Book review : Offshoring

Abstract

What have Manchester United Football Club, Trafigura, the island of St Barts, pirates, hedge funds, Radio Caroline, the only seven star hotel in the world, The Waste Makers, Enron and extraordinary rendition have in common? They all find a place in this well-documented and impressive work, which unveils the networks of concealment, wealth, evasion, excess and power which lie at the root of the concept of offshoring. Indeed, Urry reserves some harsh words to his subject: "Offshoring erodes 'democracy' and, more generally, notions of fairness within and between societies" (p. 10). He also describes it as "an account that emphasizes avoidance, rule-breaking, irresponsibility, and secrets as the 'rich class' remade the world in its interests". Offshoring is about how the rich are allowed and encouraged to steal a couple of marches over the rest, which, at little cost, enable them to become even richer. The writer also refers to the "dark side" of the new class warfare which is being waged, "enabling the rise and rise of the rich class".