Opening Speech at the Eleventh Forum of the World Association for Political Economy

Abstract

June 16, 2016Dear Mr. President Jaspal Singh and members of the Indian Political Economy Association, Dear Mr. President Cheng Enfu and members of the World Association for Political Economy (WAPE), Distinguished guests,It is a great pleasure, I am sure, for all of us, to gather at this very important country, INDIA, in this very famous Punjabi University at Patiala, for discussing and debating about Globalization, Employment and Agriculture.But first, on behalf of the Indian Political Economy Association and of the WAPE, let me say our sincere welcome to the scholars and experts from more than 13 countries around the world who are going to attend this forum. I would like also to express our deep gratitude to the leaders, scholars, and staff members at the Punjabi University of Patiala, who co-host this forum.After these words, which are not only the words of politeness but the words of friendship, I would like to say some words concerning our coming debate.Be sure I am not going to start a forum inside this forum. I would simply like, after the words of politeness and the words of friendship, to tell you the words of fight. Because, whatever deeply and sincerely peaceful we are, we, intellectuals, scholars, researchers, deans, professors, teachers, students, also have to fight with our appropriate weapons.Let me talk and ask some few questions about the three following points: (1) Agriculture and globalization; (2) Employment, working conditions and globalization; (3) Nation and globalization.1. Agriculture and GlobalizationWe are used to thinking of agriculture as if it were a very special activity compared with industry and services.Of course, there are differences between agriculture and industry. But in reality, agriculture, which is more and more penetrated by industry, is not so different.Through the huge quantities of problems affecting agriculture, we can observe the dual meaning of globalization today.A. The first meaning is that globalization is a capitalist process, more and more critical.On one side, globalization is a capitalist mature process, going on within the frame of what we name Imperialism, since Hobson and Lenin.Agriculture is a part of this process. We can observe three points which make this activity a part of the present global crisis.a. The very large volatility of prices, especially since 2006. As you know, the present crisis started officially in 2007-2008.b. Anticipations relative to the evolution of demand of food products. Food should bring high opportunities of high profits for multinational firms.c. The tendency of reducing State intervention for the solution of agricultural problems, especially in Europe.B. But there is a second meaning of globalization. More and more countries are developing and want to be full members of the world life.Countries which still recently, were industrially underdeveloped are going to be more and more developed and want to be a part of the world.With this meaning, globalization of agriculture means that people want to eat as much as they need and want to eat good stuff.According to this new and revolutionary situation, there is a fight between those who wants to develop free markets for food and those who say that it is necessary to organize production and distribution of food.The first ones say that global markets are going to be the best way for every people to get the necessary food. They marketize food security. In reality they want to develop free markets for high profits.On the contrary, there are countries (United States included, which is apparently surprising) that are wanting to organize and regulate food security on their territory, with the help of their State.How to organize food security at a global scale, in the dual context of globalization? I guess this question will be one of the most important in this forum. …