Progressive Globalisation argues for the management of global capitalism under social democratic principles. It shows how the application of common rules and structural reforms, backed by democratically legitimate international institutions, can address the urgent problems of worsening global inequality,, environmental degredation and economic instability.

Polarised between neo-liberal advocates of free markets on the one hand and utopian 'anti-globalisers' on the other, debates about globalisation frequently generate more heat than light. This pamphlet offers an important new approach.

Progressive Globalisation argues for the management of global capitalism under social democratic principles. It shows how the application of common rules and structural reforms, backed by democratically legitimate international institutions, can address the urgent problems of worsening global inequality, environmental degradation and economic instability. Drawing on the history of national social democracy in the 20th century, it sets out the 'four pillars' of a new global system: equitable trade, economic regulation, global redistribution, and democratic governance.

The pamphlet calls for a new coalition to work for progressive globalisation comprising social democratic governments and parties (including the Labour government in the UK), NGOs, trade unions and enlightened businesses. It offers both a prospectus and a challenge to everyone campaigning for global change.

About the authors
• Michael Jacobs was General Secretary of the Fabian Society (at the time of the pamphlet's publication)
• Adam Lent is Research Fellow at the Fabian Society
• Kevin Watkins is Head of Research at Oxfam UK
• Introduction: Progressive Globalisation

"George W. Bush beware: here is a sparkling little pamphlet that offers a big vision of how to organise our world differently"

— Professor John Keane, author of Global Civil Society?

"This is a thoughtful and provocative argument. The champions, as much as the critics, of a free market approach to global capitalism would have a tough task bettering this pamphlet's proposals"

— Lord Meghnad Desai, London School of Economics

"This excellent study repays reading in full"

— Larry Elliott, Economics Editor, The Guardian