Globalization: The World in Deception

The concept of globalization, often acclaimed for stabilizing development and fostering peace and prosperity worldwide, is akin to a dream in the global political theatre. This era of globalization has undeniably spurred significant economic and political development across the globe in more ways than one[1].

However, it is important to acknowledge that nothing is too good to be true.

Beneath its promising veneer, globalization harbors extensive, often understated detriments. These include the exploitation of peripheral nations, where economic hitmen extract profits and resources, channeling them into the pockets of corporate and political magnates[2].

Unfortunately, there's a noticeable lack of opposition to these issues, partly due to fear of powerful elites and their global influence.

The horrors behind the schemes that develop western world products in core nations are unrecognized, called illegitimate, conspiracies, and “miscalculations”[3]. This indifference is largely fueled by corporate-driven propaganda[4], leading to a devaluation of non-Western lives.

The illusion of progress, propagated by such misinformation, certainly serves to mask the darker aspects of what can be described as a modern form of imperialism[5].

The percieved prosperities of globalization fail to suppress the underlying causes of the movement, while its functions, detriments, and broader implications may still be scrutinized. The truths obscured by corporate greed and global governance, emphasize the importance of recognizing the covert malevolence in international systems. Distractions and justifications are strategically used to blind the public, perpetuating the growth of an invisible corporate state that parasitically infiltrates our societies[6].

It is imperative to acknowledge that these proposed ideas are not anti-capitalist, rather anti-imperialist. Corporations of the world are not themselves capitalist, yet they have found themselves corrupting the goals of capitalism that historically aimed to benefit the public. Corporate control has shifted capitalism from a system of societal growth and prosperity into a brutish, money-hungry monster that only seeks to swallow the sanctity and sovereignty of nations and individuals.

Perceived Prosperities: Asia & The West

In studying the broad-scale effects of globalization, it becomes evident that while there are apparent economic and political gains, labeling these benefits as merely 'perceived' might be too modest.

Globalization acts as the noble and global process of spreading wealth, infrastructure, and development to all nations that remain outside of the traditionally ‘modern’ style of governance. The tangible benefits of global development are marked in the rapid rise of nations such as China, which transformed into a global powerhouse in a remarkably short period.

By 1994, China had become the world's fastest-growing industrial economy, boasting a GDP of about three trillion dollars on a purchasing power parity basis[7]. Other East-Asian nations saw growths in development as well, yet these levels of rapid growth did not come without its nuances.

These nations experienced substantial shifts in societal structures and heightened corporate influence, with nationalism and militarism becoming key elements of their national identities[8].

China’s swift military expansion played a crucial role in its efforts to procure valuable resources both domestically and from neighboring countries. This included aggressive moves to secure rich mineral and fishing grounds in the South China Sea, actions that were vital to sustain its burgeoning population[9].

China's dominance over its regional neighbors in economic development was intricately linked to its use of military power, impacting societal control. Cultural variances and the ability to foster social relations based on trust and effective communication have been pivotal in maintaining a diverse global economy[10].

The necessity to sustain social support is essential for national progress, leading to political strategies that might involve either propaganda or authoritarian military control.

Political actors often employ distraction or justification tactics when dealing with domestic or local societal changes or upheaval, as balancing state control is essential in market creation, operation, and actor shaping, as well as in formulating market strategies[11].

While China’s rise to power is often cited as a success story of globalization, its reliance on military force for resource acquisition places it in a more imperialistic light, distinguishing it from imperially victimized nations.

Many arguments in favor of globalization's benefits are statistically sound, but they tend to overlook the more nuanced aspects of certain figures.

For instance, Fredrik Erixson, Director of the European Centre for International Political Economy, conducted a comprehensive study on the benefits of globalization, yet focusing predominantly on Western nations[12].

He highlighted significant increases in global trade exports and foreign investments, primarily from the United States, Europe, and Japan[13]. Furthermore, Erixson’s research indicates that global stock in core nations surged “from 0.7 trillion to 25 trillion US dollars” between 1980 and 2016”[14], illustrating massive economic growth for core nations, while excluding the majority of countries around the world.

