Fences and Windows: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the Globalization Debate

by Naomi Klein

Naomi Klein's No Logo is an international bestselling phenomenon. Winner of Le Prix Mediations (France), and of the National Business Book Award (Canada) it has been translated into 21 languages and published in 25 countries.

Named one of Ms Magazine 's Women of Year in 2001, and declared by the Times (London) to be "probably the most influential person under the age of 35 in the world," in Fences and Windows , Naomi Klein offers a bird's-eye view of the life of an activist and the development of the "anti-globalization" movement from the Seattle World Trade Organization protests in 1999 through September 11, 2001. Bringing together columns, speeches, essays, and reportage, Klein once again provides provocative arguments on a broad range of issues. Whether she is discussing the privatization of water; genetically modified food; "free trade;" or the development of the movement itself and its future post 9/11, Naomi Klein is one of the most thoughtful and brilliant activists and thinkers for a new generation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Economics, Activism, History, Essays, Society

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2000

About the author

Naomi Klein is a Canadian author, social activist, and filmmaker known for her political analyses; support of ecofeminism, organized labour, and leftism; and criticism of corporate globalization, fascism, ecofascism and capitalism. As of 2021, she is an associate professor, and professor of climate justice at the University of British Columbia, co-directing a Centre for Climate Justice.
Klein first became known internationally for her alter-globalization book No Logo (1999). The Take (2004), a documentary film about Argentine workers' self-managed factories, written by her and directed by her husband Avi Lewis, further increased her profile. The Shock Doctrine (2007), a critical analysis of the history of neoliberal economics, solidified her standing as a prominent activist on the international stage and was adapted into a six-minute companion film by Alfonso Cuaron and Jonás Cuarón, as well as a feature-length documentary by Michael Winterbottom. Klein's This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate (2014) was a New York Times nonfiction bestseller and the winner of the Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction.
In 2016, Klein was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize for her activism on climate justice. Klein frequently appears on global and national lists of top influential thinkers, including the 2014 Thought Leaders ranking compiled by the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute, Prospect magazine's world thinkers 2014 poll, and Maclean's 2014 Power List. She was formerly a member of the board of directors of the climate activist group 350.org.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

while this is a good collection of klein's articles and there are a few standout pieces - chiapas, the social centers of italy - overall i'd rather read her focused non-fiction than this. shock doctrine and no logo blow this one out of the water.

[Andrew]

Acceptable left-wing reportage from Naomi Klein, even if her optimism and naivete can be a bit grating at points, and some of these essays have aged as well as a film review in Ain't It Cool News circa 1998. For instance, her report on the carnivalesque street protests that accompanied the meetings of various global elites in the '90s were horrifically self-important (raise your hands if you never want to hear phrases like "culture jamming" ever, ever again), even if as they went on, she realized that there needed to be stronger real action in addition to mere shows of force. Furthermore, the criticism of GMOs in principle -- while Monsanto et al deserve all the hate they can get -- strikes me as at least a little bit first-world liberal in orientation and scientifically illiterate. Read if you're a Naomi Klein fan, but otherwise pass.

[Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Klein, along with Arudhati Roy, is one of the star commentators on current activist politics – and paradoxically a sort of celebrity activist. Readers should not approach this collection of reports, commentaries and journalism looking for the sort of thesis-driven analysis of current trends seen in either No Logo or The Shock Doctrine, but should expect to (and do) find inspiring tales of struggle and resistance, and developing alternatives to the current anti-democratic, exploitative, reactionary political trends. There is a good blend of bottom up struggle and critique of the activities of those in power. Good reportage and solid liberal/democratic socialist analysis – and as she admits elsewhere better at analysis that solutions: in this case, there should be plenty to inspire (in windows to alternatives) and much to annoy (in fences erected to limit struggle).

[Lisa Pontén · Rating 5 out of 5]

Klein is on point as always, ripping apart arguments for the neoliberal, neocolonial globalisation order, providing some of the most fierce arguments against it while also revealing windows of hope especially in indigenous struggles and showing through articles and speeches the way that mobilisation for a different globalisation - of commons and solidarity - could, and in some instances, does work.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth reading.

[Jennopenny]

Det är lite konstigt men också kul att läsa essäer och artiklar som har ungefär 20 år på nacken. Många är från 2000-2001 och vissa ännu tidigare. Vissa känns väldigt inaktuella medan andra känns fortfarande aktuella. Jag gillar sättet Klein skriver på och tog min tid att läsa denna.
Det är en bra samling och efter ett tag såg jag det som en historik över globaliseringen på ett sätt, i och med att mycket finns det "facit" på idag.
Läste den på svenska även om jag brukar läsa Klein på engelska och skulle inte ha nämnt det om det inte var för att översättningen är något udda? Eller nej, fel ord, det känns inte som om artiklarna är översatta från engelska till svenska utan från engelska till finlandssvenska. Det är verkligen inget fel med det men det märkes och jag tänkte på ord som "veckoslut" och dylikt under läsningens gång.

[Clivemichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both Inspiring/enlightening and discouraging. Much has remained the same or has gotten worse. Great writing; well deserved praise for her reports and observations, she nails it frequently:
"....when Wally Olins, co-founder of... brand consultancy, was asked for his take on America’s image problem, he complained that people don’t have a single clear idea about what the country stands for but rather have dozens if not hundreds of ideas that ”are mixed up in people’s heads in a most extraordinary way. So you will often find people both admiring and abusing America, even in the same sentence.”....
Having conflicting views about the U.S.- admiring its creativity, for instance, but resenting its double standards- doesn’t mean you are mixed up” to use Olin’s phrase, it means you are paying attention.”
The possibilities-...”’the participatory budget,’ a system that allows direct citizen participation in the allocation of scarce city resources. Through a network of neighbourhood and issue councils, residents vote directly on which roads will be paved and which health care facilities will be built. In Porte Alegre (Brazil), this devolution of power has brought results that are the mirror opposite of global economic trends. For instance, rather than scaling back on public services for the poor, as is the case nearly everywhere else, the city has increased those services substantially. And rather than spiralling cynicism and voter dropout, democratic participation increases every year.”

[Христо Блажев · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Огради и прозорци” на Нейоми Клайн разказва за битката срещу новия световен ред
http://www.knigolandia.info/2010/02/b...

Нейоми Клайн е една от лидерите на световното алтерглобалистично движение. Да, това са онези от телевизионните кадри, които се събират на срещите на МФВ, Световната банка и други людоеди, и които полицията бие, обгазява и арестува с нестихваща страст.
“Огради и прозорци” разказва за появата и развитието на това движение – от прочутите сблъсъци в Сиатъл (има хубав филм за тях), през следващите години, в които авторката посочва убедителното нарастване на насилие, използвано срещу протестиращите.

[Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

- well-written and intelligent (Klein is brilliant, with ideas as revolutionary as Marshall McLuhan's - who was also a Canadian, by the way).
- not rated as highly as her 'No Logo', which was ground-breaking, and the best thing I have ever read on the subject of Corporate Branding...unfortunately 'Fences And Windows:...', although an interesting collection of Klein's essays, speeches, and newspaper-columns - doesn't really introduce any new arguments.
- She does add evidence, and reformulates her description of our current global crisis - the divesting of control on all fronts to unbelievably wealthy and powerful multinational corporations

[Janne Paananen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hajanainen esitys tämä Naomi Kleinin lehtikirjoituksia ja puheita sisältävä teos. Menen hieman väärässä järjestyksessä. En nimittäin ole lukenut hänen No Logo kirjaansa ja sen lukeminen, ehkä avaisi paremmin tätä Vastarintaa ja vaihtoehtoja tekstikokoelmaa. Hajanaisuus on nimittäin häiritsevän suuressa roolissa. Välillä lehtijutut ovat oivallisia ja niistä oikein haistaa toiminnan keskipisteessä olemisen ja välillä taas jauhetaan ja toistetaan jo aiemmin sanottuja ajatuksia. Täytynee seuraavaksi tarttua siihen No Logoon.

[Marc · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked her earlier book, "No Logo" but this one seemed to drag a bit. It was also a bit repetitive in places, I guess because these were actually written as op-ed or other pieces that she collected together for the book. It is still quite relevant given the silly season going on in the US at this time. Sadly folks in the US would not likely read this and most wouldn't get it if they did. Otherwise how do you explain Trump.

