Development and Globalisation

Daring to Think Differently

Yash Tandon

Development is self-defined. It is primarily the responsibility of the South to develop itself; the North does not owe it to the South to develop it, nor should the South expect it. Development is about building confidence between governments and people, and not building confidence with the banks and global financial institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF, which is what globalization has been for over the last three decades.

This book challenges the misdirected policies of the last 30 years. It offers alternative concepts and paradigms of development for policy makers and peoples’ movements on wide-ranging issues. It invites readers to ‘dare to think differently’

Contents

Foreword – Benjamin W. Mkapa, President of Tanzania 1995-2005
Part I: Imperatives of Paradigm Shift

1 Rethinking the Development Paradigm
Introduction
Neoliberal Obscurantism and Its Ill-fated Children
The Global Financial Meltdown and Lessons for the South
Time for a New Bretton Woods Conference
Ecuador’s Proposal on the Financial Crisis
The Decoupling Imperative
Banco del Sur – Another Step Towards Decoupling
A New Geopolitical Double Paradox Stalks the World
The Non-Aligned Movement and the Collapse of the Doha Round

2 Restructuring Global Governance
Introduction
Good Governance, Colonial Guilt and Contemporary Challenges
The G8 Has No Legitimacy; It Should Dissolve Itself
UNCTAD XII: Negotiating Diplomatic Truths
Why Strengthening UNCTAD Is Also in the Interest of the North
South Expectations of the Development Cooperation Forum
A Case for Radical Reform of the World Trade Organisation
A Perspective on the American Presidential Elections
The Role of Civil Society in National Space

Part II: Some Specific Issues

3 Industrialisation, Technology, Innovation and Intellectual Property
Introduction
Putting Production over Trade and Finance
Rising to the Challenge of Innovation
WIPO, WCO, Intellectual Property and Border Guards

4 Climate, Energy and the Food Challenge
Introduction
Open Versus Closed Energy Systems and Climate Change
Bali Must Put Development Squarely on the Climate Change Regime
Why Is a Proper Analysis of the Current Food Crisis so Important
Global Food Crisis: Alternatives to the Green Revolution

5 Putting Trade into Perspective
Introduction
Some Home Truths About Current Negotiations on Agriculture at WTO
A Paradox of Trade and Development
EPAs Will Benefit Europe to the Cost of Both ACP and Latin American Countries
Reflections on UNCTAD XII

6 Ending Aid Dependence
Introduction
Development Dialogue with Donors
Ending Aid Dependence: Conceptual Traps of an Outdated Aid Vocabulary
Assessing the Accra Action Agenda
Beyond the Paris Declaration by Benjamin W. Mkapa, President of Tanzania (1995–2005)

7 The Palestine–Israel Question
Introduction
The Palestine–Israel Question
There Is Another Way Out of the Present Dilemma

Part III: Role of the South Centre: Recalling Nyerere
8 The South Centre, Its Promises and Challenges: Some Year End Reflections

About the Author

Yash Tandon is a senior advisor and writer for the South Centre, Geneva, an intergovernmental think-tank of the developing countries of which he was previously the executive director.