Includes bibliographical references (pages 193-226) and index.
"The advent of the twentieth century saw an incredible advance in scientific technology. By the inter-war period of the 1920s and early 1930s cars, planes and radios were a part of everyday life, and science became a popular cult for a new age." "Drawing parallels between then and now, 'Global Metaphors' reveals how much of the appeal of globalisation rhetoric relies on shimmering technological fantasies about the future. Today this also incorporates images of the environment which are used to reinforce the idea of an interconnected world. While this seductive imagery is impelled at one level by the romance of scientific invention, Pemberton reveals the way in which it is also used to cement particular political, economic and cultural interests as universal goods. Arguing that our current debate about globalisation is in effect a re-run of the same debate from the inter-war period, she explores why globalist thinking gains currency at particular moments in history, and looks beyond this to the interests, values and cultural biases it belies. The book explores many similarities between early twentieth century discussions of modernity and late twentieth century debates about postmodernity."--BOOK JACKET.
Global metaphors.
Civilization, Modern-- 20th century.
Globalization-- History-- 20th century.
Intellectual life-- History-- 20th century.
Postmodernism.
Rhetoric-- Political aspects-- History-- 20th century.