Globalization
Worksheet 7
Worksheet 7
Anti-Globalization
p.1
Anti-Globalization
Source A
In 1999, French peasant José Bové, also known as ‘Peasant Robin Hood’,
with nine people under his leadership and using farming tools, pulled down a
McDonald’s under construction in southern France. He said that the World
Trade Organization and multinational companies were telling people what to
eat. He believed that the French people would not agree to this kind of
development. Now he has become an ‘anti-globalization’ activist.
1.
Why did José Bové lead people to pull down a McDonald’s that was being
constructed?
Suggested answers: He believed that McDonald’s was a symbol of
multinational companies that brought in foreign cultures, such as food and
drink. Therefore he attacked McDonald’s.
2.
Do you agree with his way of expressing opinions? Why?
Free answers.
Globalization and Anti-Globalization
Source B
Arguments for Globalization

International trade improves the life quality globally, promotes exchanges and
information flow among different societies and cultures, and accelerates the
breakdown of autocratic regimes.

Advanced information technology helps developing regions acquire Western
advanced technology and management expertise. The domestic economy of
Globalization
Worksheet 7
Anti-Globalization
p.2
developing countries will benefit from foreign trade.

The investment and business development of multinational enterprises will
create job opportunities and provide capital for developing countries.

Essential economic data reveal that globalization does not necessarily bring
about income inequality. The problem of polarization of the poor and the rich
cannot be considered serious in countries with higher levels of globalization,
such as Poland, Israel and Hungary, whereas the same problem is more acute in
countries with lower levels of globalization, such as Russia, China and
Argentina.
Arguments Against Globalization

Globalization facilitates the growth of multinational enterprises and
subsequently various unfair phenomena would arise. For example, workers in
developing countries work in factories with poor wages and working
conditions set up by multinational enterprises and are deprived of labour rights.
At the other end, labours in developed countries are worried about losing their
jobs anytime if their companies move their production lines to developing
countries with lower labour costs.

Multinational enterprises are accused of being indifferent to environmental
protection issues, as they carry out large-scale resource exploitation in
developing countries, causing serious damage to their environment.

Multinational enterprises monopolize resources. As a result, poor people are
unable to break away from their poverty. Therefore, anti-globalization activists
advocate that Western drug manufacturers lower the price of AIDS medicines
so as to benefit patients in poor African countries.

International media networks exist almost everywhere, and local cultures and
identities are gradually fading out. Take France for example, about 70% of the
population watch Hollywood movies, hurting French cinema.

Intellectual property rights under globalization inhibit the spread and
development of knowledge.

In terms of international trade, Western countries are sacrificing the interests of
developing countries. In the past ten years, the income of the world’s poorest
has dropped from 2.3% of the entire world income to 1.4%.
Source: Hong Kong Economic Times, 21 July 2001.
Globalization
Worksheet 7
Anti-Globalization
p.3
Role Play
Divide students into groups. After going through Source B, assign one of the
following roles to each student. After discussion, the students will take part in a
summit conference titled ‘Is Globalization Good or Bad?’. Students are to express
their views from the perspectives of their assigned roles.
Representative
from a local NGO
Person who loves Chinese
traditional culture
President of a
multinational
company
American elite from the
information technology sector
Peasant of a South American
country
Famous Hollywood
movie director
Environmentalist