What factors have led to the growth of anti-globalisation movements in recent years? Illustrate your discussion with at least two examples drawn from anti-globalisation movements.

Anti-globalists believe that globalisation is a very serious problem facing the world that must be dealt with. There are numerous reasons for this. Large transnational corporations are now finding it easier to relocate their factories to respond to competitive forces as well as find labour cheaper and willing to work in more economically viable conditions; thus labour is now more susceptible and expendable. Outsourcing means these transnational companies have the opportunity to find cheaper labour to take advantage of. This means exploitation of labour is more easily accomplished. An example of this is British Telecom and their relocating of call centres abroad. Many employees lost their jobs and were replaced with cheaper labour and a less stringent government. Another reason for the anti-globalisation movements is that economies are now more affected by companies than ever before. This means firms have greater power over government, consumers and employees. They can use this power to manipulate in order to achieve greater profits and achieve their business goals. An example of this behaviour is if a firm was to threaten to relocate because the government was charging it too much taxes or rent on land. A transnational company could easily relocate; this would be particularly harmful if the company was very large and supported the economy. The company leaving could mean many jobs lost as well as less money flowing through the economy, which is why firms would be able to pressure the government into meeting its demands. This can mean that the company can to some extent, forget the rules they must follow and hence try to maximise profits in any way possible.

Consumers are nowadays being indoctrinated through advertising and other marketing ploys into wanting brand names. As Waltor Landor says, “Products are made in the factory, but brands are made in the mind.” As this philosophy runs through consumer society, we are also made aware of what is behind the brand image. Anti-globalists often rally against the use of sweatshops and the influence of a brand image – Nike in particular; the largest of these demonstrations, according to the Campaign for labour rights having been on the 18th October 1997. Here, eighty-five different cities from all around the world participated. “Not all the protests have attracted large crowds, but since the movement is so decentralized, the sheer number of individual anti-Nike events has left the company’s public relations department scrambling to get its spin onto dozens of local newscasts.” Anti-globalists’ views are that big companies such as Levis, Gap and Nike are exploiting the world and corrupting it by thrusting into it, its brands and clouding consumers’ views by showing them the brand image and not the hidden details, such as production methods and labour and resources. Anti-globalists have rallied against Nike to show others their opinions about how Nike operates. The transnational company is being exposed for its use of sweatshops and cheap labour. Anti-globalists believe this is wrong and thus try to show other consumers and members of the public what companies such as Nike are really like. They are fighting against issues such as the treatment of employees and use of child labour in ‘sweatshops’ and factories as well as those in third world countries suffering, whilst those in the capitalist world reap greater and greater financial rewards. Another issue of prime importance is their fight for the environment. Anti-globalists see the pollution incurred by many companies and disagree with the harmful behaviour of the firms. Thus they protest against this alongside groups such as Greenpeace for stricter laws and for companies to be more environmentally friendly.

A well known, predominantly peaceful protest group that protests against globalisation is Attac. Upon examining their website, a slogan is shown on the homepage in the centre, “The World is not for Sale”. Immediately upon entering the site, this slogan shows the views of Attac; they are against the increased commercialisation of the world and the increased gearing towards financial gain and consumerism. Attac have been a strong force in the quest to overcome globalisation. They have had such power as to make the World Bank and IMS acknowledge them and take their views into consideration. Attac have made them clear that they are against globalisation and that it only benefits the capitalist countries whilst third world countries have to suffer. “The distance between the incomes of the richest and poorest country” which was about “3:1 in 1820, 35:1 in 1950, 44:1 in 1973 and 72:1 in 1992” shows evidence of this suffrage. Globalisation is creating an increasing gap between elite countries such as the United States of America and third old countries such as Indonesia.

Recent years have shown an increase in the number of anti-globalisation movements. On the 9th November 2001 however, there was planned the “global day of action aimed at the bastions of capitalism to coincide with the World Trade Organisation meeting in Doha, Qatar.” After the shocking events of 11th September on the Twin Towers, the protest was cancelled and more emphasis was put on education as opposed to protesting. Globally, many anti-globalists viewed the war as a result of ‘money-values’, this being because many believe the war is a result of wanting oil at pleasing prices and so in exchange offering military training.  Since these events, anti-globalisation movements have become less fierce with fewer riots but with more sit-ins and peaceful protesting.

