The Cornell University International Political Economy Program is sponsoring a two-day seminar, "The Politics of Globalization/s," Nov. 6-7, in Room 401 Warren Hall. The seminar will focus on the current Asian financial crisis and other areas of global political and economic interest. It is free and open to the public.

Philip McMichael, Cornell professor of rural sociology and director of the program, says the seminar's purpose is to bring academics, practitioners, activists and students together to discuss the complex and contradictory aspects of globalization. As well as the financial crisis in Asia, discussions will focus on the role of the World Trade Organization as a quasi-world governing agency and the related attempts to institutionalize the world free market. There also will be discussions on the rise of resistance from labor and the environmental, peasant, indigenous and ethnic-identity movements.

"What we see on the evening news is just one angle on globalization and there's a greater emphasis on financial integration," said McMichael. "This seminar will look at the many facets of economic and political globalization."

Walden Bello, University of the Philippines sociology professor, will give the keynote address, "Asian Financial Crisis -- The Movie: Villains, Victims and Supporting Cast," on

Nov. 6 at 11:30 a.m. in 401 Warren Hall. Bello is also director of the Focus on The South program at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, and is the co-author of Dragons in Distress, a book which predicted the current Asian financial crisis. He appeared earlier this year before the U.S. House of Representatives, as an expert on the Asian financial problem.

The Friday, Nov. 6, seminar sessions will be:

• "Global/Regional Implications of the Asian Crisis," 9:30 a.m. This includes "Regional or Global Crisis?" a talk by Mitchell Bernard, a professor of political science at York University; "The International Origins of the Asian Crisis," Jonathan Kirshner, Cornell professor of government; and "From Miracle to Meltdown: Dynamics and Implications of the East Asian Crisis," Giovanni Arrighi, professor of sociology at Johns Hopkins University.
• "The Project of Globalization," at 1:30 p.m. This includes: "Globalization: Trend or Project?," Philip McMichael, Cornell professor of rural sociology; "Managing the World," Sue Roberts, professor of geography at the University of Kentucky; and "Globalization, Nation States and the Scope for Collective Action," Manfred Bienefeld, professor of public administration at Carleton University.
• "Labor in the Global Economy," at 3:30 p.m. This includes: "Revitalizing Labor in Today's World Market," Lowell Turner, Cornell professor of industrial and labor relations; "American Sweatshops in Global Context," Bob Ross, professor of sociology at Clark University; and "Migrant Capital: One Corporation's Unrequited Search for Cheap Labor," Jeff Cowie, Cornell professor of industrial and labor relations.

The Saturday sessions will be:

• "Globalization and Governance," at 10 a.m. This will include: "Globalization and the New Sovereignty," Ronen Palan, professor of political science at Sussex University; "The Limits to Global Convergence in Labor Market Practices," Susan Christopherson, Cornell professor of city and regional planning; and "Globalization in Crisis: Bringing the State Back In?" Leo Panitch, professor of political science at York University.
• "Globalizations and Reconfigured Knowledge," at 1 p.m. This includes: "Knowledge Construction and/or Reconstruction in/for a 'Globalizing' World," Davydd Greenwood, Cornell professor of anthropology; "Cinema and the Global City: A Look at Contemporary Bombay Cinema," Ranjani Mazumdar, professor at New York University; and "Cultural Identity as Political Ideology in the Neoliberal State: The Global Connection," Terry Turner, Cornell professor of anthropology.
• "Globalization Politics," at 3 p.m. This will include: "Around the World, Progressive Citizens' Movements Take on Globalization," Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch; "Africa and Globalization," Muna Ndulo, Cornell professor of law; "Globalization and the North-South Divide," Denis Benn, professor of public policy at the University of the West Indies.

On Nov. 5, prior to the two-day seminar, the International Political Economy Program is sponsoring an activist workshop, 3-5 p.m., Uris Hall, Room G-08; there will be another activist workshop at Telluride House, 6-9 p.m.