[Previous entry: "Al-Zarqawi Blamed for Spike in Iraq Deaths"] [Next entry: "The OTHER ' Memos' from Downing Street and Pennsylvania Avenue"]

06/16/2005:

"Bloodsuckers' Summit"

by John Hilary
British trade officials admit that the 'development agenda' has little relevance to their real work. Responding to a strong steer from lobby groups such as the Confederation of British Industry, the driving impulse is to achieve new market access for British business through the increased liberalisation of the manufacturing, industrial and services sectors of the developing world. The UK has by its own admission been at the forefront of the campaign to open up developing country markets in these sectors. The Labour Party's manifesto statement that "We do not believe poor countries should be forced to liberalise" rings hollow in the face of this reality.

The UK is by no means alone in dancing to a corporate tune. All other G8 countries base their policies on the wishes of their corporate lobby groups, many of which also band together in international federations such as the TransAtlantic Business Dialogue and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), not to mention regional groupings such as the European Services Forum and UNICE, the EU employers' federation. In addition to their regular lobbying of G8 country representatives, the ICC has the special privilege of making a formal presentation to every G8 summit. Lest there be any doubt, it has identified the WTO trade negotiations as its top priority for the coming year.

The G8's paramount concern is control of the global economy for the benefit of its corporate sponsors. This control is maintained on a day-to-day basis through the institutions listed above, but ultimately it rests on military domination and the demonisation of opposition forces. The so-called 'war against terror' was explicitly linked to the G8's economic agenda following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, when delegates attending the WTO's Doha Ministerial Conference were told that opposition to a new round of trade liberalisation would be interpreted as support for terrorism. The security cordon thrown round Gleneagles is no more than a symbol of the military power which sustains the capitalist adventure worldwide.
Full: counterpunch.org

Replies: 2 Comments

Friday, June 17th, behind the veil posted:

"Yet G8 summits fulfil an additional function over and above these more technical discussions. As well as allowing the world's most powerful leaders to forge personal ties and develop trust amongst themselves, the summits provide a forum for agreeing on the grand designs which will guide world politics into the future.

More than anything, however, the G8 retains a particular attraction for the major powers since it is a private members' club which sets its own rules. The discussions take place in secret, immune from considerations of transparency or accountability. Attendance is by invitation only, untroubled by suggestions of democracy or broader representation. The G8 is an unapologetic statement of pure power."

* so this statement in itself shows that democracy is at best a front - because the real decisions are made by this club.

Friday, June 17th, nwo posted:

"All other G8 countries base their policies on the wishes of their corporate lobby groups, many of which also band together in international federations"

* sounds like a conspiracy of secret, private interests. nah - couldn't be . . .

novus ordo seclorum