From the article, "Globalisation, a political and not simply an economic question", the writer feels that globalisation is a product of human society and that it is motivated by specific ideologies, interests and institutions and that it has no a prior or inevitable existence independent of the structures humankind has put in place. The writer also states that globalisation could affect human and political rights of someone, as well as economic, social and cultural rights. By this statement, it can be seen that the countries affected by this have lost some of their state sovereignty as the people within their borders are not protected as they should have been. The countries have allowed globalisation to 'change' and 'control' the rights of their people! As these countries have no control over globalisation, they have lost some of their state sovereignty.
Two people seem to have challenged some International Organisations (IO) about their laws about globalisation which affects human rights. Mr Joseph Oloka-Onyango stated various issues of concern, some of which are, "the abuse of IPRs to violate human rights, and pressures applied and negative impacts on developing countries, as well as balancing individual rights with communal rights, questions about IPRs and monopoly control, and its implications for farmers, for persons and right to health and access to life-saving drugs, pricing drugs out of range of access for persons in developing countries". Also, these two people have questioned the WTO's lack of transparency and its New Poverty Agenda. As it can be seen, because of globalisation, people have started to challenge the laws (whether imperfect or not) of IOs when it seems that human rights (among other rights) can be threatened. This will lead to deteriorating relations between the IOs and the people who challenge them, or rather, the country from where ever the 'challenger' comes from. As such, discord will be sown between the countries and IOs. This may result in disputes and disharmony all over the world!
Therefore, the writer believes that globalisation requires "continuing scrutiny and attention by the international community, and the main concern must be with the dichotomies that globalization has produced or enhanced, and the way they relate to the overall promotion and protection of human rights". Ergo, only when IOs are more transparent about their 'dealings' (e.g. finance and policies) and when these policies do not implicate anyone (human rights!) then the world will be able to live more harmoniously during the 'onslaught' of globalisation!
-mused by Chuang Ying Xuan, Political ExpertLabels: Globalisation and Politics
