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Resisting Globalization: Resisting Globalization: Action & CritiqueAction & Critique

Peter Evans (Ch. 54), International Peter Evans (Ch. 54), International Forum on Globalization (Ch. 60), Forum on Globalization (Ch. 60), Charles Tilly, Paul Mason, Naomi Charles Tilly, Paul Mason, Naomi

Klein, The Yes MenKlein, The Yes Men

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GL, as it exists, is actually GL, as it exists, is actually “neoliberal GL or “corporate GL”“neoliberal GL or “corporate GL”

Evans (Ch. 54) argues that when people Evans (Ch. 54) argues that when people invoke GL, they usually mean the invoke GL, they usually mean the prevailing system of transnational prevailing system of transnational domination – or hegemony – which is domination – or hegemony – which is more accurately called "neoliberal more accurately called "neoliberal globalization“ or "corporate globalization"globalization“ or "corporate globalization"

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Implicit in discourse is idea that GL is Implicit in discourse is idea that GL is "natural," inevitable, beyond our control"natural," inevitable, beyond our control

GL-as-juggernaut discourse is GL-as-juggernaut discourse is hegemonichegemonic such discourse enables deregulation, privatization, such discourse enables deregulation, privatization,

gov’t downsizing gov’t downsizing

hegemonyhegemony: domination, influence, or authority : domination, influence, or authority over another, especially one political group over over another, especially one political group over a society or by nation over othersa society or by nation over others when a discourse is hegemonic it conforms to the when a discourse is hegemonic it conforms to the

dominant ideology, which justifies the status quodominant ideology, which justifies the status quo

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counterhegemonic globalization counterhegemonic globalization

counterhegemonic globalizationcounterhegemonic globalization (CHG)(CHG) challenges the prevailing system of challenges the prevailing system of transnational domination – and the transnational domination – and the ideologies that justify itideologies that justify it

Hegemonic ideological propositions are Hegemonic ideological propositions are not simply instruments of domination, but not simply instruments of domination, but also a toolkit that can be used for also a toolkit that can be used for subversive endssubversive ends

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Activists involved in Activists involved in CHGCHG make up make up the "global justice movement"the "global justice movement"

global justice movementglobal justice movement is part of is part of global civil global civil societysociety, but a more critical part that uses less , but a more critical part that uses less conventional, more innovative strategies & tacticsconventional, more innovative strategies & tactics ultimate objective is “justice,” on a global scale ultimate objective is “justice,” on a global scale

reject GDP (nat’l or global) as measure of social well-being reject GDP (nat’l or global) as measure of social well-being

Formally organized movement participants work Formally organized movement participants work through transnational through transnational NGOsNGOs,, often linked together often linked together in in transnational advocacy networkstransnational advocacy networks

Protests at the 1999 WTO mtg in Seattle & ongoing Protests at the 1999 WTO mtg in Seattle & ongoing World Social ForumWorld Social Forum are key events in the movement are key events in the movement

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World Economic Forum vs World Economic Forum vs World Social ForumWorld Social Forum

World Social ForumWorld Social Forum: meeting of : meeting of transnational social activists, especially transnational social activists, especially from the global south, organized as a from the global south, organized as a "counter-meeting" to the "counter-meeting" to the World Economic World Economic ForumForum (annual gathering of leaders in business (annual gathering of leaders in business

and politics held in Davos, Switzerland)and politics held in Davos, Switzerland)

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non-routine resistancenon-routine resistance

contentious politicscontentious politics: interactions in which : interactions in which actors make claims that bear on s/o else’s actors make claims that bear on s/o else’s interests, leading to coordinating efforts on interests, leading to coordinating efforts on behalf of shared interests or programs, behalf of shared interests or programs, which involve gov’ts, as targets, the which involve gov’ts, as targets, the objects of claims, or 3rd partiesobjects of claims, or 3rd parties takes nonviolent or lethal forms takes nonviolent or lethal forms

e.g., social movements or terrorist groups)e.g., social movements or terrorist groups)

(Tilly & Tarrow, 2007, p. 202)(Tilly & Tarrow, 2007, p. 202)

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Terrorists? Terrorism?Terrorists? Terrorism?

WikiLeaks/Julian Assange

Anonymous, hacktivist network

Anwar al-Awlaki, US-born Islamic lecturer who is said to have inspired anti-Western terrorism in his online sermons; Al-Awlaki's “targeted killing” has been approved by President Obama, with the consent of the US National Security Council, making him the first US citizen ever placed on the CIA target list.

