globalizationglobalization cmn 2168 florian grandena, phd. cmn 2168 florian grandena, phd

GlobaliGlobalizzationationGlobaliGlobalizzationation

CMN 2168CMN 2168Florian Grandena, PhFlorian Grandena, PhDD..

CMN 2168CMN 2168Florian Grandena, PhFlorian Grandena, PhDD..

DefinitionsDefinitions

Globalization has different meanings and Globalization has different meanings and is perceived in different ways: ‘for some, is perceived in different ways: ‘for some, globalization means freedom, while others globalization means freedom, while others see it as prison. For some it means see it as prison. For some it means prosperity, while for others it guarantees prosperity, while for others it guarantees the poverty of the developing world’ (2).the poverty of the developing world’ (2).


Globalization changes meanings Globalization changes meanings according to the sphere of human according to the sphere of human activity one refers to.activity one refers to.

- EconomyEconomy- CultureCulture- (Geo)-politics(Geo)-politics- EcologyEcology- Terrorism etc.Terrorism etc.

EconomyEconomy

Globalization is understood as the Globalization is understood as the economic interpendence of different economic interpendence of different nations through international nations through international transactions in goods and services, transactions in goods and services, fast and widespread diffusion of fast and widespread diffusion of (new) technologies etc.(new) technologies etc.

EconomyEconomy Globalization is based on capitalist Globalization is based on capitalist

economy. To a certain extent, capitalism economy. To a certain extent, capitalism has always functioned as a world has always functioned as a world economy. economy.

It is based on the Washington consensus It is based on the Washington consensus (more on this later…).(more on this later…).

What has changed?What has changed?

Some argue that there has been a rupture Some argue that there has been a rupture in contemporary capitalist productions and in contemporary capitalist productions and global relations of power.global relations of power.

PoliticsPolitics

Some theorists argue that the new Some theorists argue that the new political order of globalization should political order of globalization should be seen in line with our historical be seen in line with our historical understanding of understanding of EmpireEmpire as a as a universal order that accepts no universal order that accepts no boundaries or limits boundaries or limits

(see (see EmpireEmpire by Michael Hardt and by Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri. Harvard, 2000). Antonio Negri. Harvard, 2000).

Culture and globalizationCulture and globalization

TerrorismTerrorism


The idea of interdependency and The idea of interdependency and interaction between individuals and interaction between individuals and corporations is central to globalization.corporations is central to globalization.

The implications of globalization are The implications of globalization are economic, political and technological economic, political and technological as well as social and cultural.as well as social and cultural.


‘‘Globalization is the ‘name’ that is Globalization is the ‘name’ that is often used to designate the power often used to designate the power relations and technologies that relations and technologies that characterize, and have helped into characterize, and have helped into being, the contemporary world’ (1).being, the contemporary world’ (1).


Globalization has a hegemonic role in Globalization has a hegemonic role in organizing and decoding the organizing and decoding the meaning of the world (1).meaning of the world (1).

(Hegemony: ‘the way states and state institutions (Hegemony: ‘the way states and state institutions work to ‘win’ popular consent for their authority work to ‘win’ popular consent for their authority through a variety of processes which disguises through a variety of processes which disguises their position of dominance’. Glossary p.217).their position of dominance’. Glossary p.217).

The politics of namingThe politics of naming

There are different positions that seek to There are different positions that seek to explain and describe globalization. explain and describe globalization.

Globalists Globalists oror ‘liberals’ ‘liberals’ believe that believe that globalization is an important and overall globalization is an important and overall positive development (‘the effect of real positive development (‘the effect of real structural changes in the past few structural changes in the past few centuries’). centuries’).

Liberals usually present globalization as an Liberals usually present globalization as an order that is both order that is both naturalnatural and and unavoidableunavoidable. .

ScepticsSceptics think that globalization is an think that globalization is an extension of ‘trends that developed in extension of ‘trends that developed in the period of European colonial the period of European colonial expansion, peaked during the period expansion, peaked during the period 1870-1914, and were interrupted by 1870-1914, and were interrupted by the two great wars and the ‘cold war’ the two great wars and the ‘cold war’ of the 20th century’ (7). Globalization of the 20th century’ (7). Globalization is more a matter of discourse than is more a matter of discourse than reality.reality.

For globalists and sceptics, the market For globalists and sceptics, the market economy has a central place in globalization. economy has a central place in globalization.

Some theorists add another category: the Some theorists add another category: the ‘moderately optimistic’‘moderately optimistic’..

For this group, the market economy is not as For this group, the market economy is not as important as for the sceptics and the liberals. important as for the sceptics and the liberals.

Also, the moderately optimistic agree ‘that Also, the moderately optimistic agree ‘that there are globalizing tendencies which can there are globalizing tendencies which can be identified and measured, but that they be identified and measured, but that they are not all-encompassing as the literature are not all-encompassing as the literature might imply: and nor are they operating might imply: and nor are they operating without resistance, and without exceptions’ without resistance, and without exceptions’ (8). (8).

ResistanceResistance

Attac was founded in 1998 and its first concrete Attac was founded in 1998 and its first concrete proposal was the taxation of financial transactions proposal was the taxation of financial transactions in order to create a development fund and to help in order to create a development fund and to help curb stock market speculation. This is what gave curb stock market speculation. This is what gave A T T A CA T T A C its name: the its name: the AAssociation for the ssociation for the TTaxation of Financial axation of Financial TTransactions to ransactions to AAid id CCitizens.itizens.

