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Focusing on the resilience of distinctive local consumption cultures, this paper challenges some of the more sweeping claims that have been advanced in the name of ‘globalization’. Thinking about a ‘globalizing’ rather than a fully ‘globalized’ world encourages us to examine the deeply contested nature of the concept and to explore the geographically uneven nature of recent economic, political and cultural transformations. This paper approaches globalization as a site of struggle rather than as an established fact, emphasizing the need for empirically grounded studies of the impact of ‘globalization’ on consumer cultures in different geographical contexts. The paper examines the way that producers have ‘customized’ their products for different markets (drawing on evidence from China and South Africa). It then reviews case study evidence from three contrasting consumption cultures: consumption and ‘public culture’ in India, ‘consumer nationalism’ in China, and ‘artful consumption’ in Russia. The paper concludes by identifying some current debates and outlining some directions for future research, including a re-emphasis on consumption and material culture; an exploration of consumption as social practice; the delineation of commodity-specific consumption cultures; and some reflections on the political, ethical and methodological issues that are being raised in contemporary consumption research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regular World Economic Forum (WEF) took place in Davos against the background of aggravation of the geopolitical and trade conflicts, strengthening of protectionism, deterioration in an economic situation in the EU and uncertainty with Brexit. A number of world leaders refused participation in it at the last minute. It caused pessimism of participants and raised an issue of future role of Davos as leading discussion platform on world economy and policy. The paper considers results of the 49th WEF and the prospects of the further development of WEF.

The study of a country's arms sales opens up pathways for investigating its domestic and foreign policies. Arms sales are also a phenomenon that is greatly affected by globalization. This is certainly the case for Russia, especially as regards its arms sales to Asia. This article analyzes Russian arms sales to Asia and finds that despite Moscow's professed optimism that it can continue to maintain a competitive edge and its standing as a key Asian military power, there are many reasons for serious concern. These concerns relate to the quality of Russian weapons, to the domestic struggle for resources within a thoroughly corrupt defense industrial sector, and to external forces such as Chinese and South Korean producers who now compete with Russia in the global and Asian arms markets. Such trends may lead not only to a decline in Russia's overall standing and capabilities in Asia, but also to a transformation of Asia's strategic landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]