Erixson’s study also praises the virtues of growing labor forces, gender equality, and business opportunities – concepts that resonate well with core nations, but once again exclude most non-western countries. The more troubling aspects of globalization, such as resource exploitation, offshore businesses, and governmental overthrows, are notably absent from his analysis.

Hidden Realities of Globalization

As the Western public marvels at the economic achievements of globalization, less fortunate regions worldwide grapple with the fallout of Western international policies that tout globalization's benefits.

John Perkins - TEDx Talks

John Perkins describes "Predatory Capitalism" as a "mutant form of capitalism" that enables countries like the United States, with less than 5% of the world's population, to consume nearly 30% of its resources while half of the planet tolerates dreadful

poverty[15].

This distorted capitalism has inflicted severe economic disparities and exploitation on numerous South American and East-Asian countries, all for corporate gain.

Perkins outlines how corporations target impoverished nations rich in resources, offering substantial loans for infrastructure through institutions like the IMF and World Bank. These loans, often unrepayable, grant the US considerable influence over these nations through debt and fear, or as Perkins terms it, a “pound of flesh”[16].

In his book, "Confessions of an Economic Hitman," Perkins recounts his experiences as an EHM, exposing covert US interventions in resource-rich, yet impoverished countries.

He recounts an instance in Ecuador where, from every $100 of crude oil extracted, oil companies retained $75. The remainder primarily serviced foreign debt and government expenses, with only about $2.50 allocated for health, education, and poverty alleviation, leaving a meager benefit for those most impacted by environmental and economic exploitation[17].

The environmental concerns surrounding globalization, particularly in the food sector, are alarming. The introduction of high-input agricultural methods in less-developed countries has led to a reduction in farmland biodiversity and soil quality, exacerbated by heavy fertilizer use, excessive irrigation, and toxic waste accumulation[18].

Congolese locals working in lithium mines

The extraction of resources like lithium for modern technologies has devastated countries like Indonesia and Chile, where processing one ton of rare earths creates around 2,000 tons of toxic waste[19]. This exploitative resource use has severely damaged ecosystems, increased invasive species, and intensified diseases in plants, animals, and humans[20].

Beyond the environmental and economic ravages, the cultural sovereignty of these nations suffers tremendously.

The intended beneficiaries of globalization's economic development (such as local workers in lithium mines or sweatshops) often find themselves trapped in a web of political and economic disparity.

Economic Hitmen, in their pursuit of global integration, coerce world leaders into networks that favor U.S. commercial interests, binding them in debt to secure their allegiance and benefit U.S. companies[21]. Perkins highlights that resistance to corporate interests often leads to the intervention of “jackals”, followed by military power to enforce compliance[22].

US supported Venezuelan to overthrow Democratic leader Hugo Chavez [2002]

The overthrow of uncooperative leaders, like Hugo Chavez in Venezuela or Jacobo Arbenz in Guatemala, typically results in oppressive regimes, causing immense suffering and loss of life among anti-imperialist citizens[23].

The insights of Perkins and activists like John Pilger shed light on the darker aspects of globalization, debunking corporate narratives that focus on Western benefits and exposing the destructive legacy of imperialist interventions.

Actively avoiding the decades of forceful intrusions in South America and East-Asia can potentially be destructive to nuanced global understandings and paves a path for further corporate-driven political devastation.

Corporate Greed and Global Governance

The destruction faced by many victimized nations during the spread of globalization was not without purpose, as the greed of corporate entities was certainly fulfilled further and further.

This imperialistic form of capitalism, often masqueraded as globalization, has been so effective that it emboldened political leaders to become more overt about their interventionist tactics. After the violent overthrow of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, “the Bush administration made it clear it is happy with the change in leadership in the country responsible for 15% of America’s oil imports”[24].

The essence of these global manipulations is deceptively straightforward: the pursuit of capital. Governmental and corporate actions are predominantly motivated by the lust for wealth and, by extension, power. These twin drives of power and capital made it relatively straightforward to influence leaders like Suharto, dictator of Indonesia from 1968-1998, to provide resources to the U.S. in exchange for support and power[25].

