In Global
Peace Through The Global University System
2003 Ed. by
T. Varis, T. Utsumi, and W. R. Klemm
University of Tampere, Hameenlinna, Finland
GLOBALISATION - THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Erkki
Tuomioja
Minister for Foreign Affairs
of Finland
An address at the University
for Peace in Costa Rica on 28 November 2001
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Understanding globalisation is an essential key in order to make sense of today's world. Understanding
the mechanism and complexity of globalisation and its impact on the conditions
of our every-day life is equally important for all of us regardless of whether
our postal address is Latin America, Costa Rica, Europe or Finland. Of course the complex nature of globalisation sets its own preconditions and challenges to the aim of making sense of globalisation and, furthermore, making sense of today's world. However, one shall not overestimate the
power of a very common and often heard argument that globalisation is such a complex
phenomenon that understanding its essence is impossible. On the contrary, the essence of
globalisation can be comprehended.
In my view, one fruitful starting point in understanding globalisation
is to try to point out, identify and realise the possible threats and
opportunities linked to it.
Although globalisation as a concept is rather new, in many senses it can
be seen as a continuation of internationalisation and interdependence that has
taken place already for hundreds of years. What has given a new impetus to the process of internationalisation
is the development of new technologies, particularly information and
communication technologies, which has multiplied its effects and presented us
with vastly enhanced opportunities, but also new challenges. Globalisation is not only unavoidable but
a process, which, on the whole, opens up more positive prospects than new
threats. Internationalisation,
deepening of the international division of labour and opening markets have been
conducive to a more effective use of the limited resources governed by mankind,
accelerated economic growth, and increased wealth and welfare of nations. However, one should also be aware of
the fact that although globalisation creates a new type of political and
economic interdependence and thus opens up paths for positive development in
terms of wealth and prosperity, there are also threats that must be taken into
consideration and dealt with.
The most important challenge related to globalisation is the fact that
the increase of wealth and prosperity is being distributed more unequally than
before, between and inside countries and regions as well as globally. This challenge is common to both the
developing and developed countries and one, which also is of concern to us in Finland.
Furthermore, a growing number of people face complete marginalisation
and risk ending up in abject poverty.
If globalisation is allowed to increase inequality and marginalisation
within our countries, it will also strengthen social polarity within
societies. This polarity, in turn,
can cause societal crisis or even armed conflicts. Needless to say that such patterns of development are
definitely not in our interest.
It is also important to be aware of the fact that globalisation based on
neo-liberal free-market values can intensify environmental damage. It can also be socially damaging,
destroying sustainable communities and threatening established welfare systems,
which can never be replaced by purely market-based solutions. It can also threaten core labour
standards and weaken trade unions, as well as national and minority cultures.
What can then be done? I think a common approach is necessary. We live in a world where global market
forces (even more threatening because of their anonymity) undermine or dilute
the instruments we have historically employed to steer our economies and
redistribute wealth. Globalisation
thus poses a demand to develop strong new democratic policies and institutions
for international and global governance.
I am of the opinion that that international and global governance must
be developed in the United Nations.
The United Nations is the most universal forum for global
governance. Therefore, it also
should be one of the central actors in managing globalisation. In addition to actions on a global
level, we must also recognize the importance of the regional level such as the
European Union or the various integration projects taking place in North,
Central and South America. In answering the many multinational challenges created by globalisation the role of cooperation between national governments will be growing - not diminishing. Therefore, global
governance is about action both at universal and regional level.
It would be nice to be able to say that we have already established the
institutions for global governance.
Unfortunately many people see organisations such as the European Union
or the World Trade Organisation as being the problem, rather than the
solution. If voters are to be
persuaded otherwise, it is necessary for these institutions to take a new
direction. Their decisions and
actions must show that they are helping to take us towards better and more
equitable government of the global forces now re-shaping our world.
Against this background, I am delighted that as a result of WTO-summit
in Doha the next round of new negotiations will put special emphasis on
development issues. The outcome of
the next round can be considered a success only if it can be rightly called the
Development Round. In the case of the WTO, of course lots of work remains to be done, lots of issues remains to be solved, but important is that direction is right - towards better global governance.
It is imperative that we work hard to bridge the increasing gap between
the politics of representative democracy and international organisations on the
one hand, and the perceptions of our electorates regarding our ability and will
to deliver results on the other.
In this respect it is not enough to arrange well-intentioned dialogues, on the one hand, between the governing institutions (the European Commission or Parliament, the WTO, the World Bank) and "civil society" (NGOs, trades unions, activist groups) and, on the other hand, between "North" and "South." This kind of dialogue is still based on a "Them and Us" dichotomy.
Instead, we need to bring back the undivided "We" into politics and decision-making at all levels.
