By Mark Sommer and - -
GENEVA, Feb 1 2004 (IPS)

The world stands at a historic moment of decision, write President of Tanzania Benjamin William Mkapa and President of Finland Tarja Halonen, Co-Chairs of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation. In this analysis, the authors write that it is in our power to take a correct turn, which would make the world safer, fair, ethical, inclusive, and prosperous for the majority, not just for a few, both within countries and between countries. But it is also in our power to prevaricate, to ignore the road signs, and let the world slide into further political turbulence, conflict, and war. The authors propose a process by which the benefits of globalisation can be enjoyed at all levels, beginning with empowered local communities and improved national governance. Unfairness currently characterises the system. Equal rules for unequal players ensure unequal outcomes. Some rules, such as on farm and textile and trade, specifically disadvantage developing countries. The lack of a level international playing field is deepening mistrust and perpetuating social divisions. The real question is not whether globalisation can work, but how. The positive must be enhanced, the negative minimised. Only when everyone has a stake can the prosperity we expect from globalisation be sustainable. Only then will our collective peaceful future be founded on solid ground.

In a recent address to the United Nations General Assembly, Secretary-General Kofi Annan succinctly warned the world body that it had ”come to a fork in the road”. As Co-Chairs of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation, we believe the world stands at a historic moment of decision.

The Commission was established by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to address the challenges facing the world as it stands at this crossroads. As human beings, we believe it is in our power to take a correct turn, which would make the world safer, fair, ethical, inclusive, and prosperous for the majority, not just for a few, both within countries and between countries.

What we fear is that it is also in our power to prevaricate, to ignore the road signs, and let the world we all share slide into further spirals of political turbulence, conflict, and war.

We believe the Report of the World Commission makes enough of the case for political leaders, nationally and internationally, to be persuaded to take the correct path to a fair globalisation for all. It is a message of hope and warning.

Currently, globalisation is a divisive subject. It is a parallel monologue, both nationally and internationally. When we started this process, our perceptions –those of the 26 Commission members — of globalisation were widely different because of our varying backgrounds and experience. We come from some of the wealthiest and poorest countries. We comprise trade unionists and corporate leaders, parliamentarians and presidents, leaders of indigenous peoples’ and women’s activists, scholars and government advisors. This proved to be the source of the strength and richness of our work. We were able to find common ground, a unifying vision. The report is the result of that.

Our common conclusion is that the future of our countries, the destiny of our globe, demands that we all rethink the governance of globalisation. Our starting point is that globalisation must meet the needs of people. Our ultimate goal is to help make globalisation a resource to promote decent work, reduce poverty and unemployment, and foster growth and development. From a sterile debate on facts we must move to positive action for people.

Clearly globalisation must change. Staying its present path is neither ethically nor politically feasible. Wealth is created and the global market economy has clearly demonstrated great productive capacity. The potential of globalisation for good is immense. Yet too many people are not reaping its benefits.

This is why the current path of globalisation must change. We believe that the benefits can be extended to more people and better shared between and within countries. The resources and means are at hand.

We recognise that much can be done to harness the potential of technology, markets, global knowledge, and creativity of the human spirit. And we propose a process by which the benefits of globalisation can be enjoyed at all levels, beginning with empowered local communities and improved national governance. Thus, the road to a fair globalisation starts at home. There is a need for a strong nation state which provides basic services (education, health, and support for families and migrant workers). Unfair nation states cannot provide a fair global system.

We see an increasing convergence of opinion throughout the world on the need for a fair and more inclusive globalisation. This convergence is based on growing interdependence, and the danger of inaction. Such awareness is being expanded and heightened by globalisation itself.

A fair globalisation that creates opportunities for all also requires the development of global institutions representative of the interests of all people of the world. Global governance needs to be more effective, coherent, and democratic if it is to meet the needs of the majority. That means changes in the goals, structures, and power balances in international organisations. It means giving priority to issues such as sustainable growth, employment, and investment, to migration and social goals, as well as fair rules in trade and finance. It means more democracy, transparency and accountability to people in the institutions of global governance.

Unfairness currently characterises the system. Equal rules for unequal players ensure unequal outcomes. Some rules, such as on farm and textile and trade, specifically disadvantage developing countries. The lack of a level international playing field is deepening mistrust and perpetuating social divisions.

We call for decent work to be made a global goal. Employment and the lack of employment is a concern that is shared in every country of the world. Employment provides for livelihood and social cohesion and works against poverty.

We also see the need to mobilise more international resources — from various sources — to attain key global goals, particularly the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The target of 0.7 percent of the GDP of the industrialized countries for official development assistance is crucial and must be met to build the capacity of the weak to access the benefits of the global market place. But governments working alone cannot deliver. Business, therefore, has a role and a major responsibility in promoting balanced global growth and in fighting poverty.

The report makes clear that globalisation can work for all, and that even if we hold different views about its potential and its impact, it is still possible to conduct a meaningful discussion about what needs to get done and how to have a fair and inclusive globalisation. The real question is not whether globalisation can work, but how. The positive must be enhanced, the negative minimised. Only when everyone has a stake can the prosperity we expect from globalisation be sustainable. Only then will our collective peaceful future be founded on solid ground.

In today’s globalisation there is a gap between opportunities and access to opportunities. That gap can only be bridged through will — whether political or corporate. We need to echo that cry. The future of a shared prosperity and a shared peace and stability may very well depend on that cry being heard. (END/COPYRIGHT IPS)

Excerpt: