In his book The Retail Revolution, Nelson Lichtenstein, professor of history at the UCSB (University of California, Santa Barbara) and director of the center for the study of work, labor and democracy, is describing “Wal-Mart” (definition in the next paragraph) as the best example of the most contemporary / most discussed / favorite cliché of our time: GLOBALIZATION.
Today I will attempt to explain the general historical significance of Lichtenstein's book. Initially, I will briefly describe Nelson Lichtenstein and Wal-Mart. I will then explain his point of view regarding this amazing business model that delocalize itself from his rural environment to conquer the “East” and more precisely China. I will emphasize some of his sentences to express the best his ideas and arguments.
…show more content…
He started his carrier in Dartmouth University where he got his Bachelor. He pursued in University of California, Bekeley to obtain his Ph.D. and then became MacArthur foundation chair in history in UCSB. In 2009, he published a very interested analysis over Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is a multinational American company specializing in the retail, founded by Sam Walton and now headed by his eldest son, S. Robson Walton. He is debating about the controversy that, on one hand, accuses Wal-Mart of “abusing employees” and, on the other hand, just admires the outstanding business model that it represents. He is giving his personal opinion of the behemoth merchant. He is giving a sociological insight into how Wal-Mart rose to success by capitalizing “backward” southern