together to form a united movement.
Although Global Uprising's subtitle is "Stories from a New Generation of Activists", there are very few essays from youth leaders and student activists. What little youth perspective Global Uprising has just seems to be a sidebar. Most of the pieces seem to be adults from the "movement" trying to tell the youth how to conduct themselves. Often, these essays come off as condescending and offensive. Reading Global Uprising might give you the impression that the "new generation" is pretty old, and the youth are not playing a leadership role. Veteran youth activists deserve much more respect than Global Uprising provides.
Global Uprising is a book of reference, and should only used as a starting point. The rest of the journey of through this new and vibrant movement is really up to you.
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