Depending on the context, the 'local' is defined as part of the nation state, the nation state itself or even occasionally a regional grouping of nation states. At Localisation's heart is the replacement of today's environmentally and socially damaging global subservience to international competitiveness. In its place it prioritises local production and the protection and rediversification of local economies, such that everything that can sensibly be produced within a nation or a region should be. Long-distance trade is then reduced to supplying what could not come from within one country or geographical grouping of countries. The policies bringing about localisation are ones that increase control of the economy by communities and nation states. The result should be an increase in community cohesion, a reduction in poverty and inequality and an improvement in livelihoods, social infrastructure and environmental protection, and hence an increase in the all important sense of security.

Localisation is not about restricting the flow of information, technology, trade and investment, management and legal structures which further localisation, indeed these are encouraged by the new localist emphasis in global aid and trade rules. Such transfers also play a crucial role in the successful transition from globalisation to localisation. The rules for this diminished international sector are those of the 'fair trade' movement, where preference is given to goods supplied in a way that is of benefit to workers, the local community and the environment. Under these circumstances, beggar-your-neighbour globalisation gives way to the potentially more cooperative better-your-neighbour localisation. It is not a return to overpowering state control, merely governments' provision of a policy and economic framework which allows people, community groups and businesses to rediversify their own local economies.

A Programme for Localisation

To achieve such a dramatic turnaround I have drawn from many peoples ideas and detailed in my book 'Localisation- a Global Manifesto' a set of interactive and self reinforcing policies that can bring about
localisation.

Protecting the local economy

The first step must be a 'mindwrench' away from the passive acceptance that globalisation is as inevitable as gravity and towards support for a set of self-reinforcing measures that will bring about a 'Protect the Local, Globally' end goal internationally. Protective safeguards, such as import and export controls, quotas, subsidies etc, will need to be introduced over a clearly agreed transition period to all continents. This will not be old style protectionism which seeks to protect a home market whilst expecting others to remain open. The emphasis will be on local trade. Any residual long-distance trade will be geared to funding the diversification of local economies. Such a dramatic, radical change will need to overcome TNC opposition� and so will need to take place at the level of regional groupings of countries, especially the most powerful - in Europe and North America.

Localising Production and Controlling TNCs

Industry and services will be localized by site-here-to-sell-here policies to ensure localized production. Threats by TNCs to relocate, thus become less plausible, as the market is lost to existing, or government encouraged, new local competitors. Once TNCs are thus grounded, then their domestic activities and the levels of taxation paid are back under democratic control. Campaigners' demands for social, labour and environmental standards also become feasible. Adequate company taxation can help compensate the poor for any increases in prices.

Localising Money

The disastrous effects of the unfettered international flow of money have led to global calls for some controls to be reintroduced. What is required is a regrounding of money to remain predominantly in the locality or country of origin to fund the rebuilding of diverse, sustainable local economies. Measures include controls on capital flows, Tobin-type taxes, control of tax evasion, including off shore banking centres, the floating of civic bonds and the rejuvenation of locally orientated banks, credit unions, LETS schemes etc. Public and private flows of money to other countries must also be directed to strengthen the local economies of the countries concerned.

A Localist Competition Policy

Local competition policies will ensure that high quality goods and services are provided by ensuring a more level, but more local, playing field. Free of the 'race to the bottom' competitive pressures from foreign competition, business can be carried out within the framework of ever improving labour, social and environmental regulations, enhanced by the best ideas and technologies from around the world. Government competition policy will cover the structure and market share of businesses, plus regulate the
behaviour of firms.

Taxes For Localisation

To pay for the transition to localisation and to improve the environment the majority of taxation will come from gradually increasing resource taxes, such as on non-renewable energy use and pollution. To promote a more equitable society, the removal of the option of relocation or the availability of foreign tax havens will