Globalization = Slavery

The dominant propaganda systems have appropriated the term "globalization" to refer to the specific version of international economic integration that they favor, which privileges the rights of investors and lenders, those of people being incidental. In accord with this usage, those who favor a different form of international integration, which privileges the rights of human beings, become "anti-globalist." This is simply vulgar propaganda, like the term "anti-Soviet" used by the most disgusting commissars to refer to dissidents. It is not only vulgar, but idiotic. Take the World Social Forum, called "anti-globalization" in the propaganda system—which happens to include the media, the educated classes, etc., with rare exceptions. The WSF is a paradigm example of globalization. It is a gathering of huge numbers of people from all over the world, from just about every corner of life one can think of, apart from the extremely narrow highly privileged elites who meet at the competing World Economic Forum, and are called "pro-globalization" by the propaganda system. An observer watching this farce from Mars would collapse in hysterical laughter at the antics of the educated classes.

The benefits of globalization accrue mainly to investors, multinationals and the elites, while the working classes suffer relative impoverishment.

Further, the massive inflows of foreign investment in developing countries cannot be effectively absorbed, especially in regard to environmental protection and workers' rights.

The open-door aspects of global production and marketing have tended to "homogenize" economic and even cultural lives around the world as dominant entertainment and media; consumer products; and, commercial practices fall into place. Additionally, the consumer goods produced by a globalized economy are not necessarily those that the world's poor are most in need of.

For these reasons, the opposition to globalization has grown amongst a diverse, but surprisingly cohesive, group of nongovernmental organizations and other interest groups. The primary targets of the anti-globalization movement have been the United States, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. These organizations are seen as the enforcers of the globalization and the rights of multinationals to the detriment of ordinary people. This loosely coordinated group of protesters has taken on a high profile by disrupting various WTO and IMF/World Bank meetings over the years. Ironically, the same information technology that facilitates global commerce makes it easy for the forces against globalization to mobilize. Information technology has the ability to amplify both individual and organizational voices making the case for limits on global changes.

In looking at countries in a global context today, a "six dimensional" framework is needed. To the traditional economic, political and national security analyses of international relationships, we must add technology, the environment and culture as critical dimensions in which globalization is affecting nations. Interestingly, these dimensions can be looked at in the light of the eight core principles espoused by anti-globalization forces:

Localization vs. globalization: Production for sale to local, not global, markets and keeping political decisions at as local a level as possible.

Environmental sustainability: Global market capitalism is seen as intrinsically harmful to the environment as it is characterized by ever-expanding consumption of unneeded homogeneous products; over-exploitation of natural resources; and, waste-disposal problems. Accordingly, local political institutions need to have primacy over environmental policy.

Economic human rights: Workers are seen as having their traditional lives irreversibly disrupted by globalization and/or being treated less favorably than the same multinationals would treat those in developed countries. In this instance, it is often recognized that local political sovereignty may not be enough; global rules are needed to ensure that multinationals can't exploit workers.

Certain goods should not be traded as economic commodities or be subject to trade agreements: Food; water; seeds; the genetic basics of life (and some culturally sensitive products, e.g., entertainment) as well as toxic waste; arms; and drugs, should not be classified as "economic goods." The knowledge embodied in genetic structures should not enjoy intellectual protection, but should be "collective property." Local authority over food and agriculture should not be restricted by international trade agreements.

Equity: Globalization should be restrained as a force that tends to widen the gap in living standards both between and within states.

Cultural, biological, economic and social diversity: Local politicians should be able to prevent economic activities which tend to homogenize life in the various regions of the world.

The main theme running through the core principles of anti-globalization is local political control versus market sovereignty. It also looks at the more recent ascendancy of market forces in determining the allocation of resources, which we now know as the phenomenon of globalization. Whether the capitalist market model maintains its current ascendant position depends on whether it in fact delivers enough benefits to enough people and at acceptable cost. At this time, anti-globalization activism is a well developed world issue and the peoples of the developing world will not support any policies that limit the access their countries have to Western products, entertainment, capital and jobs in multinational factories.

The gap between the rich and poor is growing....