Runaway World

'This little book is full of insights about who we are and where we are going.' - Financial Times


The most accessible book yet by one of the most influential thinkers of our time, Runaway World evaluates the ever-increasing impact of globalization today. Extending his arguments beyond the merely economic, Giddens shows how our growing interdependence directly affects our everyday lives. Neither a cheerleading endorsement of emerging markets, nor a fearful rant on the growth of terrorism or loss of American jobs, this is a book about a world that grows smaller every day, and how those changes are affecting our culture, our traditions, our families, and our politics. Identifying globalization as a true cultural force, this eloquent and important volume is the starting point for anyone concerned about our increasingly interconnected world.

Preface to the second edition, Preface to the first edition, Introduction, 1. Globalisation, 2. Risk, 3. Tradition, 4. Family, 5. Democracy, Selected reading, Index