Fences and Windows

Fences and Windows is not a follow up to the bestselling No Logo. Rather it is a collection of articles and speeches written on the hoof at the various conventions and summits around the world in the wake of the mass protests against the World Trade Organisation in Seattle. Klein's involvement with the new grass-roots anti-corporate movement gave her--and thousands of others--a fast-track education in neo-liberal economics and the effects of globalised corporate activities upon landless farmers in Brazil, teachers in Argentina, fast-food workers in Italy, coffee-growers in Mexico, shanty-town dwellers in South Africa, migrant tomato pickers in Florida, union organisers in the Philippines, and homeless kids in Toronto.

One of the most important and inspiring aspects of the book is Klein's description of the ways in which the new movement differs from left-wing political organising of the past. Rather than being unified by a political party or a national network with head offices, annual elections and subordinate cells and locals, it is shaped by the ideas of individual organisations and intellectuals but, crucially, does not defer to any of them as leaders. What facilitates the multiplicity of campaigns is the communication technology which in turn shapes the movement in its own image. What emerged on the streets of Seattle, Klein observes, "was an activist model that mirrors the organic decentralised pathways of the Internet--the Internet come to life".

What gives Klein's analysis added weight is her reports of the tactics of police and security forces around the world in the campaign to criminalise dissent. Among the tactics used are pre-emptive strikes where movement organisers are intimidated before major meetings or simply arrested before they get there. More worrying still is the propaganda war that seeks to blur the distinction between violence and civil disobedience. This in turn leads to a situation where police violence against protesters is normalised and where indiscriminate gassing occurs so frequently that protesters appear on the streets with necessary protective gear of swimming goggles and bandanas soaked in vinegar.

Overall Fences and Windows is engaged, informative, troubling and inspiring. It's also worrying because it's difficult to believe that governments and corporations are allowed to operate such hypocritical and destructive economic policies while passing themselves off as the champions of the very people they are destroying. It's inspiring because there is hope of change--not least in the models of political organisation she describes. In this regard her article on Subcomandante Marcos and the Zapatistas is remarkable and truly inspirational. The inevitable weakness of a collection of articles such as this is that there is inevitable repetition. On the other hand, the fact that Klein wrote them on the move, from the inside and as it happened (or very shortly afterwards) gives the whole urgency and immediacy. --Larry Brown

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Klein's update on the anti-Corporate Globalisation battle - Rated
This is a collection of articles published in various journals over the last couple of years which succeeds in giving a sense of history-in-the-making, of a movement (albeit in a very loose sense of the word) finding its voice and occasionally being heard. The depiction of both the "broad brush" international trends- whether political or corporate- are succinctly done, and are very impressively and insightfully linked to the 'grass roots' situations and people 'on the ground' affected by such forces. That the voices of real people affected by the impact of such forces- both good, but more often bad- are so seldom heard or listened to in the mainstream media makes this collection feel important.

Klein's ability to present complex developments and arguments in a succinct way- many chapters are only four pages long- is impressive.

The author's previous book, the excellent No Logo, retains its important place in the canon of writing on anti-corporate globalisation, but Fences and Windows can sit proudly alongside.

Not her best writing - Rated
There's a distinctly disjointed feel to 'Fences and Windows', Naomi Klein's update on globalisation after her bestseller 'No Logo' of a few years ago. It's made up of various articles she wrote between 2000 and 2002, many of which seem to have been published before (several in the Canadian newspaper 'The Globe and Mail'). Such journalistic writing is fine for a newspaper that readers will discard the next day, but it lacks the substance required of a book. The particular problem is length - most of the chapters are no more than half a dozen pages long, so of course there isn't enough space in which to develop much of an argument, or even look at the topics in much depth. She's also not saying anything stunningly new (except in the final section), which makes for a frustrating read.

