Class war in Morocco-The aftermath of Globalization
Class War in Morocco: the Aftermath of Globalization
“Ideas of globalization are so broad, so diverse and so changeable that it sometimes seems possible to pronounce virtually anything on the subject" (Scholte 427). Indeed the broad concept of globalization is hard to define. However, globalization is known as the free circulation of goods, services and concepts. As Moroccans and citizens of the “third world “globalization has a socio-economical consequence: it increases class war. Before talking about what happened to us --as Moroccans-- after globalization, let’s see how this phenomenon found its way to modern Morocco. Historically speaking, the French colonization brought and imposed the concept of “the modern country” by creating industrial cities and changing the agriculture from a small activity to a business heading toward international marketing. And so we were introduced to free market policies, export-import trade and cross-border commerce. Building the Modern Morocco required opening its gates to international companies. We presented to foreign investors mouth-watering offers with low taxes, cheap manpower and an open market on the developed west. Thus globalization entered the kingdom trough the economical gates. From the cultural point of view, Morocco has hosted several civilizations, which made it culturally rich. Its geographic position and historical background made it a well-known touristic destination. With tourist bringing their cultural identities Morocco became a place of cultural exchange, which will enhance the cross-fertilization of ideas and cultures. No one can deny that Globalization have a positive effect on the economical prosperity of developed countries, but it has more downsides than one might think of for developing and underdeveloped countries. Let’s consider the fact that globalization is a standardization process that aims unifying all cultures in one dominating culture (which is the western culture) and killing any
“Ideas of globalization are so broad, so diverse and so changeable that it sometimes seems possible to pronounce virtually anything on the subject" (Scholte 427). Indeed the broad concept of globalization is hard to define. However, globalization is known as the free circulation of goods, services and concepts. As Moroccans and citizens of the “third world “globalization has a socio-economical consequence: it increases class war. Before talking about what happened to us --as Moroccans-- after globalization, let’s see how this phenomenon found its way to modern Morocco. Historically speaking, the French colonization brought and imposed the concept of “the modern country” by creating industrial cities and changing the agriculture from a small activity to a business heading toward international marketing. And so we were introduced to free market policies, export-import trade and cross-border commerce. Building the Modern Morocco required opening its gates to international companies. We presented to foreign investors mouth-watering offers with low taxes, cheap manpower and an open market on the developed west. Thus globalization entered the kingdom trough the economical gates. From the cultural point of view, Morocco has hosted several civilizations, which made it culturally rich. Its geographic position and historical background made it a well-known touristic destination. With tourist bringing their cultural identities Morocco became a place of cultural exchange, which will enhance the cross-fertilization of ideas and cultures. No one can deny that Globalization have a positive effect on the economical prosperity of developed countries, but it has more downsides than one might think of for developing and underdeveloped countries. Let’s consider the fact that globalization is a standardization process that aims unifying all cultures in one dominating culture (which is the western culture) and killing any
Cited: Lenin Vladimir Ilitch, La grande initiative, Moscow, Pravda, Mai 17th, 1919. Print. McChesney Robert W., Noam Chomsky and the Struggle Against Neoliberalism. www.chomsky.info, Chomsky, April 1st, 1999. Web. November 1st, 2013. Scholte, J. Global Capitalism and the State, International Affairs, 1997. Print.