Globalization and Changing Issues: Agenda in International Relations

Presentation at Otu BarracksTeshie, Accra (14/04/2014)

Definition of Globalisation

Globalization is simply the widespread perception that there is a broadening, deepening and speeding up of world-wide interconnectedness in all aspects of life, from the cultural to the criminal, the financial to the environmental.

Globalization is not a singular process, it manifest itself within all aspect of life, from politics to production, culture to crime, economics to education.

At issue appears to be 'a global shift'; that is, a world being moulded, by economic and technological forces, into a shared economic and political arena.

Definition of Globalisation

Globalisation can be defined as the intensification of world-wide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa. (Anthony Giddens, 1990)

The Definition of Globalisation

Globalisation refers to all those processes by which the peoples of the world are incorporated into a single world society, thus, a global society. (Martin Albrow, 1990)

Globalisation is what we in the Third World have for several centuries called colonisation. (Martin Khor 1995)

If Globalization is,

• The growth of networks of interdependence that transcend national and regional boundaries

• Economic networks– World trade– Capital flows– Labor migration/ mobility

If Globalization is,

• Improved Communication and transportation networks– Networks linking soldiers, criminals,

terrorists– Advocacy networks e.g. NGOs, political

organisations, – Religious organizations, doctors, families,

artists, etc.– Decreasing cost of transportation and

telecommunication

What factors influence national (domestic) and/or international politics?

Domestic Vrs Foreign Policies

In the present period of rapid and extensive global change, the constitutions of national governments and their treaties have been undermined by the increasing demands and solidarity of ethnic and other regional subgroups.

Also, the end of the Cold War, the debate on globalization has been an important source of the emergence of theories on global governance.

Economic globalization, for one, leads to a power shift from state to market, which is an important factor contributing to the emergence of global governance.

Along with the globalization of economies, other changes became apparent, such as the surge of global social movements, the shrinking of political distances by microelectronic

technologies, and the mushrooming of global interdependencies

fostered by currency crisis, AIDS, and terrorism, all of which touch upon the subject of global governance.

These centralizing and decentralizing dynamics have undermined the constitutions and treaties of national governments.

Governments still operate as sovereign powers in a number of ways, but some of their authority has been relocated toward sub-national collectivities.

What is the Agenda in International Relations?

Ans: Millennium Development Goals (MDG)

In 1981, 1.9 billion people were living in extreme poverty. By 2010, this figure had dropped to 900 million, and it will

probably drop even further – to 600 million – by 2015. This means that the Millennium Development Goal is

halving extreme poverty by 2015 will have been achieved.

Also, achievement of other MDGs – for example on access to water, sanitation and primary education – is within reach.

But this is not true of every MDG. We are still lagging far behind in reducing infant, child and maternal mortality rates, and in increasing access to reproductive health care.

MDG – Background Information

In 2001 a group of mostly UN experts selected 18 targets from the Millennium Declaration

They grouped them in eight goals, and identified 48 indicators to monitor global progress (Vandemoortele 2011a).

The purpose was to rescue the Millennium Declaration from oblivion.

That process should not be repeated; the formulation of the post-2015 agenda must follow a different approach

The idea was not to spell out an global agenda for international development

MDG – Background Information

Throughout the 1990s, world summits and international conferences were held regarding specific aspects of development e.g. education, children, the environment, population, women, food

security, human settlements, etc. Each concluded with a declaration that contained a number of

specific targets. These declarations captured the attention for some time before

gradually receding into oblivion. This occurred again after the Millennium Summit of September 2000.

The Millennium Declaration (UN 2000) was quoted in countless speeches, reports and articles for several months. But after a while the attention started to fade.

It was then that the idea arose to lift selected targets verbatim from the Declaration and to place them into a free-standing list in order to keep them in the limelight for a longer period.

Why this Agenda?

Nearly three-quarters of the people living in extreme poverty are to be found in MIC not reaping the benefit of economic growth Mostly women, children and vulnerable groups

Income inequality has however increased in many middle-income countries. The situation in fragile states and countries in conflict is extremely alarming

These countries are in danger of falling far behind the rest of the world – politically, socially and economically.

