Anti-globalization

Anti-globalization is a term most commonly used to describe the political stance of the grouping of social movements which are prominent in protests against global trade agreements and the negative consequences for the poor, for the environment and for peace which they claim follow from them. Participants in these movements often reject the term "anti-globalization", preferring to describe themselves as the Global Justice Movement, the Movement of Movements, the alter-globalization movement or the Anti-corporate Movement.

Anti-Globalization as Anti-Neoliberalism

The movement could be seen as a critical response to the development of global economy and capitalism that commenced with Margaret Thatcher's and Ronald Reagan's fiscal attitudes towards the welfare state and social-democracy (so-called neoliberalism) and continued with the change in policies of global institutions - especially after the end of the Cold War - and the decisions, even of centre-left governments, to privatize vast sectors of their countries' economies. The movement opposes the diffuse conviction that the increase of free trade and the reduction of the public sector will bring benefits to poor countries and to disadvantaged people in rich countries, and they resent what they perceive as a loss of sovereignty of democratic institutions. It should be noted that many who oppose neoliberalism are not "anti-corporate", and that anti-globalists often accuse left-wing governments of pursuing neoliberal policies while these dispute the assertion.

Related Topics:
Margaret Thatcher - Ronald Reagan - Welfare state - Social-democracy - Neoliberalism - Cold War - Free trade

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After the September 11 attacks the movement has typically been critical of American responses to terrorism and has opposed the invasions and subsequent occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq. The movement saw the wars as a hysterical response to the crisis of an economic and political model hegemonized by the United States, rather that as a reaction to actual dangers or as an intervention to bring democracy to the Middle East, as claimed by supporters of the wars. Many members of the movement also support the Palestinian side of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

Related Topics:
September 11 attacks - American - Afghanistan - Iraq - Palestinian - Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

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