Globalization and post-modern imperialism

Abstract

This paper explores the changing relations between core and periphery of the world capitalist system under conditions of globalization. Using a Coxian analysis of historical structures, it examines the coherent conjunction between certain material forces of globalization and the emergence of a new moral mandate and institutional form for intervention in the third world. This is identified as post-modern Imperialism. By way of illustration, the paper ends with a brief discourse analysis of the recently revitalized aid agenda for Africa including the commission for Africa Report, the Make Poverty History campaign, and the Live8 concerts.

Notes

1. According to the WTO classification, the service sector covers a wide range of intangible and heterogeneous products and activities such as transport, telecommunication and computer services, construction, financial services, wholesale and retail distribution, hotel and catering, insurance, real estate, health and education, professional, marketing and other business support, government, community, audio-visual, recreational, and domestic services (see WTO, 2003, p. 7).

2. These are very rough calculations. Will Hutton has argued, as others have done, that in the rich countries there is an emerging social structure of 40–30–30%, while the consensus amongst Third World observers is that the proportions there are reversed (see Hutton, 1995, p. 105 ff.).

3. A quote and an estimate from John Reed, one time chairman of Citicorp, the biggest of the American banks (cited in Sampson, 1989, p. 179).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ankie Hoogvelt

Ankie Hoogvelt was formerly Reader at the University of sheffield where she taught development studies for thirty years. She has authored several books on third world development, the most recent being Globalization and the Postcolonial World (Palgrave, 2001, second edition).