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Alter-Globalization: Jasmine Ali Prof. Kevin Surprise 12/7/2017
Alter-Globalization: Jasmine Ali Prof. Kevin Surprise 12/7/2017
Alter-Globalization: Jasmine Ali Prof. Kevin Surprise 12/7/2017
The ‘alter-globalization’ is a global movement against neoliberal globalisation, it is made
up of actors from diverse backgrounds and with different reasons for engaging in it.
A main source of inspiration is the Mexican Zapatista movement, which seeks to
implement long-term cultural and social transformation by creating new forms of
agreements, and by creating autonomy and dignity for its members. The claim made by
the activists was that a small transnational political elite are responsible for imposing
market forces on a global scale with the justification of a neoliberal ideology. The
economies by neoliberal globalization was not serving the people, but the people were
The protestors also brought attention to and demanded reforms to global inequalities in
health, opportunity and wealth, the lack of individual human rights, the pollution and use
of the earth’s resources; and decline of people’s participation nationally and
internationally. The language often used to describe the protesters inappropriately
portrays them as a single movement, and one that is inherently antiglobal governance.
A more accurate description of the protesters, as seen at Seattle, acknowledges the
many diverse social movements, civil society groups and NGOs that were present from
all over the world. Within this plethora of groups a distinction can then be drawn
between those that reject global institutions and policies, and those that assert a
positive and constructive attitude to the integration of the world. The latter can be
described as the ‘alter-globalization movement’ because it demands a reform of the
global system so that the values of democracy, economic justice, environmental
protection and human rights take precedence over dogmatic economic theory. Although
these movements are uncoordinated, they all share a mission for global integration and
a call for a shared identity among these groups, to help reinforce this project.
An important of global justice activists is the aspect of “unity in diversity”, as it points out
to those involved globally that although all aim for a similar vision, their differences are
crucial to the movement’s energy and power. Reforming the existing institutions of
global governance, such as the WTO, to embrace the values of this movement are
activities directed towards the creation of this better world. Together these social
movements and NGOs have engaged in campaigns to place pressure on governments
to alter the agenda and principles of the current world order.
The author, Jackie Smith, suggests that in order for alter-globalisation movements such
as Occupy Wall street, to tackle capitalism and neoliberal globalisation, it must topple
hirerchies and to do so must form alliances with other sectors that are not privileging
from the current order. They must come together to find alternatives, and more
importantly, to engage more people in these social and political reformations.