This scenario exemplifies the concept of 'corporatocracy', where government and corporate interests intertwine, transforming global culture into a system driven by relentless consumption and exploitation[26].

The US creation which laid further devastation upon democracies of South America was Operation Condor, a defense against the evil tendrils of communism, and a catalyst for the even more destructive grasps of capitalism.

Condor led to the forceful removal of anti-imperialist leaders and the installation of ruthless dictators like General Augusto Pinochet in Chile, who oversaw the brutal deaths of tens of thousands of Chilean citizens, while being “praised by Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, as a ‘great defender of capitalism’”[27].

This tendency of leaders to sacrifice human lives and values for money and power is alarming, though not unprecedented. Research shows that the political opinions and behaviors of elites are less influenced by their backgrounds, such as place of birth, ethnicity, or parents' occupation.

Rather, these perspectives are predominantly shaped by their adult roles and affiliations[28], demonstrating how power can profoundly influence an individual's values and actions.

These affiliations, as seen in the case of Augusto Pinochet allowing thousands to be horribly murdered at mass, can be signifiantly influenced by the dynamics of power. Power tends to corrupt, affecting not only individual mindsets but potentially the collective national consciousness as well, a phenomenon evident in the United States.

The U.S. is often depicted as entrenched in historical power dynamics, "exercising power in the anarchic Hobbesian world where international laws and rules are unreliable", relying heavily on military strength and corporate alliances to enforce a version of liberal order [29].

This approach mirrors that of China, which similarly employs control mechanisms, both through military means abroad and through domestic manipulation, to maintain societal cooperation.

In stark contrast, European nations generally emphasize a world order where "strength doesn’t matter, where international law and international institutions predominate"[30]. This divergence highlights the different paths taken by western nations in global politics, stressing imperial tendencies as the US and China are more strongly comparable in their military-focused international power system and use of persistent propaganda within the homeland.

The prevalence of international military interventions is well-documented, with a multitude of declassified CIA documents revealing the extent of such actions and their underlying motives. However, it's the use of domestic propaganda, particularly in the 21st century, that has effectively obscured the realities of the American public and others worldwide.

Investigative journalist John Pilger has delved deeply into the corrupt nature of the media and the pervasive elements of propaganda. He draws on the work of American theorist Edward Bernays, particularly his book "Propaganda," to explore foundational ideas about media manipulation in his article “The Invisible Government.” Pilger's analysis humorously yet pointedly exposes the hypocrisy within the propagandized media, highlighting how journalism is dominated by corporate interests and official narratives[31].

Pilger argues that the increasing corporate control over media aims to shape public opinion and silence dissenting voices that might challenge corporate power. He notes that “in 1983 the principle global media was owned by 50 corporations, most of them American.

In 2002 this had fallen to just 9 corporations. Today it is probably about 5.”[32].

A ten fold reduction in controlling media apparatuses is not just centralization, but a bottleneck that is squeezing the media to produce nothing but the interests of a select group of entities. In a way, Pilger and Bernays’ ‘invisible government’ is an oligarchy, reaching its hands deep into pools of wealth through globalization, and shielding the vile results through media suppression.

The hypocrisy of what is told to the public by the media and politicians is absurd, yet Pilger points out an excellent example of such hypocritical media reporting during the invasion of Iraq in the early 2000s:

“Listen to the BBC's man in Washington, Matt Frei, shortly after the invasion. "There is not doubt," he told viewers in the UK and all over the world, "That the desire to bring good, to bring American values to the rest of the world, and especially now in the Middle East, is especially tied up with American military power." In 2005 the same reporter lauded the architect of the invasion, Paul Wolfowitz, as someone who "believes passionately in the power of democracy and grassroots development."”[33]

Pilger’s insight sheds a disappointing light on the media that is trusted to provide the public with truthful reporting, and further allows for discussion into the implications of corporate influenced journalism, catered to spreading a certain message to shield truth and honest discourse.

Bernays in his 1928 book Propaganda, provides an outstanding theory on the “true ruling power of our country”[34], foreseeing the outcomes of globalization and suggesting that imperial control and media propaganda were concepts in play even before globalization's formal inception. In this context, Bernays' work and Pilger’s observations suggest that globalization, to a significant extent, represents imperial capitalism rebranded with a more palatable label.

