Reviews by Otilia Petre, opetre@rec.org Cities in a Globalizing World: Global Report on Human Settlements 2001 By the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (HABITAT). Published by Earthscan Publications Ltd in 2001. 344 pages. Cities in a Globalizing Worldpresents a comprehensive review of the world's largest cities and analyses both the positive and negative impacts on human settlements of global trends towards social and economic integration and the rapid changes in information and communication technologies. As Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, explains in the foreword: “The world has entered the urban millennium. Nearly half of the world’s population is now city dwellers, and the rapid increase in urban population is expected to continue, mainly in developing countries. This historic transition is being further propelled by the powerful forces of globalisation. The central challenge for the international community is clear: to make both urbanisation and globalisation work for all people.” The HABITAT report acknowledges the positive consequences of globalisation, such as facilitated diffusion of knowledge and increased city-to-city exchanges of experience and the spread of norms of democratic governance, environmental justice and human rights. On the other side, it points to urgent problems, such as increased global inequality and deteriorated living conditions in most of world’s cities. The book notes that globalisation fuels not only competition but also polarisation that hampers collective initiatives and the development of good governance structures. Written in clear, non-technical language and supported by informative, reader-friendly graphics, hundreds of case studies and extensive statistics (including CEE and SEE cities data), it is a useful reference for anyone interested in globalisation.   Greening Trade and Investment: Environmental Protection without Protectionism By Eric Neumayer. Published by Earthscan Publications Ltd in 2001. 228 pages. Some environmentalists regard foreign investment and international trade with great suspicion and demand that trade regimes must allow nation states to intervene in trade for the protection of the environment. Meanwhile, others in developing countries fear that the developed countries will use interventionist rights granted under environmental regulations to their own advantage - so they oppose most, if not all, demands for "greening" of multilateral investments and trade regimes. Greening Trade and Investment presents a comprehensive, critical analysis of the interactions between investment, trade and environment. It thoroughly examines the environmental consequences of existing agreements, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the North American Free Trade Agreement. The book explains how liberalisation of international trade and investment can go hand in hand with an environmental protection policy that does not erect damaging protectionist barriers, which frustrate the development aspirations of poorer countries. The GATT/WTO dispute settlement, and its role on the global environment, as well as the reasons for the failure of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment are amply analysed. Students of international relations or environmental law will certainly appreciate the excellent bibliographic apparatus and detailed chapter notes

Cities in a Globilizing World: Global Report on Human Settlements 2001 Published by Earthscan Publications 344 pages