North-South Conflicts and Their Management--Revisited

In 1996 I presented a paper on North-South conflicts at the January meetings of the Peace Science Society, International. It has been suggested that an update in the light of major events which have occurred since might be in order. Indeed, despite some of the views recently expressed, not only on the streets of Seattle, but also in the halls of the U.S. Congress, it will become clear that I retain the basic position I adhered to earlier, i.e., that North-South economic conflicts are basically about the distribution of gains from growth and not concerning doubts about the existence of positive sum games. But there are clearly changes to be observed in the environment, both political and economic, that we need to be cognizant of which have occurred during the past few years. Specifically, we are all aware of an increasing tendency, not necessarily tending to isolationist but to unilateralist views in the U.S., in spite of the spectacularly good economic times we are enjoying, and that economic competition, over a fixed pie, rather than fighting the old fashioned communist enemy, seems to have a hold over politicians, opinionmakers and, increasingly, the general public. Globalization is on everyone’s tongue but it is also caught in many people’s throats, partly based on ignorance, partly based on knowing only too well how one’s vested interests may be adversely affected, in spite of the potential for exploiting these positive sum games.