Governments hold up international competitiveness a the be-all and end-all of policy, presenting globalization as inevitable. The author shows that it isn’t and that local economies, local autonomy and local democracy can all be protected – globally – if the aid and trade rules are changed. The text provides the arguments and examples for all those threatened by the onward march of a monolithic, undifferentiated, global consumer culture, and for those wanting to preserve local values and services – whether local food, local housing, education, transport or environment.