 Discussion Session: Globalization, Development, and New Trends in International Relations GOVT S-40 SUMMER 2014

GLOBALIZATION  Globalization is as old as the spread of disease and colonialism  Globalization has been accelerated due to the information revolution (3 rd Industrial Revolution)  “Spill-over”  increase in powerful actors  decrease in state power?  change in type of power (hard v. soft power)

The Bretton Woods System  The world economic order was established at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944  Rooted in the idea of liberal institutionalism  Incrementalism  Functionalism  (IMF) International Monetary Fund  Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs)  Int’l Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank)  GATT (1947)  WTO

New International Economic Order G-77 created in 1964  regulation of MNCs operating within their territory.  Transfer of appropriate technologies  Reform of trade order to assist LDCs in developing  Canceling or renegotiating debt  Increase economic aid  Greater economic voice to LDCs

Globalization: Theoretical Perspectives  Realism  Liberalism  Constructivism  Dependency (Critical Theory)  Spikey v. Flat

Constructivism  Rooted in inductive or “Bottom Up” method i.e. evaluates general propositions derived from specific examples  Intellectual roots in David Hume ( Scottish philosopher)  Primary Tenets:  Relativism: no absolute truths  Discursivity  people's understanding of the world is based on what we say/how we talk about the world  categories affect our understanding of the world and our understandings influence our choices

Dependency Theory  Explains the outcome of world events in terms of class struggle and inequality.  Core/Global North = Bourgeoisie  Periphery/Global South = Proletariat  Called Structuralism because it uses the Int’l structure to explain why some countries are poor and why some are wealthy

New Diplomacy  The forces of globalization and the information revolution has created a diffusion of power.  States no longer possess a monopoly on the flow of information.  NGOs are now more influential  Ottawa Process (1996)  Rome Statute (2002)  Pluralistic v. Democratic

The World is Spikey?

Criticisms of Globalization  Globalization = Neo- Colonialism?  Weak domestic institutions + corruption – regulations = human misery  Heightens inequality  Unsustainable?  Moral values subordinate to economic considerations

Industrial Model of Development  Productivity = labor productivity  Dominant model of development and globalization is inherently violent b/c it deprives the poor of fundamental rights e.g. access to land, food, and livelihoods.  People are commoditized and disposable  Emphasis on fossil-fuel and resource intensive approaches to development  Pseudo-Solutions to climate and food crisis:  2 dominant approaches:  Global Business Approach and Promoting renewable alternatives to support energy intensive, consumerist society.  “Consumer democracy is the gasoline for the bulldozer of globalization.

Political Art, Jawahalarl Nehru University. Photo by Joel Oestreich

Alternatives: “ Power-Down” Approach  Alternatives must address consumption patterns and resource usage.  Emphasis on decentralization, productive human energy, democracy and inclusion.  View nature as a living system rather that a machine  People-centric v. profit-centric

Example of Decentralized Development  Micro-lending:  o o  Grameen Bank  Accion International

Political Art, Jawahalarl Nehru University. Photo by Joel Oestreich