She begins by detailing the major anti-globalisation protests, such as Washington DC (2000), then moves on to how 'free trade' (which she very correctly points out isn't actually 'free' at all) and the global market are 'dismantling democracy'. This is definitely the weakest part of the book; there's a strong argument to be made here, but the disparate articles don't make the necessary links to have any force. Next she deals with 'criminalising dissent' - how protestors are mistreated and misrepresented by the authorities. Again, more structure here would help, but it's still a useful way to learn of specific examples.

The fourth section, 'Capitalising on Terror' does much as the title suggests, reasonably efficiently, but it's the fifth and final one that makes this book worth reading. It's rather a cliché for books of this sort to end with how the protestors want to build a better world, but Klein takes a tangent to this issue with great effect. She examines the methods used by protest groups, and assesses their effectiveness with the sort of insightful critique only someone who's part of the movement could provide. Her article on Subcommandante Marcos and the Zapatistas in Chiapas, Mexico is fantastic and alone justifies buying this book. (That it's the longest in the book, at a whole 16 pages, is significant - it was also originally in 'The Guardian' on 3rd March 2001, if you want to search the archives for it instead!).

I'm studying globalisation, and even allowing for the fact that Klein isn't an academic author, her lack of citation of other authors and other people's ideas is distinctly frustrating. The index is comprehensive and useful, but there are no endnotes and meagre credits. Unfortunately this isn't a book that leads you on to further exploration. If you haven't read 'No Logo', do so now and ignore this. 'Fences and Windows' is only worth buying if you're a bit of a fan of the author, or are some anti-globalisation popular lit. completist... Borrow this from the library if you must; don't buy. Get the 'Rebellion in Chiapas' article elsewhere, and do something better with your time.

Too Superfiicial - Rated
Fences and Windows, as Naomi Klein states, is not a sequel to "No Logo". Rather, it is a collection of speeches and articles compiled by her over the last few years.

Therein lies the problem with this book. For someone wanting a thorough insight into the trends of the 'globalisation debate' this book offers very very little subject matter. Considering how all the writings are magazine articles subjects are covered with very little depth, and no real insight or analysis.

I found the book tedious after a while and repetitive, as many of the articles overlap. Also, since the articles are not in chronological order throughout, you find yourself revisiting the same summits and debates, with no additional information/understanding.

A much better insight, in my opinion, would be Paul Kingsnorth's "One No, Many Yeses". This book truly offered and original and objective approach to the movement.

A nice follow up - Rated
This was nice follow up to the much talked about No Logo. I enjoyed the read, but it left me with much less than the predecessor did. Although this is an interesting look at the globalisation movement, and possibly a good introduction to it for people who have read No Logo (which was missing a lot of exploration in that area.) I felt slightly underwhelmed by it all. It also didn't give me much hope at the movement until towards the end.

Klein is a great jornalist, and what she lacks in academic writing, she makes up for in passion. I would be reading her writings in the Globe and Mail if I lived in Canada, and she's a great wake up call to new potential activists, but her lack of depth can be off putting for old hands, I'm sure.

However, the problem with politics is it's often unrelenting affect of induced boredom over the readers. Klein doesn't do that at all. For more of the style, with a bit more focus on middle class westerners, and the social effects of Branding, you could try Branded by Alicia Quart. That's probably a bit more relavant to youngsters who really feel like they are caught up in the whole thing. It's very difficult to break out of the branded boxes that teens sit in these days, but if anyone can inspire, Naomi can.

Exemplifies the problems of todays politicians - Rated
Naomi Klein illustrates quite elequently why people are protesting. She has gone to great leangths in talking to people and figuring out why people and the general public are beginning to fight 'the system' and start demonstrating for their freedoms.

The book doesn't greatly change my somewhat dark opinion of politics but instead it adds some substance and fact. Some of the dispatches she has written almost always raise eyebrows but at the same time I can't help thinking that sometimes there is a tinge of deep routed antagonism to someone. Although in one way thats normal, it gives me a gut feeling about quite how objective she may have been in her analysis.

That said it is something that will stay on my bookshelf as is it's an excellent read. It will open your eyes to the greed that is so glaringly behind the scenes of some very famous and internationally relevant politics and corporate thinking.