P.S. I have been away from my Goodreads desk for several months. My review is scant since I simply don't remember a lot of the details from my reading of it.

[Minku · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used to have a used copy of this book. I liked it. Naomi Klein is a pretty kick-ass writer and researcher. This book is a good overview of various perspectives on neoliberal capitalism, and why it's important for you to pay attention and take sides (hopefully with the anti-capitalist direct-democracy types of people, rather than the anti-democratic corporate types or the anti-human religioso-fundies).

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an eye opening book about where and how our food comes from, how capitalism affects the poorer classes on a global scale so that most of us can live more comfortably--or rather how big corporations exploit the poor and undeveloped to increase profits. It's not as good as "No Logo" or "Shock Doctrine," but it still gets you thinking about how to help change the global economy before the entire planet is destroyed.

[Drew Pyke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was put together after No Logo but chronicles events over a wide period of time, such as the nascent WTO protests in 1999 Seattle. There is so much subject matter in this book from Zapatistas, Commons, IMF and The World Social Forum. Looking back it would read a book of its time but well worth a read if interested in the anti capitalist movement of the 90s and early 00s. Comparable with Arundhati Roy and Noam Chomsky.

[Maria Beltrami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una serie di articoli scritti dalla Klein nell'arco di alcuni anni a partire da seattle, e dell'inizio del movimento antiglobalizzazione, per passare da Porto Alegre, senza dimenticare Genova e le torri gemelle.
Un bignami su cosa è il movimento, dove va, che cosa vuole, perché lo vuole, e, soprattutto, sul perché è nel nostro interesse essere d'accordo con il movimento e non con la Banca Mondiale e l'FMI.

[Oritje Sepmarama · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes...yes....I am reading her book again. This time it was volunteering. As a former Mass Communication student, Globalisation watcher, and a CURRENT World Bank loan beneficiary agent......I MUST read this book to keep my feet on the ground and my eye on the reality.

Besides, it is easier to watch the predator's moves from its own nest

[Tanvir Muntasim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing collection of true stories of people's resistence all around the world. A lot of writers would criticise how the world is, but would fall short of citing positive examples of how the world can be changed for the better...but not Naomi. She cites examples to live by and draw inspiration from.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I largely share Klein's worldview (and have in fact taught her), she is never one to let things like strict factual accuracy get in the way of points made. This is not to say that Klein is not an intelligent or engaging writer, it is more that one needs to take much of what she needs to say with a grain of salt.

[ViRuS_X · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es el segundo libro que leo de Naomi Klein, más que un diario de lucha como lo fue No Logo realmente se trata de una recopilacion de articulos escritos de forma individual, personalmente me hubiera gustado que continuara con el estilo narrativo de No Logo, sin embargo tiene muy buenos articulos personalmente el que mas me impacto fue el de "Calculo Brutal del Sufrimiento".

[Imraan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely provocative and insightful view of the hidden world politics and policies that secretly ravage the well-being of the world's poorest of the poor nations, and how the wealthy nations thrive off of this imbalance.

[Taija O · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave for me, an industrial engineering student, new perspectives to politics and economy. Economy is not simple, especially global economy. I feel a bit contradictory, but that's just good. I have a lot to think.

[Natassia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This amazing collection of articles discusses the movement against corporate globalization and for self-determination and local democracy. Really moving and just left me wanting more - updates on all these local and international fights.

[D'Arcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this all last night and this morning. I have lots and lots to say about it, thus I will be writing about it on my blog later on today!

[Spicy T AKA Mr. Tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of Klein's great journalism around globalization.

[Mr · Rating 3 out of 5]

more writings on the evils of corporations and globalization. good stuff

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is wonderful! and so dead-on!

[Estelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going back in time a bit, and probably a bit more honest than her later books

[Matteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Naomi Klein's writing is clear, direct and incisive. A collection of essays about corporate power and popular resistance.

[Guswong · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love her, but don't bother with this book.

[MacDara Conroy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bad typography makes this collection of articles and essays on globalisation much harder to read than it should be.