Think Globally, Act Locally
People Before Profit:  Democratizing Globalization

I.  A Global New Deal
     Again the Gilded Age comparison

Took the New Deal to rein in the excesses of the robber barons, make the economy more just, provide family wage for workers and support for the poor

  A. Need Global regulation

1. subordinate WTO and GATT to international legal order;

2. create a trade system based on human rights and sustainable development

3. How?

a. redefinition of public/private
new corporate compacts demanding corporate accountability to public aims (182)

b.  prevent “predatory exits” by MNCs by forcing them to pay living           wage and meet global environmental standards in all countries

c.  new taxes on off-shore capital
        outlawing unregulated partnerships and offshore bank havens                 Enron had 600 of these!

    
4. Why would global capital or governments agree to this?

a. Because they recognize the instability (i.e., risk) in the system                 today; e.g., 1998 Asian financial crisis

b. Some already believe system is unjust
new cohort of corporate   leaders who believe in corporate responsibility

      c.  some examples given in book

        GM, Stride Rite, Levi Strauss (177), Unilever

d.  Richard McCormick
CEO of US West
Chairman of the US Council for International Business

asked Clinton in 1997 to be

 “more vigorous in usings the ILO
to bring international pressure to bear on governments
that commit egregious violations of basic workers’ rights”

 and to

 “work through the WTO, UN, and World Bank
to combat extortion and bribery
in international business transactions”

         e.  Congresswoman Cynthia McKinnon (D-GA)
            proposed legislation requiring US companies operating                     abroad
            to adhere to US federal environmental laws and regs
            guarantee right to unionize and the safety protection of
            US and international laws

B.  Redistribution of income and wealth

     1.  Mainly through investment in developing world -
        A “global Marshall Plan’
        Debt Relief
        Create New UN International Insolvency Court and International         Finance Org.

              Paid for by reallocating the assets of the IMF and World Bank

            2. Why? Would wealthy nations agree to this?

      

      C.  Decommodification

     Of water, food, basic necessities

      Air?

      “global commons”

      D.  Participation

        1.  New England Town Meeting
                reinvigorating local democracy
                discuss
                he brings up Putnam, trend toward “bowling alone” (186)

  2. Globally: Closing the global “democratic deficit”
                Creating a world representative body

              3. Again the EU comparison

        4. UN as bi-cameral    

    One body based on nation-states like the General Assembly;

    One on people “Global People’s Assembly”

              5. Will require **People Power

        pressure, protest

              from New Social Movements

             discuss what new about them (204)

              he calls NSMs 2^nd  Wave

              today’s movements 3^rd Wave

        **Democratization agenda is especially difficult in US
        because US very resistant to global government

    – see 195-6 for list of our sole “no” votes to international treaties

      Why???

        6.  Build upon UN Bodies such as

        UN Commission on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

        The International Labor Organization (ILO)

        The International Court of Justice

        7.  Work in concert with regional governments such as the
        European Union, and the Organization of African States

E.  New federal supra-national system

Based on three principles:

      1.  Subsidiarity

      2.  Federalism

      3.  Democracy

F.  EU as model for new world government

EPILOGUE:

What to do now?? Strategies and actions suggested by Derber (condensed_

1.  self-reflect, educate yourself

consider your role in global economy

your job

your clothes and other purchases

your cable channel

your investments

what’s your role in keeping the system going?

Integrate your values into your life, lifestyle

Choose a profession that allows you to be true to these values

2.  Actions

      Chose a cause

be global feminist – why?  Why is an important part of making globalization more just?

      be a global green

support environmental orgs

reduce, reuse, recycle

unite!  Work with other groups/interests challenging the current forms of globalization

      protest

travel

start a study or action group

      buy smart (buy justly!)

      think globally, act locally!

      Take democracy seriously!

let your reps know what you think about US unilateralism, WTO, IMF, World Bank, free trade, poverty, economic justice, human rights, corporate influences in politics, corporate accountability,

Work for social change in your school, workplace – how can these institutions make globalization more just and democratic?