Effects of Western Development/Globalisation in the Third World

Corporate globalisation is effectively colonialism, with the West using the Third World for cheap agricultural products and low-cost manufacturing. Globalisation has created jobs in the Third World, either by direct employment or by giving contracts to Third World suppliers. In both of these cases, the working conditions of employees and the environment have tended to be sacrificed in order to maximise profits.

Many Third World countries are dependent on exporting primary commodities (‘cash crops’, such as cocoa, tea and coffee), and farmers grow these instead of food. However, they have flooded the global market, and this combined with the power of multinationals to dictate price has meant the halving of the real-term prices of primary commodities (except oil) over the last 20 years. Globalisation is directly responsible for the economic deterioration of countries dependent on primary commodities.

For example, through their integration into the international coffee market, coffee producers in Africa are entirely vulnerable to global factors that are outside their control. Brazil is the largest coffee producer, and changes in the Brazilian climate and economy affect international coffee prices. With the international market price of coffee in long-term decline, African farmers who have converted from subsistence farming to coffee production are increasingly unable to feed their families. Many have had to abandon farming and look for casual work in the cities instead.

In other instances, corporations buy up land and use resources with no concern for long-term implications. They also apply technology with little concern for environmental impacts i.e. use of un-tested genetically modified crops, and over-use of pesticides and fertilisers.

In many countries, government corruption at national and local levels can contribute to environmental damage as governments sell resources to multinationals for short-term profit. A percentage of aid money intended for humanitarian or environmental projects never reaches its destination.

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Environmentally Sustainable Development in the Third World Effects of Western Development Westernised development fundamentally changes a society, and not all of these changes are necessarily beneficial to a society as a whole, or to the environment. Historically the industrial development of free-market Western countries has been driven by corporate and individual profits, with little or no regard for social or environmental factors in the countries concerned. In pursuit of profit, corporations may: Undermine the health of the environment through over-use of resources and pollution. Fail to support their employees’ well-being (appropriate wages including paid overtime, occupational health and safety, childcare, limiting hours etc.) Break down work into unskilled jobs (often called ‘McJobs’) that have little job satisfaction and no prospect of career advancement Create a ‘consumer culture’ by ‘creating markets’, i.e. use advertising to convince people that they need products that they would not otherwise desire. This desire is formed through the creation in people of a permanent and unnecessary dissatisfaction Create short-lived, disposable products so that people are constantly throwing things out and buying new ones. This keeps sales high, but in most cases does not benefit society as it costs more for the consumers. This process also adds to environmental degradation through high resource requirements, and contributing to excess waste Drive fashion - that is - disposability of products before they wear out (i.e.. clothes, entertainment, household goods). Lobby governments against the public interest. Withhold important information from the public, or provide misinformation to the public through misleading or incomplete presentation of information. (i.e. cigarette manufacturers not publishing information about the link between smoking and lung cancer and other diseases). Effects of Western Development/Globalisation in the Third World Corporate globalisation is effectively colonialism, with the West using the Third World for cheap agricultural products and low-cost manufacturing. Globalisation has created jobs in the Third World, either by direct employment or by giving contracts to Third World suppliers. In both of these cases, the working conditions of employees and the environment have tended to be sacrificed in order to maximise profits. Many Third World countries are dependent on exporting primary commodities (‘cash crops’, such as cocoa, tea and coffee), and farmers grow these instead of food. However, they have flooded the global market, and this combined with the power of multinationals to dictate price has meant the halving of the real-term prices of primary commodities (except oil) over the last 20 years. Globalisation is directly responsible for the economic deterioration of countries dependent on primary commodities. For example, through their integration into the international coffee market, coffee producers in Africa are entirely vulnerable to global factors that are outside their control. Brazil is the largest coffee producer, and changes in the Brazilian climate and economy affect international coffee prices. With the international market price of coffee in long-term decline, African farmers who have converted from subsistence farming to coffee production are increasingly unable to feed their families. Many have had to abandon farming and look for casual work in the cities instead. In other instances, corporations buy up land and use resources with no concern for long-term implications. They also apply technology with little concern for environmental impacts i.e. use of un-tested genetically modified crops, and over-use of pesticides and fertilisers. In many countries, government corruption at national and local levels can contribute to environmental damage as governments sell resources to multinationals for short-term profit. A percentage of aid money intended for humanitarian or environmental projects never reaches its destination.   Return to Sustainable Development Topic