Globalisation

Quotations

Here you can see a range of quotations from people who are (or were) mostly active in the fields of economics and politics.

Read through the individual quotations and then answer the questions below.

„Our economic model is based on the dogmas of profit maximisation, competition and unlimited growth. More than a billion people are hungry, environmental damage and climate change are increasing rapidly, the gap between rich and poor is growing and genuine democratic decision making is a rarity. Financial crises and austerity measures, locational competition and increasing joblessness, growing company profits and falling wages affect every person in real terms.“ Attac Österreich

„We know: Globalisation offers great opportunities, opportunities for growth, for work, for wealth and for freedom for all countries. More than that: It offers far more opportunities than risks. We must recognize these opportunities and we must make use of them. Germany itself has, as an export country, benefitted greatly from the freedom of globalisation. Last but not least, globalisation and free trade create great opportunities for the developing countries. In many of these countries, not least in Africa, growth has increased dramatically in recent years.“ Merkel, Angela, German Chancellor

„Recognizing global relationships is one thing, learning from them divides interests.“ Walden, Raymond, Cosmopolitan, pacifist and author

„…for our organisation the unhindered movement of goods, services, investments and people across borders is essential. This requires a strong and active WTO which improves access to markets, combats the right of the mighty and reduces discriminatory measures…“
Verband Schweizer Unternehmen (Union of Swiss Companies)

„Inequality in incomes is the most serious problem with globalization. It seems terribly unfair that in a world of richness and plenty, so many should live in such poverty.“
Stiglitz, Josef, Nobel prize winner for economics

„There is no reason to fight globalisation in and of itself: If it was designed to serve the interests of humanity, one would have to view it as progress.“
Chomsky, Noam, American social scientist

„For the same wages as a German engineer, I can have six Chinese engineers. However, whereas the German works 1600 hours per year, the Chinese work 2000 hours each.“
Pierer, Heinrich von, German manager (Siemens AG)

„Globalisation has brought us closer together in the sense that we are all affected by the actions of others, but not in the sense that we all share the benefits or the burdens. Instead we have allowed them to separate us ever-further from one another in that they increase the differences in wealth and power between societies as well as within them.”
Annan, Kofi, UN-General Secretary

„Global warming, which you are causing, is an act of aggression against us!“
Museveni, Yowerie, President of Uganda

“Although I am for globalisation, I thank God for the anti-globalisation movement.”
Sen, Amartya, Nobel prize winner for economics

„We all want to fly to Malle for 19 euros. We want to have a DVD player for 39.95 – one must understand, those are the advantages of globalisation.“
Steinbrück, Peer, former German finance minister