Though it’s been studied extensively, the relationship between globalization and human rights remains unclear. Using Indonesia as a case study, Globalization, Poverty, and Income Inequality reexamines the links between free trade and the wealth gap, challenging the prevailing doctrine that internationalism empowers the poor. Its findings suggest that trade agreements have an ambivalent effect on low-income workers. This empirically rigorous work provides a nuanced perspective on the relationship between trade and poverty, contributing balanced testimony to a contentious global debate.