The evolving landscape of global politics and social relations has become increasingly vulnerable to criticism and change, vulnerabilities that have been deftly exploited by corporate powers in pursuit of global dominance.

While the aspiration for global prosperity and equality resonates universally, these objectives are intricately linked to the ambitions and strategies of powerful institutions. Behind the facade of progressive rhetoric, a system fueled by greed and corruption has been meticulously cultivated, pushing relentlessly towards greater control and influence.

The extent of corporate power in today's world is openly illustrated by entities such as Black Rock, Vanguard Company, and State Street, which collectively exert control over nearly 90% of S&P 500 companies. Black Rock, with its staggering $10 trillion in assets under management[35], wields more influence than the vast majority of global nations.

This escalation of corporate power, a trend that has been on the for centuries, underscores the true motives driving globalization: greed and domination.

The threat posed by such powerful corporate entities could lead to unprecedented economic fallout, beyond corporate and political hegemony, around the world. This combination of immense power and deliberate complications points to a growing trace of malice within the global order, posing risks not just to economic stability, but to the very fabric of global society.

References

[1] Erixson, Fredrik, The Economic Benefits of Globalization for Business and Consumers, p. 4.

[2] Perkins, John, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, Berret-Koehler Publishers, 2004, p. xvii.

[3] Pilger, John, The Invisible Government. Johnpilger.Com, 2007.

[4] Pilger, The Invisible Government, 2007.

[5] Bernays, Edward, Propaganda, Melusina, p. 1-10.

[6] Perkins, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, p. 81-141.

[7] Kim, Samuel S., China's Quest for Security in the Post-Cold War World, 1996. Monographs, p. 1.

[8] Kim, China's Quest for Security in the Post-Cold War World, p. 6.

[9] Kim, China's Quest for Security in the Post-Cold War World, p. 6.

[10] Riain, Seán, States and markets in an era of globalization. Annual Review of Sociology, vol. 26, no. 1, p. 194.

[11] Riain, States and markets in an era of globalization, p. 187.

[12] Erixson, The Economic Benefits of Globalization for Business and Consumers, p. 3.

[13] Erixson, The Economic Benefits of Globalization for Business and Consumers, p. 4-5.

[14] Erixson, The Economic Benefits of Globalization for Business and Consumers, p. 4.

[15] Perkins, John, An Economic Hitman Confesses and Calls to Action, TEDx Talks, 2016.

[16] Perkins, An Economic Hitman Confesses and Calls to Action, 2016.

[17] Perkins, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, p. xviii.

[18] Ehrenfeld, David, The environmental limits to globalization, Conservation Biology, 2005, p. 322.

[19] Kaiman, Jonathan, Rare Earth Mining in China: The Bleak Social and Environmental Costs, The Guardian, 20 Mar. 2014.

[20] Ehrenfeld, The environmental limits to globalization, p. 319-320.

[21] Perkins, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, p. xxv.

[22] Perkins, An Economic Hitman Confesses and Calls to Action, 2016.

[23] Pilger, John, War on Democracy, Youngheart Entertainment, Granada Productions, 2007.

[24] Pilger, War on Democracy, 2007.

[25] Perkins, An Economic Hitman Confesses and Calls to Action, 2016.

[26] Perkins, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, p. xiii.

[27] Perkins, An Economic Hitman Confesses and Calls to Action, 2016.

[28] Gibson, James L., and Raymond M. Duch, Elitist theory and political tolerance in Western Europe, Political Behavior, 1991, p. 192.

[29] Kagan, Robert, Power and Weakness, Hoover Institution, 2002.

[30] Kagan, Power and Weakness, 2002.

[31] Pilger, The Invisible Government, 2007.

[32] Pilger, The Invisible Government, 2007.

[33] Pilger, The Invisible Government, 2007.

[34] Pilger, The Invisible Government, 2007.

[35] Baer, Justin, Blackrock Now Manages over $10 Trillion in Assets, The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 2022.