11.2 Anti-globalization and alter-globalization movements

Anti-globalization movements emerged in the 1990s to challenge neoliberal policies and corporate-led globalization. They criticized free trade agreements for undermining labor rights and environmental protections, arguing that globalization mainly benefits multinational corporations and wealthy nations.

Alter-globalization movements advocate for a different form of globalization based on social justice and sustainability. They emphasize fair trade, debt relief, and reforms to international financial institutions. The "Another World Is Possible" slogan captures their vision for a more equitable global economic system.

Movements Against Globalization

Opposition to Neoliberal Globalization

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• Anti-globalization movements emerged in the 1990s to challenge the negative impacts of neoliberal economic policies and corporate-led globalization
  • Criticized free trade agreements (NAFTA, WTO) for undermining labor rights, environmental protections, and national sovereignty
  • Argued that globalization primarily benefits multinational corporations and wealthy nations at the expense of workers, local communities, and developing countries
• Alter-globalization movements advocate for an alternative form of globalization based on principles of social justice, environmental sustainability, and democratic participation
  • Slogan "Another World Is Possible" encapsulates the vision for a more equitable and sustainable global economic system
  • Emphasizes fair trade, debt relief for developing nations, and reforms to international financial institutions (IMF, World Bank)

Critiques of Endless Economic Growth

• Degrowth movement challenges the assumption that continuous economic growth is necessary or desirable, particularly in the context of ecological limits and climate change
  • Argues that the pursuit of endless growth is unsustainable and leads to environmental destruction, resource depletion, and social inequalities
  • Advocates for a planned reduction of energy and resource use in wealthy nations to operate within planetary boundaries while improving quality of life
• Occupy movement, which began with Occupy Wall Street in 2011, protested against economic inequality, corporate influence in politics, and the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a small elite (the "1%")
  • Slogan "We are the 99%" highlighted the vast disparities in income and wealth distribution
  • Occupied public spaces in cities around the world to create grassroots forums for political discussion and organizing

Alternative Economic Models

Fair Trade and Ethical Consumption

• Fair trade movement seeks to create more equitable trading partnerships between producers in developing countries and consumers in wealthy nations
  • Ensures that producers receive a fair price for their goods, which covers the cost of sustainable production and provides a living wage
  • Promotes long-term trade relationships, improved working conditions, and environmental stewardship
  • Fair trade certifications (Fairtrade International, Fair Trade USA) help consumers identify products that meet these standards
• Alter-globalization movements promote ethical consumption as a way for individuals to support more just and sustainable economic practices
  • Encourages consumers to consider the social and environmental impacts of their purchases and to support businesses that prioritize these values
  • Includes buying locally-produced goods, supporting cooperatives and worker-owned enterprises, and investing in socially-responsible businesses

Envisioning a Post-Growth Economy

• Degrowth movement proposes alternative economic models that prioritize human well-being and ecological sustainability over continuous growth and consumption
  • Advocates for a redistribution of wealth and resources, a reduction in working hours, and a shift towards more localized and cooperative forms of production and exchange
  • Emphasizes the importance of non-market values such as community, leisure time, and connection to nature
  • Challenges the dominant paradigm of development and progress, which is based on ever-increasing GDP and material consumption

Significant Protests and Events

Resistance to Free Trade Agreements

• Seattle WTO protests in 1999 were a pivotal moment in the anti-globalization movement, bringing together a diverse coalition of activists to oppose the World Trade Organization's free trade policies
  • Tens of thousands of protesters disrupted the WTO ministerial conference through non-violent direct action and civil disobedience
  • Raised public awareness about the negative impacts of free trade on labor rights, environmental protections, and local economies
• Zapatista movement in Chiapas, Mexico, which began in 1994, opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and fought for indigenous rights and autonomy
  • Zapatistas organized grassroots communities and created autonomous municipalities governed by principles of direct democracy and collective ownership
  • Inspired anti-globalization activists around the world with their slogan "Another World Is Possible" and their model of local resistance to neoliberal policies

Global Justice Networks and Forums

• World Social Forum, first held in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2001, is an annual gathering of civil society organizations and social movements opposed to neoliberal globalization and committed to building a more just and sustainable world
  • Provides a space for activists to share experiences, develop strategies, and coordinate global campaigns
  • Organized around principles of participatory democracy, diversity, and solidarity
  • Regional and thematic social forums have been held in various locations around the world
• Occupy movement, which began in 2011, created a global network of encampments and general assemblies in public spaces to protest economic inequality and corporate power
  • Occupied spaces served as hubs for political discussion, community organizing, and direct action
  • Popularized the use of consensus decision-making and horizontal organizing structures
  • Inspired similar occupations and solidarity actions in cities around the world