Synopses & Reviews
Of the world's 100 largest economies, 51 are now corporations, only 49 are nation-states. The sales of General Motors and Ford are greater than the gross domestic product of the whole of sub-Saharan Africa, and Wal-Mart now has a turnover higher than the revenues of most of the states of Eastern Europe. Yet few of us understand fully the growing dominance of big business.
Widely acclaimed economist Noreena Hertz brilliantly reveals how corporations across the world manipulate and pressure governments by means both legal and illegal; how protest is becoming a more effective political weapon than the ballot-box; and how corporations are taking over from the state responsibility for everything from providing technology for schools to healthcare for the community.
The Silent Takeover asks us to recognize the growing contradictions of a world divided between haves and have-nots, of gated communities next to ghettos, of extreme poverty and unbelievable wealth. In the face of these unacceptable extremes, Noreena Hertz outlines a new agenda to revitalize politics and renew democracy.
Review
“Well written and colorful...Essential reading.” Sunday Times (London)
Review
“Fast becoming the central text of the antiglobalization movement.” Christian Science Monitor
Review
“Noreena Hertz is one of the worlds leading young thinkers.” Observer
Review
“[Hertzs] eloquent call to action deserves the attention of every concerned citizen of our troubled world.” Publishers Weekly
Review
“The Silent Takeover raises issues that business and politicans would be unwise to ignore.” Financial Times
About the Author
Bestselling author, academic, and broadcaster,
Dr. Noreena Hertz is one of the worlds leading experts on economic globalization and the CIBAM Distinguished Fellow at the University of Cambridge. She has a BA in Bestselling author, academic, and broadcaster,
Dr. Noreena Hertz is one of the worlds leading experts on economic globalization and the CIBAM Distinguished Fellow at the University of Cambridge. She has a BA in Philosophy and Economics from University College London, an MBA in Finance from Wharton, and a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge.
Noreenas critically acclaimed first book, The Silent Takeover, was published in 2001. On "The Sunday Times" business bestseller list for 14 weeks, the book also reached the #12 spot on The Wall Street Journal business bestseller list, was a #1 business bestseller on amazon.com and amazon.co.uk, and held places on bestseller lists in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway for several months. Her latest book, I.O.U.: The Debt Threat and Why We Must Defuse It, was published in September 2004 by Fourth Estate in the United Kingdom and will be released by HarperCollins in the United States under the title The Debt Threat: How Debt is Destroying the Developing Worldin January 2005.
Since publication of The Silent Takeover, Noreena Hertz has been voted one of the "Best of Young British" in the "New Statesman;" one of the "Top 35 Women Under 35" in "Management Today;" "One of the 100 most powerful people in London" on the Evening Standard Power List; and "One of the most inspiring women in the world" by "Vogue". She is also one of the "World Economic Forums" "Global Leaders of Tomorrow." In 2002, she was the Visiting Miliband Fellow at the London School of Economics and, in 2004, was awarded a prestigious Bellagio Fellowship by the Rockefeller Foundation.
Noreenas op-ed pieces have been published in "The Washington Post," "New Statesman," "The Observer," "The San Francisco Chronicle," "The Financial Times," "The Guardian," and leading European broadsheets. She wrote and presented "Channel 4s" curtain-raiser for their coverage of the 2001 British general election--"The End of Politics". She has appeared on all of the flagship television and radio shows from "Question Time" and "Start the Week" to "The Charlie Rose Show" and "Now with Bill Moyers" for PBS in the USA.
In addition to a heavy broadcasting and public speaking schedule, Noreena regularly takes part in debates and panels with leading government ministers, prime ministers, presidents, and public figures. Fellow panellists have included Bill Clinton, Mary Robinson, Charles Clarke, Jeffrey Sachs, Jagdish Bhagwati, and Oliver Letwin.