The book talks about the interconnectedness of globalisation with social and economic systems and how links develop with reference to both polity and common people's movements. The book provides a new way of understanding the constitution of rights with the help of micro-histories drawn from diverse fields, such as environmental rights, law, information, and labour studies in India.

The book examines how rights have been redefined in this era of globalisation and how India is still plagued by the constant tension between 'social' yearning for democratic values and 'economic' competition for unhindered profits.