Altered States
The Globalization of Accountability

Is globalization good for democracy? This book examines the accountability of transnational institutions and traces their impact on democratic governance.

Valerie Sperling (Author)

9780521834001, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 25 May 2009

396 pages
24 x 16.3 x 2.8 cm, 0.67 kg

'Sperling should be applauded for her detailed research and for refusing to reduce the phenomena to simple theories or sound bites.' The Review of Politics

Is globalization good for democracy? Or has it made our governing institutions less accountable to citizens? Located at the intersection of international relations and comparative politics, this book explores the effects of globalization on national governance. Under what circumstances do the transnational forces that embody globalization encourage or discourage political accountability? Among the transnational forces discussed in the book are the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, multinational corporations, the United Nations, private military contractors, peacekeepers, the European Court of Human Rights, and several transnational social movements. Using in-depth case studies of situations in which these transnational institutions interact with national governments and citizens, Valerie Sperling traces the impact of economic, political, military, judicial, and civic globalization on state accountability and investigates the degree to which transnational institutions are themselves responsible to the people whose lives they alter.

1. Transnational institutions and accountability
2. For richer, for poorer: economic globalization
3. Democracy from abroad? Political globalization
4. Army for hire: transnational military forces
5. Trials and tribulations: transnational judicial institutions
6. My country is the whole world: transnational civil society
7. Conclusion: altered states and altered citizens.

Subject Areas: International relations [JPS], Comparative politics [JPB], Politics & government [JP]