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Terrorism is a political strategy, Terrorism is a political strategy, not a creed not a creed

““We can reasonably define that strategy We can reasonably define that strategy as as asymmetrical deployment of threats asymmetrical deployment of threats and violence against enemies using and violence against enemies using means that fall outside the forms of means that fall outside the forms of political struggle routinely operating within political struggle routinely operating within some current regime”some current regime”(Tilly(Tilly, “Terror, Terrorism, Terrorists,” 2002)

, ,

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A great variety of individuals & A great variety of individuals & groups engage in terrorgroups engage in terror

A great variety of individuals/groups engage in terror, thus defined, A great variety of individuals/groups engage in terror, thus defined, from time to time, most often alternating terror with other political from time to time, most often alternating terror with other political strategies or with political inactionstrategies or with political inaction

Groups and networks specializing in terror and no other forms of Groups and networks specializing in terror and no other forms of political action do sometimes form, but they typically remain political action do sometimes form, but they typically remain unstable and ephemeralunstable and ephemeral

Most groups and networks that engage in terror overlap extensively Most groups and networks that engage in terror overlap extensively with gov’t-employed and gov’t-backed specialists in coercion – with gov’t-employed and gov’t-backed specialists in coercion – armies, police, militias, paramilitaries, and the likearmies, police, militias, paramilitaries, and the like

Even when they organize in opposition to existing gov’ts, specialists Even when they organize in opposition to existing gov’ts, specialists in coercion typically adopt forms of organization, external in coercion typically adopt forms of organization, external connections, and sources of supply resembling those of gov’t-connections, and sources of supply resembling those of gov’t-employed specialistsemployed specialists

Most uses of terror actually occur as complements or by-products of Most uses of terror actually occur as complements or by-products of struggles in which participants – often including the so-called struggles in which participants – often including the so-called terrorists – are simultaneously or successively engaging in other terrorists – are simultaneously or successively engaging in other more routine varieties of political claim makingmore routine varieties of political claim making

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What’s new about the recent global What’s new about the recent global cycle of protest?cycle of protest?

Paul Mason identifies 3 new features:Paul Mason identifies 3 new features: DemographicsDemographics

““youth bulge,” “graduates without a future”youth bulge,” “graduates without a future”

TechnologyTechnologynetworked, non- or anti-hierarchical networked, non- or anti-hierarchical

BehaviorBehavior crowd-driven, decentralized, ‘do-it-yourself’crowd-driven, decentralized, ‘do-it-yourself’e.g., DDOS e.g., DDOS

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innovative forms of political activisminnovative forms of political activism

mobilization via social mediamobilization via social media e.g., “citizen journalism,” informing public about e.g., “citizen journalism,” informing public about

injustice, coordinating resistance via Facebook, injustice, coordinating resistance via Facebook, YouTube, twitterYouTube, twitter

media activism media activism watchdog groups; alternative mediawatchdog groups; alternative media

anticorporate activism such as “culture jamming” anticorporate activism such as “culture jamming” & “brand bombing”& “brand bombing”

hacktivismhacktivism whistle-blowing (using new, hi-tech tactics)whistle-blowing (using new, hi-tech tactics)

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hacktivismhacktivism

hacktivismhacktivism: the nonviolent use of illegal or legally : the nonviolent use of illegal or legally ambiguous digital tools in pursuit of political ends ambiguous digital tools in pursuit of political ends promoting a political agenda by hacking, especially by defacing promoting a political agenda by hacking, especially by defacing

or disabling websitesor disabling websites hacktivists use the same tools and techniques as hackers, but hacktivists use the same tools and techniques as hackers, but

do so in order to disrupt services and bring attention to a political do so in order to disrupt services and bring attention to a political or social cause or social cause

e.g., “Anonymous,” which employs DDoS attackse.g., “Anonymous,” which employs DDoS attacks distributed denial-of-service distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack: attempt to make a (DDoS) attack: attempt to make a

computer resource unavailable to its intended users. Although the computer resource unavailable to its intended users. Although the means to carry out, motives for, and targets of a DDoS attack may means to carry out, motives for, and targets of a DDoS attack may vary, it generally consists of the concerted efforts of individuals to vary, it generally consists of the concerted efforts of individuals to prevent an internet site or service from functioning efficiently or at prevent an internet site or service from functioning efficiently or at all, temporarily or indefinitely. all, temporarily or indefinitely.

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whistle-blowingwhistle-blowing

whistle-blowerwhistle-blower:: a person who tells the public or a person who tells the public or s/o in authority about alleged dishonest or illegal s/o in authority about alleged dishonest or illegal activities occurring in an organization (gov’t activities occurring in an organization (gov’t agency, public or private organization, or a agency, public or private organization, or a company)company) alleged misconduct may be classified as a violation of alleged misconduct may be classified as a violation of

a law, rule, regulation and/or a direct threat to public a law, rule, regulation and/or a direct threat to public interest, such as fraud, health/safety violations, and interest, such as fraud, health/safety violations, and corruption corruption

e.g., Daniel Ellsberg, who e.g., Daniel Ellsberg, who leakedleaked the Pentagon the Pentagon Papers; some consider PFC Bradley Manning, an Papers; some consider PFC Bradley Manning, an alleged alleged leakerleaker, and WikiLeaks whistle-blowers , and WikiLeaks whistle-blowers

