blargblog
An expulsive extension of
You can start with this press release by the International Labour Organization summarizing the findings of a recent report by the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization; or you can go straight to the full report itself. But let's start with a brief summary:
The 168-page report acknowledges that globalization's "potential for good is immense" and that it "has opened the door to many benefits … promoted open societies and open economies and encouraged a freer exchange of goods, ideas and knowledge … (and) a truly global conscience is beginning to emerge sensitive to the inequities of poverty, gender discrimination, child labour and environmental degradation, wherever these may occur"."Brief" is used a liberal sense, of course. Posted by kevinmoore at March 31, 2004 09:19 AM | TrackBackNevertheless, it says, "There are deep-seated and persistent imbalances in the current workings of the global economy, which are ethically unacceptable and politically unsustainable… Seen through the eyes of the vast majority of men and women, globalization has not met their simple and legitimate aspirations for decent jobs and a better future for their children".
"There is growing concern about the direction globalization is currently taking", says the report. "Its advantages are too distant for too many, while its risks are all too real. Corruption is widespread. Open societies are threatened by global terrorism, and the future of open markets is increasingly in question. Global governance is in crisis. We are at a critical juncture, and we need to urgently rethink our current policies and institutions."
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Among its prescriptions for achieving a fair and inclusive globalization, the Commission proposes a series of coordinated measures across a broad front to improve governance and accountability at both national and international levels. These include fairer rules for international trade, investment, finance and migration, which take account of all interests, rights and responsibilities; measures to promote core labour standards and a minimum level of social protection in the global economy; and new efforts to mobilize international resources to raise capabilities and meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Commission argues that a fair globalization also depends on better national governance in all countries, and maps out the priorities for national, local and regional policies which can empower people to participate effectively in the opportunities of globalization.The Commission recommends that "decent work for all should be made a global goal and be pursued through complementary national and international policies. This would respond to a major political demand in all countries". Addressing the need to accelerate employment creation in all countries would help to reduce social tensions within countries and economic frictions between them. The report calls for "enhanced coordination of macroeconomic policies to attain a more balanced strategy for sustainable global growth and full employment, including an equitable sharing among countries of the responsibility for maintaining high levels of effective demand".