The Two Sides of a Coin: A global village for whom and for what?

Lazarus Sauti

A globalised world for whom and for what? Whose concept is it? Whose ideals is it advancing?

Globalisation may be beneficial in many ways to countries within and across Africa, but it is also quite skewed to the advantage of the nations with the technological and economic powers – the so-called advanced or developed nations.

The situation that these countries have created is one where it appears that Africa needs them more than they need Africa. Leaders from these countries head the ‘kangaroo courts’ and dictate the pace in all issues to do with globalisation.

This has led to an environment in which the merciless and unprincipled merchants of free trade and capitalism, mainly from the West, dictate the standards and rules that administer the so-called globalised universe.

For example, while goods and services from their countries get easy access to African markets, goods from Africa are subjected to trade tariffs and standards that virtually make it almost impossible for the African traders to export to countries like the United States of America and Britain.

This triggers questions such as: “What is globalisation? Who is the author (inventor) of it? Who is benefitting from it? Who is the head of the global village? Is it not another avenue of colonisation?

To effectively answer these questions and others, it is critical to note that globalisation is like the proverbial wolf in sheep’s cloth as it is a subtle way of keeping poor nations underdeveloped. The mere fact that Africa is living in abject poverty due to this so-called God-send globalisation messiah reinforces the idea that developing nations are not benefiting from it.

More so, according to economists, the main cause of poverty and underdevelopment in Africa is the disturbance of the economic systems of these countries by western countries and their related institutions.

Furthermore, scholars from all continents emphasise the role of capitalism and globalisation, as causes of increasing income inequality. They believe that even though slavery and colonialism are over, the system of slavery is still as alive as before and it is wrapped in globalisation.

Systems set up during colonial times in most African countries have not helped steer the continent out of poverty and underdevelopment. Instead, they allowed Africa to blindly follow Western ideologies; and they forced Africans to be selfish.

Instead of being Africa’s best friend, globalisation has become a threat to the poor.

To add to Africa’s anger, the concept of absolute freedom that underlies the rationale for globalisation is the same notion used to justify slavery and colonisation. The concept is anchored on the belief that the strong should be free to exercise their strength without moral or legal limitations that protect the weak.

What an insult?

Collence Chisita, a Harare-based researcher, believes the negative side of globalisation is that it is advancing Western ideals that are of no benefit to the transformation of Africa and her citizenry.

“Without doubt, globalisation is advancing the Western ideals and this makes it another form of mental slavery where a sort of cultural imperialism seeks to enslave the mind of the poor,” he said.

Because of this, most Africans are suffering colonial hangover and as a result the West is benefiting immensely as the colonised mind has nothing to offer but to depend on the colonial master as the only thinking man.

Social ills that are affecting Africa are due to globalisation.

Although Lum Yi Mei, a blogger, said globalisation is not the entire cause of social ills in societies, he acknowledged that globalisation caused such problems to surface up.

He puts it thus: “Globalisation is not the entire cause of social ills. Problems already existed in societies which at times can occur subtly such as crime and inequality. But with globalisation, it caused such problems to surface up in increasing numbers.”

Mei added: “There is a saying that goes: there are two sides to a coin. Likewise, when it comes to globalisation, there are also two sides to it.”

My sincere apologies. I concentrated on the ills of globalisation because the world is being fooled into believing that with globalisation, all our problems are solved.

Was it not former South Africa president, Nelson Mandela, who said, “Where globalisation means, as it so often does, that the rich and powerful now have new means to further enrich and empower themselves at the cost of the poorer and weaker, we have a responsibility to protest in the name of universal freedom.”