Introduction: what holds us together

Abstract

What holds us together when everything seems to be pulling us apart? Leading intellectuals from business, organised labour, community organisations, government structures and academic institutions examine the effects of a whole range of crosscutting global forces on local forms of identity, coherence and cohesion. Examining contexts as varied as fruit pickers and multinational corporations to human rights movements and the dynamics of global citizenship, the authors illustrate ways in which globalisation is experienced in local transactions of social identity.

Moving well beyond issues of economic and political hegemony, this compelling book merits close attention from anyone interested in the wide-ranging effects of globalisation on South Africa.