In late 1998 a workshop on Local Perspectives on Globalisation was held in Dar es Salaam, organised by the Netherlands Development Assistance Research Council (RAWOO) and Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA). Literature search by RAWOO during preparations for the workshop showed that most of the publications on the subject were about the North. Where implications for countries of the south were considered, they were mostly the results of research work based in the North and focussing primarily on economic issues. The workshop on "Local Perspectives on Globalisation" provided an excellent opportunity to look at globalisation from the perspective of Africa. The papers in this volume which were written for the workshop represent perspectives from economists, lawyers,enviromentalists, an engineer, a sociologists/journalist, and an education/dramatist. The convergence of participants views was the conclusion that "Africa is being marginalised as it is catapulted into the global village" and that the quest for strategies to address and minimise the negative impacts of globalisation must be given the highest priority. Empirical research and knowledge of Local realities must underpin debate and dialogue if the process of mitigation of the negative consequences of globalisation is to be properly under way.