A Plea for an Inclusive Globalization
Kofi Annan
It has often been said that globalization is what distinguishes our era from all its predecessors. Globalization, we are told, is redefining not only the way we engage the world, but how we communicate with each other. Globalization is commonly understood to describe the increasing flow of goods, rvice, capital, technology, information, ideas and labor at the global level, driven by liberalization policies and technological changes. For a time, this logic was borne out by reality. Indeed, it worked so well that in many cas underlying schisms were ignored in the belief that the rising tide of material growth would eliminate the importance of political differences and social grievances. However, over the past few years, I and others have urged greater consideration for the potential political backlash if the social as well as the economic conquences of globalization are left unattended.
Today, I would like to share some thoughts on an equally important aspect of globalization,
namely its potential to be a truly integrating and inclusive force and the very real dangers if it fails to live up to that potential. In other words, just as we worry about the gap between haves and have-nots, we need to be equally concerned about the gulf between insiders and outsiders in a globalized world where no border is impermeable, and where the privileges, economic as well as political and social, of the few are painfully apparent to tho multitudes who still yearn for liberty and opportunity. We need, in sort, to direct our energies towards realizing the aspiration inherent in the awkward, but revealing Arabic translation of the word “Globalization”, which means literally “world inclusivity”.
Today, I wish to suggest that one way to address this new division, between tho who benefit from globalization, and tho who simply e it as one more manifestation of the inequity of the world, is to pursue an inclusive globalization who purpo lies not only in opening markets but in expanding opportunity and promoting cooperation. By this I mean the need to ensure that the globalization of economies and societies is supported and sustained by a “globalization of community”, to create a wider, more expansive definition of our duties to our fellow men and women in the global village, and to ensure t
hat globalization benefits them all, economically, politically, and socially.
Such a world demands that we tear down the walls in our own minds as well, tho parating us from them, rich from poor, white from black, Christian from Muslin, so that we are able to recognize the untold ways in which we can all benefit from cooperation and solidarity across lines of nationality, race or economic development. Whether it is the area of crime, health, the environment, or the fight against terrorism, interdependence has cead to be an abstract concept, and become a reality in our own lives. This pos a real challenge not only to political leaders, but to civil society, NGOs, business, labor unions, thinkers, and citizens of every nation. We need to rethink what belonging means, and what community means, in order to be able to embrace the fate of distant people and realize that globalization’s glass hou must be open to all if it is
to remain cure. This will require leaders in every ctor to prent the choices facing the public in a different light. They need to make the difficult by necessary ca that we c
annot continue to exclude the poor, the dinfranchid or tho who are denied the basic right to liberty and lf-determination. Or that if we do, we cannot at the same time hope to cure lasting peace and prosperity.
There are myriad ways in which nations can act on this imperative, by opening markets for the products of developing countries; by incread development assistance; by promoting good and transparent governance; by addressing dias and environmental problems that have not reached our shores, or at least not yet; by recognizing obligations to provide asylum; by fostering a more orderly process of integrating migrants; and by valuing pluralism as a top priority for every state.
