From colonialism to globalization

From colonialism to globalization

By Franz Magnis-Suseno SJ

JAKARTA (JP): Is globalization the continuation of
colonialism? Is it the postcolonial form of colonialism? That was
the central question of an international conference on
Colonialism to Globalization that took place in New Delhi, India,
in the first week of February.

It was jointly sponsored by the Catholic Indian Social
Institute, University of Delhi, Jamia-Milia-Islamia and three
other institutions. The conference marked the fifth centenary of
the beginning of colonialism, symbolized by the arrival of Vasco
da Gama in Calicut, Southern India, 1498; and the beginning of
its end, symbolized by the 50th anniversary of independence for
India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

For five days, 95 participants from 26 countries, mainly
Africa and Asia, and different religions, analyzed and debated
the colonial legacy and the impact of globalization. Highlights
were the opening speech by Dr. Gamani Corea, former secretary-
general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development, and a forum where Sulieman Najjab, member of the
executive committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization,
Hanna Nasir, mayor of Bethlehem, and Prof. Moshe Ma'oz from
Hebrew University in Jerusalem sat together.

But the real work was done in dozens of well-focused papers
and following discussions, all of a high standard, controversial,
sometimes emotional, but always in a positive and very focused
atmosphere.

To put the result first: it was not possible to place the
phenomena of globalization under one simple heading. Too
different are its angles, its impact on different countries and
its degree of unavoidability. But one thing became clear during
the conference: there is nothing innocent about globalization.
Globalization, if not controlled and properly channeled,
"perpetuates and intensifies poverty, exploitation and domination
as a permanent structural practice" (final statement).

That does not mean that globalization has to be demonized or
seen as a kind of sinister conspiracy to dominate the world. The
reason is simply that the only motive of economic globalization
is profit, therefore, common good, let alone social justice, do
not enter into consideration.

Or, in other words, globalization in connection with dogmatic
neoliberalism cannot avoid widening the schism between those
involved in the process of accumulation and the marginalized
masses which are usually the great majority of the people in
developing countries. Thus, "globalization results in
polarization both between rich and poor nations and within each
country" (final statement).

Thus, and this was the second point of consensus at the
conference, globalization -- which cannot be completely avoided
-- should and can be controlled. Globalization is not a destiny
that has to be passively accepted. Developing countries should
open up selectively to the international flows of capital and
commodities according to its own national interests (the
conference did not enter into the question whether the global
information network can also be screened). The most important
task in facing globalization would be the safeguarding of the
welfare of the poor.

Some other points came up, including foreign debt as a major
source of marginalization and impoverishment. Some countries,
like Nicaragua, have no chance of climbing out of poverty despite
continued two-digit export growth because their foreign debt
stands at more than their national annual income, thus, all gains
are immediately siphoned off out of the country.

Another point was the tendency to switch from food production
for the domestic market to export crops, with the consequence
that foodstuff has to be imported and thus becomes very expensive
for the poor (from this point of view, President Soeharto's
insistence on self-sufficiency in rice production was
farsighted).

What can be done? The first thing would be to realize that
something can be done. Globalization can be channeled and should
be strictly controlled. The second point would be that since
globalization is based on a coalition of interests of
international capital and the local elites, pressure must be
brought to bear from NGOs, human rights and religious groups,
trade unions, people's movements and workers.

Civil society must be strengthened. Networking between
committed parties in developing countries, for instance Southeast
and East Asia, Southern Asia, the Southern Mediterranean and sub-
Sahara Africa, would be helpful.

Another point stressed was that international institutions
like the IMF, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization
should be made more representative by involving developing
countries in their decision-making process.

The conference closed with reaffirming that globalization
should not be allowed to build up another net of domination of
poor countries and people by exploitative powers only a few
decades after the end of colonialism.

Father Franz Magnis-Suseno SJ is professor for social
philosophy at Driyarkara School of Philosophy in Jakarta.