Today, the Attac network is present in many Today, the Attac network is present in many countries and is active on a wide range of issues: countries and is active on a wide range of issues: the WTO and international financial institutions, the WTO and international financial institutions, debt, taxation of financial transactions, tax debt, taxation of financial transactions, tax havens, public services, water, free-trade zones havens, public services, water, free-trade zones (Mediterranean, American, European etc.).(Mediterranean, American, European etc.).

In each country, the association has groups In each country, the association has groups working on various themes. All of these groups working on various themes. All of these groups are involved in national and international are involved in national and international campaigns whose aim is to propose concrete campaigns whose aim is to propose concrete alternatives to neoliberal orthodoxy, based on alternatives to neoliberal orthodoxy, based on solidarity.solidarity.

ResistanceResistance The The Fair TradeFair Trade mouvement is a trading mouvement is a trading

partnership for which equity, respect and partnership for which equity, respect and transparency are central. transparency are central.

It aims at promoting and defending the It aims at promoting and defending the rights of ‘small’ and independent rights of ‘small’ and independent producers and workers (usually considered producers and workers (usually considered as victims of capitalism / globalization). as victims of capitalism / globalization).

It also aims at campaigning for better and It also aims at campaigning for better and fairer rules and practices of conventional fairer rules and practices of conventional international trade. Some of the issues it international trade. Some of the issues it wants to address is dumping, tariffs and wants to address is dumping, tariffs and subsidisation. subsidisation.

It aims at helping and promoting the It aims at helping and promoting the production of Fairtrade labelled and production of Fairtrade labelled and unlabelled goods.unlabelled goods.

Emphasis is put on exports from developing Emphasis is put on exports from developing countries to developed countries.countries to developed countries.

One of the aims of fair trade is to use some of One of the aims of fair trade is to use some of the resources made available by the capitalist the resources made available by the capitalist system: for example, it wants to permit small system: for example, it wants to permit small producers to become stockholders in their producers to become stockholders in their own organizations so that these producers own organizations so that these producers can enjoy both a better place on the global can enjoy both a better place on the global scene and greater equity in international scene and greater equity in international trade (in other words, fair trade wants trade (in other words, fair trade wants producers to become competitive…)producers to become competitive…)

Alter-globalizationAlter-globalization

ATTAC! and Fair trade are arguably examples ATTAC! and Fair trade are arguably examples of of alter-globalization alter-globalization movements. movements.

Alter-globalization does not question the Alter-globalization does not question the existence of globalization but argues that existence of globalization but argues that mere economic concerns should not be more mere economic concerns should not be more important than human rights, democracy, important than human rights, democracy, the environment etc. the environment etc.

It seeks new and better uses to globalization. It seeks new and better uses to globalization.

(the term comes from the French ‘(the term comes from the French ‘alter-alter-mondialisationmondialisation’).’).

Anti/alter-globalization Anti/alter-globalization resistanceresistance

Anti/alter-globalization protests took place in Anti/alter-globalization protests took place in Madrid 1994 during the celebration of the Madrid 1994 during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 50th anniversary of the International International Monetary Fund (IMF)Monetary Fund (IMF) and the and the World Bank World Bank (WB)(WB)..

In 1999, in Seattle, protesters provoked In 1999, in Seattle, protesters provoked major disruption during the major disruption during the World Trade World Trade OrganizationOrganization meetings (the opening meetings (the opening ceremonies were cancelled).ceremonies were cancelled).

During the 2001 During the 2001 G8G8 summit in Genoa, summit in Genoa, massive demonstrations took place. A young massive demonstrations took place. A young man was killed during the confrontation man was killed during the confrontation between the police and protesters.between the police and protesters.

To what extent global warming, the To what extent global warming, the exploitation of workers etc. are results of exploitation of workers etc. are results of ‘globalization, or the set of processes, ‘globalization, or the set of processes, values, technologies and politics associated values, technologies and politics associated with it?’ (9). with it?’ (9).

Liberals would argue that Liberals would argue that not enoughnot enough globalization is responsible for the world’s globalization is responsible for the world’s miseries and misfortunes. In other words, miseries and misfortunes. In other words, globalization itself is perceived to be the globalization itself is perceived to be the answer to these problems.answer to these problems.

In contrast, protesters focus on some In contrast, protesters focus on some transnational corporations’ specific transnational corporations’ specific practices (IMF, WB). practices (IMF, WB).

Protesters also define globalization ‘as the Protesters also define globalization ‘as the various ways in which American hegemony various ways in which American hegemony has imposed itself upon the world; or point has imposed itself upon the world; or point to the ways in which the IMF and the WB , to the ways in which the IMF and the WB , operating de facto arms of American free-operating de facto arms of American free-trade policies, have effectively undermined trade policies, have effectively undermined of developping nations’ (9). of developping nations’ (9).

‘‘Davos chaos’.Davos chaos’.

The annual World The annual World Economic Forum took place Economic Forum took place in Davos (Switzerland) in in Davos (Switzerland) in January 2006. January 2006.

‘‘Growth is madness’.Growth is madness’.