Power in Motion or Neoliberalism Revisited

Power in Motion: Capital Mobility and the Indonesian State

Author: Jeffrey Winters

Departing from more abstract treatments of globalization, this innovative approach to changing power relations in contemporary capitalism builds on a textured account of Indonesian politics since 1965. Extending insights on the structural power of those controlling capital, Jeffrey A. Winters argues that the relative mobility of capital is becoming a better predictor of the interests and leverage of investors than is its nationality. The question now, he believes, is less whether capital is foreign or domestic than whether it is mobile or immobile. We are, he asserts, witnessing a "locational revolution" as profound as the industrial revolution of the nineteenth century. Power in Motion offers a portrait of Indonesian politics from the fall of President Sukarno, through the oil booms and busts of the 1970s and 1980s, and into the 1990s. Analyzing the political and economic shifts during these periods, Winters uses Indonesia to explore how the structural power of capital controllers varies across place and time. He also illustrates how a focus on capital mobility illuminates a broad range of issues in developing and advanced industrial countries. A clearer understanding of the power of capital is, he contends, important for communities struggling for meaningful democracy.

Table of Contents:

	List of Figures
	Preface
1	The Structural Power of Capital Controllers	1
2	The Preboom Years, 1965-1974: Investor Confidence and Political Contradictions	47
3	The Oil Boom, 1974-1982: Structural Leverage and State Indifference	95
4	Capital's Power Restored, 1982 to the Present	142
5	Capital Mobility: Applications and Comparisons	192
	References	223
	Index	235

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Neoliberalism Revisited: Economic Restructuring and Mexico's Political Future

Author: Gerardo Otero

Having unilaterally opened its borders to international competition and foreign investment in the mid-1980s, Mexico has become one of the world’s leading proponents of economic liberalization. Nevertheless, as the recent uprising of native peoples in Chiapas has made clear, economic reforms are not universally welcomed.This book addresses the challenges brought about by the restructuring of the Mexican economy at a time when multiple organizations of civil society are demanding a democratic political transition in a system that has been dominated by one party for nearly seventy years. The contributors identify the key social and political actors—both domestic and international—involved in promoting or resisting the new economic model and examine the role of the state in the restructuring process. They explore such questions as: In what ways is the state itself being reconstituted to accommodate the demand for change? How have Canada and the United States responded to the increased internationalization of their economies? What are the challenges and prospects for transnational grassroots networks and labor solidarity?Answers are provided by scholars from anthropology, economics, history, political science, and sociology, all of whom promote interdisciplinary approaches to the issues. Each chapter traces the structural transformations within the central social relationships in Mexican society during the last decade or so and anticipates future consequences of today’s changes.

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Walden (former Bush Administration White House counsel) examines ethics laws and regulations in relation to the Clinton administration, recommending various government ethics reforms. He addresses the myriad conflicts the administration has faced during its term: the Health Care Task Force, the White House Travel Office firings, Whitewater, and allegations leading to the resignation of Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy. The volume is the result of the Hudson's Project on Civil Justice Reform. Distributed by The Brookings Institution. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)