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Slam-dunking Walmart
Reviewed by Sudhirendar Sharma
28 Oct 2012of Walmart that we all have dreamt about and then there is
Walmart that we seemingly dread. Between dream and reality there is swathe of
controversies that reach people’s doorsteps much before the retail store opens
in any locality. The world shares a love-hate relationship with the biggest
retail chain, and yet it keeps on going and growing.
Ironically, the retail chain store has been opposed tooth and nail in the
country of its origin. Across the US, communities have fought their way to
resist the opening of Walmart store in their neighbourhood. Citizens have
opposed the sprawl of Walmart stores for two compelling reasons: its negative
impact on local economy and its adverse influence on their quality of life.
Al Norman, who has been on the forefront of anti-sprawl activism and is the
founder of the organization Sprawl-Busters, has chronicled the vulnerability of
the retail major to community backlash in several cities in the US.
In India, the government is hoping to bail out a stressed economy through
foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail. Against available international
evidence to the contrary, the government has made audacious claims that 'retail
therapy' will fix the unemployment crises by generating over 100 million jobs.
Hidden beneath such tall promises, Norman elucidates, are hidden costs
that will eventually get borne by the communities only. With Walmart having
announced its plan to fan across the country within a year’s time, it is for the
communities to see the dark side of growth behind the gloss.
Stories of resistance in the book have clearly observed that educated and
activated consumers remain a dispersed force to begin with. Simply put, they
view themselves as 'beneficiaries' first. It is only when they view the flip
side of growth that they realise that 'if you don't define growth, it will
define you'. It is an inspiring book that details out how community interests
must be kept safe with campaigns that can go the distance. The longer the
anti-sprawl campaign lasts its message gets retained by the community that much
longer. The Indian edition is a timely publication of Al Norman's work, a
must read for those who are yet to make up their mind on the market-made
calamity that, in the name of growth, will soon be upon the consumers and the
communities alike.
Slam-dunking Walmart
by Al Norman
Banyan Tree, Indore
280 pages, Rs.400
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