International Forum on Globalization

Globalization vs. Globalism

Mark Ritchie

The famous French daily newspaper, Le Monde, described the recent round of national strikes in France as the "First Revolt Against Globalization." Although one could argue that the indigenous peoples' rebellion in Chiapas, Mexico was the first and that France was the second, both events represent a new era in global politics. Everyday citizens, from the poorest and most exploited to the relatively secure, are beginning to speak out against the process of "globalization."

While these recent events are dramatic, one question remains unanswered: why have there been so few rebellions and so few public debates until now? I believe the reason is the confusion between globalization and globalism. Many people who have a strong sense of international solidarity and a
desire for world peace - a belief in what is often called "globalism" have been confused when faced with a set of business practices called globalization. Globalism and globalization sound similar, but when you look more closely it is clear they are opposites.

I will define globalization as the process of corporations moving their money, factories and products around the planet at ever more rapid rates of speed in search of cheaper labor and raw materials and governments willing to ignore or abandon consumer, labor and environmental protection laws. As an ideology, it is largely unfettered by ethical or moral considerations.

In contrast, globalism is the belief that we share one fragile planet the survival of which requires mutual respect and careful treatment of the earth and of all its people. Globalism, like all values and ethical beliefs, requires active practice in our day-to-day lives. Communications to foster understanding, sharing of needed resources on the basis of equity and sustainability, and mutual aid in times of need are three central features of activities that undergird globalism.

The exploitation of the earth's resources for private gain, creation of dependency, and the concentration and centralization of the centers of decision-making power beyond the reach of the majority of people are central to the globalization process.

While globalism incorporates the idea of the Global Commons to describe the ozone layer, oceans, and genetic diversity, globalization is the acquisition and exploitation of these resources by giant corporations beyond the reach of democratic processes.

While globalism implies a respect for diversity, globalization demands the standardization or homogenization of almost everything and everybody.

This distinction between globalism and globalization would not be important except for two things. First, globalization is causing so many problems that we cannot afford to be confused about it nor ignore it any longer.

Second, true globalism is the only weapon we still have for tackling the level of economic, ecological, and social dislocation caused by unbridled globalization and the resulting political violence of war and the personal violence related to crime, racism, and xenophobia. We need a nearly unprecedented upsurge in goodwill among all people to tackle the current level of violence - both the ethnic and religious wars already underway and the one-on-one violence being fostered by globalization.

In the case of inter-tribal, ethnic and religious wars only a sense of globalism can reduce the feelings that bring on these wars and encourage others far away from these conflicts to get involved and share resources (including young lives) to help resolve them.

In the case of personal violence, the creation by globalization of unemployment, landlessness, homelessness and food insecurity induces violence as those deprived struggle to survive and as those with some means of support strike at the "other" whom they fear might drag them down into
the same desperate state.

As globalization causes greater poverty and hunger, it fuels involuntary emigration, which in turn may result in racism and fear of immigrants. In this way, globalization destroys the feelings of globalism, love and concern with neighbors around the planet, while creating the economic and ecological conditions that cry out for more, not less, globalism.

My fear is that globalization could destroy the planet. If we let it go unchallenged it will not only destroy the economy and ecology but it will also engender so much resentment, greed and fear manifested in hatred and violence that we will not have the ability as a people to work together to tackle global problems.

Globalization is creating global problems, such as ozone depletion, climate instability and mass migration, while destroying the reservoir of goodwill and willingness to cooperate across this fragile Earth to address these problems. Globalism, the belief that the condition of our neighbor, no matter how far away, affects each of us and thus demands our attention and action, is the only way to combat this assault.

We face enough natural disasters on the fragile ecosystem we call Earth to challenge our goodwill and our human abilities - we cannot afford to add the destructiveness of globalization. Nor can we afford to allow globalization to turn us away from loving, caring, cooperating, sharing. The fate of the planet now rests in balance.

This article is online: http://www.ifg.org