The world without Bandung, or for a polycentric system with no hegemony
Samir AMIN
ABSTRACT The first wave of revival of States and nations of Asia and Africa which shaped major changes in the history of humankind organised itself in the Bandung spirit in the frame of countries Non-Aligned on colonialism and neo colonialism, the pattern of globalisation at that time. Now, the same nations, as well as those of Latin America and the Caribbean, are challenged by neo liberal globalisation, which is no less imbalanced by nature. Therefore they must unite to face the challenge successfully as they did in the past. In some countries “sovereign” projects are developed which associate active State policies aiming at constructing systematically a national integrated consistent modern industrial productive system, supported by an aggressive export capacity. Views with respect to the degree, format and eventual regulation of opening to foreign capital and financial flows of all kinds (foreign direct investments, portfolio investments, speculative financial investments) differ from country to country. Policies pursued with respect to the access to land and other natural resources also offer a wide spectrum of different choices and priorities.
KEYWORDS: Sovereign project, Non alignment on globalization, Meaningful development, Neo liberal globalization, Agrarian question
Notes on contributor
Born in Cairo in 1931, Samir Amin obtained his Ph.D. in Political Economy in 1957 at Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques, Paris. He is director of the Third World Forum in Dakar, Senegal since 1980, and President of the World Forum for Alternatives since 1997. He is the author of many books, including The Law of Value and Historical Materialism (New York: Monthly Review Press, 1978), Imperialism and Unequal Development (New York: Monthly Review Press, 1977), Capitalism in the Age of Globalization (London: Zed Books, 1997), and Obsolescent Capitalism (London: Zed Books, 2003).