Resistance to Globalization Notes

Resistance to Globalization

Introduction

• The global economy is largely based on fulfilling the needs of a small percentage of the world's population.

• Resistance to globalization comes from both non-governmental and governmental entities.

• Opponents argue that corporations and financial institutions like the IMF and WTO prioritize profits over:

  • Safety.

  • Labor conditions.

  • Environmental conservation.

  • National independence.

• Some countries resist globalization in varying degrees:

  • North Korea: resists both economic and cultural globalization.

  • Saudi Arabia and China: resist cultural globalization, particularly through internet control, while allowing economic globalization.

Roots of Globalization and Anti-Globalization

• Globalization has reshaped relationships between and within nations.

• Post-World War II organizations fostered global economic growth:

  • General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).

  • European Economic Union.

  • Mercosur (South America).

  • Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

• These organizations aimed to boost economies by:

  • Lowering tariff rates to facilitate the movement of goods.

• In 1995, the World Trade Organization (WTO) succeeded GATT, regulating over 90% of international trade.

• WTO's rules and closed meetings led to public distrust, with people questioning its concern for their welfare.

"Battle of Seattle"

• In 1999, a WTO conference in Seattle faced mass protests.

• Over 40,000 protesters, including labor unions, farmers, students, and environmentalists, disrupted the meeting.

• The protests highlighted issues related to the new global economy and marked the beginning of the anti-globalization movement.

• The protests were coordinated through the internet.

• Despite the protests, the WTO remained powerful and China joined in 2001, expanding its reach.

Reasons for Resisting Globalization

• People protest globalization due to a lack of awareness about the origins and true costs of goods and services.

• Scandals have exposed the hazards of globalization.

Working Conditions

• Child labor in chocolate production:

  • Much of the chocolate bought in the early 21st century was produced using child labor in West Africa.

  • Chocolate companies missed deadlines to ensure suppliers didn't use child laborers.

  • In 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor estimated that over 2 million children were engaged in dangerous labor in cocoa-growing regions.

• Harsh working conditions in Western nations:

  • In 2019, Amazon warehouse employees reported intense pressure, risking termination for taking bathroom breaks.

  • Amazon employed over 600,000 people, with an additional 100,000 during the holiday season.

• Rana Plaza factory collapse:

  • In 2013, the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh, resulted in over 1,000 deaths and 2,500 injuries.

  • The victims were mostly female garment workers producing clothing for Western companies.

  • Muhammad Yunus called the disaster a symbol of national failure and proposed an international minimum wage.

Environmental Damage

• Critics argue that shipping products globally increases greenhouse gas emissions, worsening the climate emergency.

• Deforestation in Brazil to create cattle farms for meat exports.

Proponents' Counterarguments

• Globalization can aid the environment, citing ecotourism in Costa Rica as an example.

Threats to National Sovereignty

• Both liberal and conservative groups distrust globalization.

• Brexit: In 2016, 52% of British voters chose to leave the European Union (EU).

  • Conservative politicians argued that the EU infringed on Britain's self-governance.

  • A key issue was the EU's immigration policies.

  • Theresa May resigned in 2019 after failing to negotiate an acceptable Brexit deal.

  • Critics warned of economic disaster for Britain due to its reliance on imports.

Economic Resistance

• Globalization critics fear international agreements and institutions can harm small local businesses.

• Large corporations allegedly use the IMF and WTO for their benefit, disadvantaging local businesses.

• Small businesses face restrictions in crossing state lines or national borders for resources and labor.

• Some businesses, especially restaurants, prioritize locally grown or made products.

• Distrust of the World Bank:

  • Critics argue that the World Bank favors richer nations over poorer ones.

  • In 1988, 20,000 people protested IMF and World Bank meetings in West Berlin.

  • Anti-IMF and anti-World Bank protests occurred in 23 countries in 2001 and 2002.

  • The World Bank implemented reforms in 2014, but critics claim it's still controlled by richer nations.

Measures Favored by Anti-Globalists

• The anti-globalization movement focuses on:

  • Human rights: Basic freedoms for every person.

  • Fair trade: Ensuring reasonable payment for goods or services.

  • Sustainable development: Business ventures that allow profit without compromising future generations' needs.

  • Debt relief/restructuring: Helping countries with large debts to the IMF avoid economic breakdown.

Anti-Globalization and Social Media

• Anti-globalization activists use the internet to spread their ideas.

• Resistance to global communication exists in some countries.

  • China: Banned Twitter and Facebook after riots in Urumqi in 2009 due to ethnic tensions.

    • Introduced Weibo as a substitute, which is monitored and censored.

  • Other countries: Governments influence or control social media content.

    • Saudi Arabian officials allegedly use Twitter and Facebook to harass and intimidate citizens.

• The interconnectedness of economies and cultures can threaten the autonomy and identity of some people and governments.