October 20, 2002
The hypocrisy behind our compassion.
In this
open letter in the
Observer, Guy Verhofstadt, the Prime Minister of Belgium, argues that the west must stop giving with one hand and taking away with the other.
Surely the question of this century should be: How can we prevent a violent class struggle between the world's poorest and richest people? Between two billion people who are trying to survive every day in a fight against hunger and disease, and a half billion others whose main concern is to second-guess the plot of their favourite soap opera. Today, the difference in income between the two groups is, on average, 30:1. The problem is that this difference is not shrinking; it is growing.
Between these two extremes, there are around three billion people who have also benefited from globalisation. In the space of a single generation, these peoples - especially in Asia - have escaped from their daily struggle to ensure a roof over their head, clothes on their back and food in their stomach. They are evidence that globalisation, the free market and free trade are the best method - indeed, the only proven method - for driving off poverty.
But the very poorest two billion people are evidence that free trade and globalisation are not enough. We in the European Union should know that. Ever since the Union was founded, we have helped new member states throw off the shackles of poverty (and we will be trying to do the same this decade with all of Central and Eastern Europe). We have achieved this through free trade, intensive cooperation, financial support and, in particular, partnership with the countries in question.
So let's stop running from one mega-conference to the next in Monterrey, Rome or Johannesburg. We Europeans and Americans have to stop hassling each other about what it means to be "for" or "against" globalisation. What we need is a consensus on greater development and a consensus on having both Europeans and Americans make greater efforts - including those efforts that are in their own interest.
An important statement, especially coming from someone in power. The Observer labels this as a letter to the anti-globalization protesters, but it seems to me to be directed at everyone. He seems to basically agree with the protesters, except he says what we need is not talk but action. And he follows up with some concrete suggestions. And a heartfelt conclusion.
World poverty demands a united approach. The line that must be followed - free trade, but not free trade alone - has already been traced out for some time. The time has now come for action and intervention in those areas where the free market falls short. As Benjamin Barber puts it: "If there cannot be equity of justice, there will be equity of injustice; if all cannot partake of plenty, impoverishment - both material and spiritual - will be the common lot. That is the hard lesson of interdependence." This is the challenge that we must meet. It is in our own interest.
This open letter is a call for reform proposals to be discussed at the Second International Conference on Globalisation on 26 November 2002 in Leuven, Belgium. Young people in particular are encouraged to take part in the debate. For more information see
www.globalisationdebate.be.
