Crimes Of Globalization

    There is absolutely no question that globalization has promoted crime throughout the world. What are crimes of globalization? Crimes of globalization are crimes that have happened as a result of globalization such as human trafficking, illicit markets, state-corporate crimes and crimes against humanity. The World Bank and IMF are financial institutions that have played a key role in perpetrating global crime. As our world becomes increasingly connected, so does the need for global governance and because of this, these financial groups become stronger, putting the more affluent countries in power.

   Within the IMF and the World Bank, it is clear that more developed nations dominate decision-making as voting power is determined by the amount of money that each country contributes. The disproportionate amount of power, held by more affluent countries means that the interests of corporations from industrialized countries will be put above the needs of the poorer, developing nations; ironically the countries that need the most help. For example, one of the critical aspects of the IMF and World Bank that only seem to promote global crime and deception, are SAPs. The SAPs are loans provided by the IMF and World Bank to countries experiencing economic crises; the impact of SAPs was extremely detrimental on the Philippines. As a result, the Philippines gives almost half of its’ revenue towards debt repayment instead of being invested in a project that would benefit their economy; their corrupt leaders also pocketed some of the money. Overall, there have been massive cuts made within the country, specifically regarding education, food, shelter, and health, all of which are vital to the preservation of their citizens, most of whom now live in poverty. The impact that the IMF and World Bank had on the Philippines can be categorized as one of the crimes of Globalization: Crimes against humanity.

   Globalization has also provided corporations with more consumers, now that their business has “gone global,” and because of this, there has become more competition. One of the most important rules of business is to “maximize profits, and minimize costs”; how is this achieved? Find cheap labor. While globalization has created multinational leaders, we have failed to develop international labor laws and because of these corporations like Walmart have moved their manufacturers to nations with less strict (or no) labor laws. Many consumers would be horrified to know that Walmart exposes their workers to slave-like conditions, paying them the least they possibly could in inhumane conditions. On a similar note, globalization has promoted illicit markets for drugs, antiquities and sadly, humans. Human trafficking and forced labor have been being a sad outcome of globalization. Walmart is an example of one of the crimes of globalization: Corporate crime. These markets have to be run by someone or some group, and it would be absurd to suggest that global leaders are unaware of these markets and have no power to stop them. This is where organized crime comes in; Organized crimes are being planned and controlled by these powerful transitional groups. What is unfortunate, is that too often, states are involved in these illicit markets, or at least have done nothing to stop them. For example, during the fall of the Soviet Union, there became a surplus of guns and weaponry. Rather than nations coming together to dispose of these items, there became a market where a lot of the suppliers were state leaders. This could be categorized as a state crime, yet another crime of globalization.