As industrial globalization continues to surge, the impact of free trade on a global economy has remained one of the most debated topics in the sociopolitical arena. With the swelling popularity of the neo-liberal approach among economists and policy makers, it's crucial to keep the social, political, and environmental consequences of unrestricted trade at the forefront of the discussion. One of the most recent neo-liberal projects, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), is an example of how the term free trade can bear distinct and contradictory meanings. Examining and clarifying the complex dimensions of NAFTA and its consequences sits at the core of this special issue of The Annals, which extends to offer in-depth analyses of specific countries and regions in Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Reflecting an interdisciplinary perspective from a group of distinguished scholars, the papers in this timely and thought-provoking issue are divided into three major sections: I. Political and Economic Dimensions of Free Trade Offering a bird's eye perspective on the global landscape, this first section provides readers with a solid framework to understand the concepts and applications of neo-liberal policies. II. NAFTA, Labor, and the Nation State Focusing on the relationship between labor and the state, these papers look at the causes and implications of economic globalization on economic inequality, civil society, and indigenous movements. III. Regionalization and Primary Goods Extraction What effects do neo-liberal projects have on agricultural, mining, and other primary resources? This final section reviews the environmental impact of a global economy. As the neo-liberalism approach continues to gain momentum, economists, sociologists, political scientists, and anthropologists must stay persistent in sustaining the debate over free trade tactics and their consequences. Providing an overall framework of the global landscape along with specific consequences of free trade, this issue of The Annals is a must-read for scholars and policy makers alike.
Introduction - Patricia Fernandez-Kelly PART 1: Political and Economic Dimensions of Free Trade Neoliberalism as Creative Destruction - David Harvey Liberalism and the Good Society in the Iberian World - Miguel Angel Centeno Migration and Development: A Conceptual Review of the Evidence - Alejandro Portes Borders for Whom? The Role of NAFTA in Mexican Migration - Patricia Fernandez-Kelly and Douglas Massey PART 2: NAFTA, Labor and the National State The Strategic Role of Mexican Labor under NAFTA: Critical Perspectives on Current Economic Integration - Raul Delgado Wise and James M. Cypher Resistance and Compliance in the Age of Globalization: Indian Women and Labor Organizations - Rina Agarwala Resistance and Identity Politics in an Age of 'Globalization - Deborah Yashar Rethinking Civil Society in the Age of NAFTA: the Case of Mexico - Jon Shefner PART 3: Regionalization and the Foray on Primary Goods Globalization, Liberalization, and Capital Volatility: Who Benefits? - Barbara Stallings Trading Impressions: Crafts Production in post-CAFTA Costa Rica - Frederick Wherry Globalizing Restricted and Segmented Markets: Challenges to Theory and Values in Economic Sociology - Donald Light Renegotiating Transnational Alliances in the Production of Asian Timber: From Managed to Free(r) Markets - Paul K. Gellert
