The vastly increased mobility of international capital has weakened the welfare states of the industrialized world through indirect mechanisms, argue many scholars. Swank (political science, Marquette U., Wisconsin) concedes that international capital mobility may have some effect on the rollback of social welfare, but counters that domestic political realities are a more important factor in the relative strength of social welfare. He argues that the social corporatist policies of the larger welfare states of Western Europe are the most likely to the blunt the pressures of internationalization, while the pluralist structures of the weak welfare states of the Anglo countries are likely to facilitate retrenchment in the presence of economic and political pressures generated by globalization. Another major factor is whether institutions disperse decision-making authority or concentrate policy-making power, with the latter being more likely to retain social welfare programs. Finally, welfare state institutions that are universal and occupationally based are more likely to resist retrenchment. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Read Less