The Seattle World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference, 29th November – 3rd December 1999 is a prime example of anti-globalisation movements at their highest point. Here “The demonstrations were not something new, nor was the principal target - multinational corporate power.” Most of the protestors were “…united against one thing: their opposition to the expansion of a system that promoted corporate led globalisation at the expense of social goals like justice, community, national sovereignty, cultural diversity and ecological sustainability” With the disagreements between the United Sates of America and the European Union, the protest was escalated. This protest was the climax of the then increasing social movements. With around fifty thousand protestors, the protest showed the increasing power of anti-globalisation movements. The event showed that anti-globalists could not be ignored; their numbers were increasing, as was the frequency of their protests. After the events of September 11th 2001, anti-globalisation movements began declining. It seemed as though protestors were afraid of being labelled in a similar category to anti-capitalist terrorist group, Al Qaeda. This has caused a dramatic decrease in anti-globalisation movements.

The reasons for such a large increase in anti-globalisation movements was clearly shown by one of the largest anti-globalisation movements in history. The G-8 summit meeting held in Genoa had 15,000 policemen; there was the thought that there would be no problems from anti-globalisation protestors. However authorities did not think that there would be over 100,000 protestors. The protestors had come to “register their anger against ‘a few arrogant rich countries deciding the fate of vast majority people who have no say’. The two-day summit meeting, held from July 20th to 22nd, was completely overshadowed by the huge demonstrations and violent clashes between police and anti-globalisation protestors.” Since this and the protest in Seattle occurred, any protest met with heavy repression was met by violent outbreaks. This continued with support for anti-globalists increasing at a faster and faster rate.

With the events of 11th September following, violent protest began to decline. This is not to say that the decrease was purely due to the attack on the Twin Towers. Another important reason was that anti-globalists have begun to realize that it is better to educate and influence without violence than with it. This has meant anti-globalisation movements have become a little more reclusive although recently, the number of members is increasing. The education that groups such as Attac are now providing and the media coverage anti-globalisation movements now receive has led to more consumers becoming increasingly aware of globalisation. Certain supermarkets now sell fair trade foods such as fruits and vegetables so that consumers can choose which they would prefer, an example being the established supermarket chain Sainsburys.

“Globalisation is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology.” Those who oppose globalisation do so because, although it has many benefits such as creating a global economy and moving the world forwards in terms of technology, it also has drawbacks such as the manipulation of multinational companies over government, the potential to pollute the environment, relocating in order to use cheap and underage labour, as well as moving to avoid paying taxes and / or getting subsidies in terms of rent and materials as well as the ability to further increase their profits.

“The backlash against globalisation draws its force not only from the perceived damage done to developing countries by policies driven by ideology but also from the inequities in the global trading system.” Nowadays very few people, except for those gaining an advantage from keeping the goods produced by the poor countries out, help to protect “the hypocrisy of pretending to help developing countries by forcing them to open up their markets to the goods of the advanced industrial countries while keeping their own markets protected,” policies that continue to benefit the wealthy and make the deprived more impecunious and outraged. With the focus increasing on where and how products are made and the conditions that they are made under - as well as the effects of production on key issues such as the environment, anti-globalisation movements are gaining strength and hence, are increasingly able to influence the minds of those in society to change their perspective on globalisation.

More people are becoming aware that globalisation is a key issue that must be tackled; it has both positive and negative effects that must be considered. With increased publicity and anti-globalisation movements becoming more well known, more and more consumers now have knowledge on anti-globalisation that can result in a striking change in goods purchased This would undoubtedly affect the economy – the ‘global economy’. Anti-globalisation movements have grown in recent years although they suffered a dramatic decline not long ago they are becoming a larger and more formidable force that needs to be considered by consumers, markets and the world. The methods they employ to project their view of globalisation having a negative impact on the world are increasingly gearing towards non-violent protest. The fact that anti-globalisation movements are on the increase is spurned by many factors, of which the most important is that consumers are more aware these days and are able to acquire knowledge more easily, this means they are self - consciously making their own decisions as to their view on globalisation and its positive and negative aspects. Greater and greater numbers of consumers are as a consequence choosing to opt for choosing to oppose globalisation and instead follow the ever – increasing in size, anti-globalisation movements.

WORD COUNT: 2328

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Lecture Notes and Lecture Outlines

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