GlobalizationGlobalization

Douglas BrownDouglas Brown

Politics 220Politics 220

March 2006March 2006

GlobalizationGlobalization

Both a new and an old phenomenonBoth a new and an old phenomenon

Economic, political and cultural Economic, political and cultural aspectsaspects

Canada uniquely exposed?Canada uniquely exposed?

Effects are highly contested -- need to Effects are highly contested -- need to separate rhetoric from realityseparate rhetoric from reality

Defining GlobalizationDefining GlobalizationNot new but intensifying…Not new but intensifying… InternationalizationInternationalization LiberalizationLiberalization UniversalizationUniversalization WesternizationWesternization

What is new…?What is new…? Speed of global interactionsSpeed of global interactions ““Deep integration” of marketsDeep integration” of markets External influence on all aspects of domestic External influence on all aspects of domestic

policypolicy

Economic globalizationEconomic globalization

Increasing international trade in goods and Increasing international trade in goods and services, increasing direct foreign investmentservices, increasing direct foreign investment

Globally integrated production by transnational Globally integrated production by transnational corporationscorporations

Global capital market of much greater size and Global capital market of much greater size and speedspeed

All of the aboveAll of the above contribute to much greater contribute to much greater private and public sector competition, in even private and public sector competition, in even the smallest of firms and markets the smallest of firms and markets

Globalization – Political and Globalization – Political and Cultural AspectsCultural Aspects

Intensifying of international governanceIntensifying of international governance WTO, regional trade agreementsWTO, regional trade agreements United Nations agenciesUnited Nations agencies Human rights movementHuman rights movement

Global markets for cultural products/ Global markets for cultural products/ global diffusion of cultural and social global diffusion of cultural and social trendstrends““Global Civil Society” and the anti-Global Civil Society” and the anti-globalization movementglobalization movement

Rhetoric versus RealityRhetoric versus Reality

How much is neo-liberal ideology? How How much is neo-liberal ideology? How much real change is occurring? much real change is occurring? Globalization can be a form of Globalization can be a form of determinism – e.g. an “end-of-ideology”determinism – e.g. an “end-of-ideology”Does not have the same intensity or Does not have the same intensity or impact everywhere impact everywhere Especially strong in Anglo worldEspecially strong in Anglo world Resisted in Russia, Africa, Islamic countries, Resisted in Russia, Africa, Islamic countries,

Latin AmericaLatin America

Canada and GlobalizationCanada and Globalization

Strong exposure: Strong exposure: A trading nationA trading nation Anglo culture Anglo culture North American settingNorth American setting

Sorting out cause and effect: Sorting out cause and effect: continental from globalcontinental from global fiscal from economic fiscal from economic

Five indictments against Five indictments against globalization (Brooks)globalization (Brooks)

1.1. Increasing poverty and inequality at homeIncreasing poverty and inequality at home

2.2. Bigger income gap internationallyBigger income gap internationally

3.3. Undermines local culturesUndermines local cultures

4.4. Undermines government capacity and willUndermines government capacity and will

5.5. Creates more precarious national economiesCreates more precarious national economies

Replying to these charges …1Replying to these charges …1

Brooks:Brooks:

Poverty not necessarily on the increase in Poverty not necessarily on the increase in CanadaCanada

Income inequality may be due as much to Income inequality may be due as much to technology change as to tradetechnology change as to trade

Canada doing much better than USA on Canada doing much better than USA on income inequality issueincome inequality issue

Replying to these charges…2Replying to these charges…2

Brooks: Globalization not necessarily Brooks: Globalization not necessarily making poorer countries poorer….many making poorer countries poorer….many have little exposure to global tradehave little exposure to global trade

Jennifer Welsh: rich country protection of Jennifer Welsh: rich country protection of agriculture badly harms poor countries agriculture badly harms poor countries trade potential (I agree !)trade potential (I agree !)

Replying to these charges…3Replying to these charges…3

Brooks: Strength of local cultures should Brooks: Strength of local cultures should not be underestimatednot be underestimated

Note: Islamic countries resistanceNote: Islamic countries resistance

My question: is Canada able to resist US My question: is Canada able to resist US cultural “imperialism”? Do we care?cultural “imperialism”? Do we care?

Replying to these charges…4Replying to these charges…4

Brooks: State capacity has not been Brooks: State capacity has not been hollowed-out --- at least not everywhere.hollowed-out --- at least not everywhere.Cameron and Stein: depends on Cameron and Stein: depends on continuing orientation of each country to continuing orientation of each country to role of staterole of stateMy view: don’t forget that new trends in My view: don’t forget that new trends in public management put much bigger public management put much bigger emphasis on efficiency compared with emphasis on efficiency compared with equity – at some social costequity – at some social cost

Replying to these charges…5Replying to these charges…5

Brooks: global economy is vulnerable to Brooks: global economy is vulnerable to supply chain disruptionssupply chain disruptions

9/11…showed how vulnerable Canada is 9/11…showed how vulnerable Canada is to US border closingto US border closing

My view: Global financial governance (e.g. My view: Global financial governance (e.g. G-20 group) is getting better at dealing G-20 group) is getting better at dealing with crisis points.with crisis points.

ReadingsReadings

Brooks, Brooks, Canadian DemocracyCanadian Democracy, chap 14, chap 14

Bickerton and Gagnon, Bickerton and Gagnon, Canadian PoliticsCanadian Politics Cameron and Stein, “Globalization and the Cameron and Stein, “Globalization and the

State” State” Clarkson and Rangaswami, “Canada and Clarkson and Rangaswami, “Canada and

Continental Integration under NAFTA”Continental Integration under NAFTA” Cooper, “Canadian Foreign Policy after Cooper, “Canadian Foreign Policy after

September 11”September 11”