Globalization, democratization, and multilateralism

Globalization involves structural changes in forms of state, society and culture, ecology and political economy and in ethics and expectations. In this collection, globalization and multilateralism are linked to questions of epistemology, ontology and strategy. Epistemology entails critical questioning of the nature of knowledge and its foundations. Ontology concerns the significant factors in global political economy. A critical strategy involves how to move world affairs from its present condition towards the promotion of our collective ability to channel structural change in a more democratic direction. With this framework in mind, the purpose of this book is to examine the political economy context for consideration of a range of cultural and civilizational possibilities on our planet. Thus, the authors ask, what are the main structural changes, tensions and contradictions in the emerging global political economy? What are the limits and contradictions of the dominant knowledge/power structures and multilateral arrangements? What is the significance of these developments in terms of democratic social choice?