Re: role of Third World governments

The analogy between "union organizing" and "Third World organizing" is interesting. Apparently, Third World governments who want to organize a kind of "Third World union" face problems which are analogous to problems faced by labour union organizers. (See, excerpts from Sultan Ahmed/ Pakistan, below). When labour activists want to organize a union, they do not only face the wrath of management but also the problem that some workers want a union and others prefer to cooperate and comply with management. The article by Ahmed suggests a similar division among Third World governments. In particular, he mentions various governments who are on a cooptation course (in his opinion) - namely, "East Asian states", members of "ASEAN", Mexico, Brazil, Argentina; or on their separate course of "unionization" - the oil states of the Middle East. However, if one subtracts the above from the total of 134 developing countries, there are still about 100 others plus Russia (which is not formally a member of G77 or the South Summit and has no chance of being coopted by the EU).

 

Gernot Kohler

 

 

Excerpts, re South Summit Apr. 2000 *******************************************

 

                                      [DAWN - the Internet Edition]
                                    [Pakistan's Internet Magazine]
                              20 April 2000    Thursday   14 Muharram 1421

 

                                       Rhetoric & reality in Havana

 

                                             By Sultan Ahmed

 

                              ...snip>

 

                              Collective action on the part of the G-77 is
                              urgent in view of the fast pace of
                              globalization which is hurting the many
                              developing countries not equipped to face
                              sudden and new challenges. . . .

 

     . . .snip>

 

                              The need for unity in the ranks of the
                              G-77 cannot be over-stressed, but the fact
                              remains that the interests of the major
                              members can be very different. To begin with,
                              no country wants to be a member of this group
                              forever. They all want to get rich and join
                              the ranks of the wealthy countries as early
                              as possible. Foremost among them are the East
                              Asian states. . .

 

                              In Latin America, Mexico has joined the North
                              American Free Trade Agreement with the US and
                              Canada. Eighty per cent of Mexican exports go
                              to the US.

 

                              The countries of Asia Pacific are not content
                              with the successful 10-member ASEAN and have
                              joined the US-sponsored APEC (Asian Pacific
                              Economic Community).

 

                              In the Middle East, the rich oil states want
                              to make the OPEC strong and are striving to
                              push up oil prices as they did so
                              spectacularly recently. . . .

 

                              In Latin America, resourceful Brazil and
                              Argentina want to come closer to the US
                              economically rather than identify themselves
                              with the poor countries of Africa or the
                              squabbling states of South Asia. . . .
     ...snip>
end excerpts ********************************************************************