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Resisting the “commodification Resisting the “commodification of the commons”of the commons”

commodification of the commons:commodification of the commons: is the process is the process of privatizing, monopolizing, and commodifying of privatizing, monopolizing, and commodifying common heritage resources and turning public common heritage resources and turning public services into corporate profit centers and the services into corporate profit centers and the promotion of this process within global trade promotion of this process within global trade agreements (Ch. 60)agreements (Ch. 60)(“A Better World is Possible!” International Forum on Globalization, (“A Better World is Possible!” International Forum on Globalization, Ch. 60, pp. 482-493 (Excerpted from IFG, A Better World is Ch. 60, pp. 482-493 (Excerpted from IFG, A Better World is Possible!, report summary, 2002)Possible!, report summary, 2002)

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culture jammingculture jamming

culture jammingculture jamming: the practice of parodying : the practice of parodying advertisements and hijacking billboards in advertisements and hijacking billboards in order to drastically alter their messagesorder to drastically alter their messages The Yes MenThe Yes Men are culture jamming activists are culture jamming activists Even old-fashioned “jamming” was a Even old-fashioned “jamming” was a

contentious political act: to interfere with or contentious political act: to interfere with or prevent the reception of radio signalsprevent the reception of radio signals e.g. "Jam the Voice of America"; "block the signals e.g. "Jam the Voice of America"; "block the signals

emitted by this station" emitted by this station"

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Brands add value, but depend on image Brands add value, but depend on image and reputation for success – making and reputation for success – making

brands vulnerable to “brand bombingbrands vulnerable to “brand bombing””

Consider this satirical take on Consider this satirical take on MasterCard’s promo line circulating on MasterCard’s promo line circulating on Twitter and other social networking sites Twitter and other social networking sites after MC stopped processing transactions after MC stopped processing transactions for WikiLeaks:for WikiLeaks: ““Freedom of speech? Priceless. For Freedom of speech? Priceless. For

everything else, there’s MasterCard”everything else, there’s MasterCard”

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Naomi Klein on Naomi Klein on Brands vs ProductsBrands vs Products

Brands are products, plus the “added value” of Brands are products, plus the “added value” of ‘identity,” the idea or story behind the brand‘identity,” the idea or story behind the brand

Brands sell a kind of “pseudo-spirituality,” a Brands sell a kind of “pseudo-spirituality,” a sense of belonging, even community sense of belonging, even community This fills a gap that citizens, not just consumers, used This fills a gap that citizens, not just consumers, used

to get elsewhere, whether from religion, or genuine to get elsewhere, whether from religion, or genuine community involvementcommunity involvement

Behind these brand meanings is “a privatized concept Behind these brand meanings is “a privatized concept of what used to be public”of what used to be public”

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CHG from the Yes Men -- CHG from the Yes Men -- demanding justice for Bhopal victimsdemanding justice for Bhopal victims Bhopal catastropheBhopal catastrophe: known as the world’s worst : known as the world’s worst

industrial disaster industrial disaster In December 1984, the Union Carbide pesticide plant In December 1984, the Union Carbide pesticide plant

in Bhopal began leaking gas & other chemicals that in Bhopal began leaking gas & other chemicals that harmed hundreds of thousands of ppl harmed hundreds of thousands of ppl

Estimated death tolls vary; a government affidavit in Estimated death tolls vary; a government affidavit in 2006 stated the leak caused 558,125 injuries 2006 stated the leak caused 558,125 injuries including 38,478 temporary partial and approximately including 38,478 temporary partial and approximately 3,900 severely and permanently disabling injuries3,900 severely and permanently disabling injuries

Civil and criminal cases are pendingCivil and criminal cases are pending Dow purchased the plant in 2001, and claimed Dow purchased the plant in 2001, and claimed

they inherited no liabilities they inherited no liabilities

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The Yes Men Dow hoaxThe Yes Men Dow hoax

The Yes Men claimed that dealing with the The Yes Men claimed that dealing with the consequences of the accident consequences of the accident waswas Dow’s Dow’s responsibilityresponsibility

On the 20th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster, On the 20th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster, a Yes Men member posing as "Dow a Yes Men member posing as "Dow representative" "Jude Finisterra," went on BBC representative" "Jude Finisterra," went on BBC World TV to announce that the company was World TV to announce that the company was finally going to compensate the victims and finally going to compensate the victims and clean up the mess in Bhopalclean up the mess in Bhopal

The story shot around the world, and by the time The story shot around the world, and by the time the original story was discredited, Dow's stock the original story was discredited, Dow's stock had declined in value by $2 billionhad declined in value by $2 billion

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US UncutUS Uncut

US UncutUS Uncut is a grassroots movement taking is a grassroots movement taking direct actiondirect action against corporate “tax cheats” against corporate “tax cheats” and unnecessary and unfair public service and unnecessary and unfair public service cuts across the UScuts across the US Modeled on UK Uncut, which has been Modeled on UK Uncut, which has been

protesting against austerity in Great Britainprotesting against austerity in Great Britain Recently teamed up w/ the Yes Men to Recently teamed up w/ the Yes Men to

expose “tax dodging” by GEexpose “tax dodging” by GE