Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on the present situation of the working class worldwide. It looks at the effects of the efforts by firms in Europe, North America and Japan to cut costs and boost profits by replacing higher-waged domestic labour with cheaper foreign labour, achieved either through emigration of production or through immigration of workers. The book looks at another aspect of the imperialist relationship between India and Britain in colonial times. It examines the performance of six Latin American economies: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru; these countries were chosen because of their different sizes and distinct economic specialisations. The book reviews the facet of United States imperialism as the velvet glove as opposed to the iron fist, which accompanied the rise of neoliberal policies and globalisation.