Jihad vs. McWorld is a groundbreaking work, an elegant and illuminating analysis of the central conflict of
our times: consumerist capitalism versus religious and tribal fundamentalism. These diametrically opposed but strangely
intertwined forces are tearing apart--and bringing together--the world as we know it, undermining democracy and
the nation-state on which it depends. On the one hand, consumer capitalism on the global level is rapidly dissolving
the social and economic barriers between nations, transforming the world's diverse populations into a blandly uniform
market. On the other hand, ethnic, religious, and racial hatreds are fragmenting the political landscape into smaller
and smaller tribal units. Jihad vs. McWorld is the term that distinguished writer and political scientist Benjamin
R. Barber has coined to describe the powerful and paradoxical interdependence of these forces. In this important
new book, he explores the alarming repercussions of this potent dialectic for democracy.
A work of persuasive originality and penetrating insight, Jihad vs. McWorld holds up a sharp, clear lens to the
dangerous chaos of the post-Cold War world. Critics and political leaders have already heralded Benjamin R. Barber's
work for its bold vision and moral courage. Jihad vs. McWorld is an essential text for anyone who wants to understand
our troubled present and the crisis threatening our future.