Columns:: Worth Repeating

since 12/15/98

Columns::March 11, 2002

Worth repeating

The roundtable discussion “The Economic Globalization of Europe” was one session of the “Globalization and Change in Europe” symposium last month. The discussion was moderated by Markus Crepaz of UGA, and included Beverly Crawford of the University of California, Berkeley, Paulette Kurzer of the University of Arizona and Herman Schwartz of the University of Virginia. Some of their conclusions:
On globalization:
“Globalization is fundamentally about identities. . . . integration is about making markets. Globalization is a new term, not a new process. Once it was called interdependence, or global integration of something or another.”
On European integration:
“Globalization can mean McDonald’s and Coca-Cola, the influence of Hollywood, or influences on policy making. Once we start analyzing in different contexts, then we may be better off defining globalization differently. [Another] implicit assumption of globalization is convergence--the disappearance and dilution of national identities. Anecdotally, there are very few traces of globalization; however, integration is clearly seen in national identities.”
On the possible social effects of European integration--two possibilities:
“We will see over time a dismantling of the welfare state. The [necessary] amount of integration couldn’t happen with the welfare state because . . . workers were protected and kept safe from globalization. As we see the welfare state being dismantled, this is going to affect the growth of integration.”
“The welfare state and integration can co-exist. The figures show that there has been little dismantling. This is due to the fact many voters are beneficiaries of the welfare state.”

--Ana M. Florez

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