They also pose a threat in terms of regional stability, radicalisation and terrorism, cross-border crime, and illegal migration, trade flows and supplies of raw materials

Why this Agenda? Asia, Africa and Latin America are the engines driving

the world economy. They are expected to account for nearly 60% of the

global economy by 2030. Asia and South America’s economic power is also

reflected in global political relations. China and India have claimed their seats at

international negotiation tables. And countries like Indonesia and South Africa are

represented in the G20, while the Netherlands is no longer invited.

Conversely, many European countries have seen their economies contract and rates of unemployment rise sharply in the wake of the financial crisis.

Why Global Agenda? Nowhere is globalisation more readily apparent than in

world trade. Between 1950 and 2007, world trade grew by an average of 6.2% a year, and global GNP by 3.8%. More and more countries have joined global production networks.

The advantages of further integration in these networks are the greatest for low- and middle-income countries.

But international interconnectedness also has a downside. The credit crisis and the European debt crisis have shown how

problems in one country can spill over to the rest of the world. What is more, global population growth and the worldwide

increase in Gross Domestic Product have led to sharply rising demand for energy, food, water and raw materials.

This in turn is leading to scarcity, and rising and wildly fluctuating prices.

Who Sets the Global Agenda?

Bilateral donors, think-tanks and non-governmental organisations

Multilateral corporation International NGOs Debate from regional roundtable

discussions on the post-2015 agenda in Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa and Europe

Post-2015 Agenda

Although the values and principles embedded in the Millennium Declaration are timeless, the world has changed too much to claim that the Declaration can serve as a basis for elaborating the new agenda. Remember, these were agendas written in the

1990s, Is it relevant and adequate to solve the challenges facing the world post 2015?

The rise of the South, population dynamics, growing inequalities and climate change are among the major changes in the global context that cannot be ignored.

Post 2015 - Agenda

Before deciding on the post-2015 agenda, world leaders would benefit from listening to a wider range of stakeholders than is usually the case. Usually, world agenda’s are technical and donor-

dependent. But this time they are calling for it to be

participatory, inclusive, and a bottom-up process The voice of the people must be heard to

avoid that the post-2015 framework becomes overly technocratic or donor-centric. Agenda to focus on leadership and time

Post-2015 Agenda

The UN Economic Commission for Africa conducted a survey of 112 stakeholders (representatives from government, civil society organizations, research institutions and academia) in 32 African countries.

The overwhelming majority agrees that the MDGs are “important development priorities for their countries” and that they “should feature in the post-2015 agenda” (UNECA 2012).

Post-2015 Agenda

Global targets help focus the attention on human development and human rights They will be universal concern that apply to all

countries – not just the poorest ones. They are meant to stimulate efforts to improve

human wellbeing through inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary work that extends beyond income-poverty

They will accelerate progress, yet be applicability only within the specific country context

It must be inspiring, clear, few in number, ambitious yet feasible and measurable

What do we want for Post-2015?

Bilateral donors, think-tanks and non-governmental organisations are actively debating the post-2015 agenda. International Policy Agenda for 2015 Post 2015 or Beyond 2015

It argues that There is “an increasing feeling that the

MDGs are insufficient in and of themselves” Pollard (2011)

Post 2015 Debate

Carin and Kapila (2011) proposed twelve development goals, grouped in three clusters: (i) those that deal with essential endowments

necessary for individuals to achieve their fuller potential;

(ii) those concerned with protecting and promoting collective human capital; and

(iii) those regarding the effective provision of global public goods.

The deadline year could range between 2035 and 2050

Post-2015 Priorities

However, several stakeholders will argue for a new architecture, with more goals and new targets.

The candidates for inclusion range from climate change to secondary education, quality of education, human rights, infrastructure, economic growth, agriculture, good governance, security, population dynamics, migration, urbanisation and others.

But more is not necessarily better; for it will undermine the intuitive understanding of the MDGs by the general public. The reason why the MDGs have caught on so well is

due to their clarity, conciseness, and measurability

Group Discussion

What will you like to see the Post 2015 Global Agenda Capture?

Education Environment/ Climate Health Security Governance and Leadership Human Rights and Development