In Defense of Globalization

Sumit Singla P08056

Hard-core protestors -Deep seated antipathy-Different ideological and intellectual directions-Anti-capitalist, anti-corporation, anti-globalization- MNCs – the B-52s of capitalism

Critics – mainstream dissent and discourse -Social ills – poverty and environmental costs-Critiquing international institutions -Guerilla tactics to gain worldwide attention

What Critics SayHypocrisy…

double standards… unfair

trade!

Protectionists is what these rich countries are!

Average industrial protection higher in poor countriesExtensive agricultural subsidies

The facts:

Aspects of Globalization

•Globalization wrongly blamed for East Asian financial crisis of the 1990s•Free trade being incorrectly associated with free direct investment, free capital flows, free immigration!

The North-South Divide

• Incorrect assumption – the disillusionment with globalization is worldwide

• Poor countries of the south view globalization as a positive

•Role reversal from the1950s/1960s when the belief was that poor countries would be subject to dependencia

•Fears of ‘neo-colonialism’

Irony: Cardoso, the originator of dependencia became President of Brazil and helped in globalization of the country

Differences from yesterday

The first ‘multinational’ – The East India company

Constructing railroads across the world

Extraction of minerals worldwide

Free flow of capital

Advancements in communication technology

Insecurities – increased competition

Interdependence leading to loss of competencies

Need to allay fears and analyze phenomena more closely

A Trilogy of Discontent

Anti-Capitalism

Anti-Globalization

Anti-Corporation

Anti-Capitalism

Disenchanted traditionalists engaging in anti-Davos protests

Beguiling alternative of Soviet modelDerrida’s ‘deconstructionism’ and Foucault’s profundity

Influence of post-colonial theorists, post-modernists and Marxists

Inversion of David Hume’s concentric circles of reducing empathy

Anti-Globalization

Disenchanted traditionalists engaging in anti-Davos protests

Beguiling alternative of Soviet modelDerrida’s ‘deconstructionism’ and Foucault’s profundity

Influence of post-colonial theorists, post-modernists and Marxists

Inversion of David Hume’s concentric circles of reducing empathy

Anti-Corporation

Irrational view of ‘Race to the bottom’

Medieval approach of hostility to profits and corporations

Other sources of anti-globalizationThe Right

Right wing attitudes of xenophobia and national identity

Extremists like BJP pitching for self-reliance and sovereignty

Anti-immigration rhetoric – environmental costs

Other sources of anti-globalizationCommunitarianism

‘Immoral’ to buy the right to pollute – carbon credits

Marx’s commodification process – increased commercialization

Other sources of anti-globalizationAnti-Americanism

America’s military and economic hegemony

Intention of throwing ‘sand into the gears of globalization’

America’s military and economic hegemony

Intention of throwing ‘sand into the gears of globalization’