the book sounds like a good read and i'll def give it a shot when i get a chance. I am not an economist and do not claim to know everything about how globalization works. My views are based simply on what became of the poor countries that welcomed globalization forces like WTO, IMF investments etc. This recent post was triggered after watching a documentary on Jamaica : Life and Debt (http://www.lifeanddebt.org/). It was shocking to see how IMF, World Bank and their likes step in when the country is going through its toughest times, promise help and end up cutting such deals that are never aimed toward alleviating the poverty of the country but toward making the country more and more dependent on these huge multinationals. I understand what you mean about the critics sounding too idealistic but that doesn't necessarily make them ignorant does it? I know little to make an irrefutable claim either for or against globalization. But simply based on what i read in the news (the news about how it is always the poor farmers and such that protest in WTO conventions.. i know that one farmer actually killed himself while protesting.. and then there are accounts of countries like jamaica and argentina etc etc), I believe that these multinationals are there to exploit countries in turmoil. given the situation of nepal and given the level of education of nepalis (sidenote: i have read ashu's posts in sajha and i can say he appears to be one of the most knowledgeable nepalis in nepal and yet he says he has little knowledge about globalization) i am simply concerned about our government's decision to welcome foriegn investements. Was enough homework done? Can we even trust these officials with our future? Do we have aware citizens that will scrutinize the success/failure of globalization in nepal? these are some of the questions i wanted to address. any comments from any concerned individual is welcome.