This has to be the shared responsibility of social movements and
political parties, not just governments and institutions. It goes without saying that the undivided "We" must refer to all of us whether living in North or South.
Globalisation is obviously not only about threats, but it is also about
opportunities. One opportunity or
rather challenge related to globalisation, which I wish to raise is the
question of human rights.
Globalisation has vastly increased the possibility for freedom of speech
and expression to bloom. It has
opened access to new communication technologies which repressive governments
can no longer censor or control.
It is now more difficult for perpetrators to cover-up violations of
human rights, and for others to ignore such repression without reacting. Therefore, it can be argued that
globalisation has increased the transparency of all human action. In the case of human rights this is an
enormous achievement.
Another positive outcome of globalisation is the increase of
multiculturalism. More effective
communication technologies have improved our knowledge of different cultures,
countries and peoples.
Internationalisation and multiculturalism have positive impact on the
functioning of societies regardless of their geographical location. Multiculturalism is thus an
opportunity, not a threat.
The respect of cultural diversity and human rights are a fundamental
basis for stability and security.
A great number of local and regional conflicts arise from an environment
characterised by human rights violations, ethnic disputes or repression of
minorities. The promotion of human
rights, democracy and the rule of law functions as a mechanism to prevent
conflicts. The same is true with
post-conflict peace-building. The
respect of human rights is one of the most important basis for finding a
sustainable solution to actual and potential conflicts.
In promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law, education
plays a significant role. The
importance of education in all societal action both locally and globally is
indisputable. As we are gathered here at the University for Peace, I wish to emphasize that today the demand for higher education has been growing enormously in the world as a whole as part of the creation of a global "knowledge society." The strengthening of universities and higher education in
the Third World is part of the process of creating more equitable basis for the
fair participation in and access to globalisation by the Third World. The universities have an ethical duty
to contribute to the social and economic development of the diverse societies,
which compose concrete humanity.
Areas of research and training should not be determined by the
political, economic and scientific elites of rich countries only but by the
interests of peoples in the world as a whole in the spirit of the United
Nations.
Such an aim towards equality together with the respect of diversity and human rights is key to a better future - both locally and globally. In Finland, our human rights policy has
focused, among others, on the promotion of the rights of minorities. It is essential that minority groups
can participate in the decision-making concerning their own affairs. In my view, this principle should be
carefully kept in mind when discussing globalisation. The point here is that people can participate in
decision-making.
At the moment, however, it seems that many people feel that globalisation
is about forces and events out of their control, beyond their reach. In other words, many see that they have
no possibilities to influence on the decision-making and that the important
decisions shaping their lives are made in secret cabinets to which the entrance
is denied. Democracy threatens to lose its legitimacy unless it is capable of responding also and expressly to the challenges of globalisation, which have undermined the possibilities of national governments to steer the development of the economy and societies by political means so as to meet people's expectations. This is an important challenge that we must face in order to
manage properly the complexity of globalisation.
The identification of threats and opportunities of globalisation is
still in process, although the discussion has continued already almost twenty
years. In fact, the speed of the
globalisation process has been so rapid that traditional politics and democracy
have not been able so far to guide the process. In many senses the ordinary citizens as well as states lack
the proper means to govern globalisation and to create common rules for its
development. It is indeed
important that ordinary citizens feel that globalisation is somewhat under
control and that the possible threats could be prevented or at least mitigated.
However, one thing is certain.
In order to guide globalisation onto the right track, the efforts of
international organisations and national governments as well as civil society
are needed. Therefore I wish to
challenge each one of us - whether living, for instance in, Costa Rica or
Finland - into a more constructive and open discussion on globalisation. Together the proper management of the
complexity of globalisation is possible.
Therefore, let us speak about "We" rather than "Us" and "Them."
Thank you.
Author
Biographical Sketch
|
Dr. Erkki Tuomioja Minister for Foreign
Affairs Merikasarmi P.O.Box 176 00161
Helsinki, Finland E-mail:
erkki.tuomioja@eduskunta.fi Webs: |
|
Dr.
Erkki
Tuomioja is
the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland (from 2000 to present) and was the
Minister of Trade and Industry (from 1999 to 2000). Member of parliament Social-Democratic Party 1970-79 and
from 1991- present; Vice-Chairman of the SDP parliamentary group 1991-96,
Chairman 1996-99; Chairman of the Grand (European Affairs) Committee 1995-99;
Member of the Foreign Affairs
Committee 1970-79, 1991-99.
Erkki
Tuomioja worked as a journalist before being elected to parliament. He was Deputy Mayor in Helsinki
1979-91. He has a Ph.D. in
political science, B.Sc. in economics and holds a lectureship in political
history in the University of Helsinki.
Erkki
Tuomioja is author of 18 books, including Europe and the Nordic Fringe written
in English and published in 1991.