Assessing globalisation

By Taha Abdel-Alim Taha

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The successes and failures of modern Egypt have been closely linked with the vacillations of the international scene. So much was true in the 19th century, when Egypt was fighting off European intervention, as during the subsequent colonial and nationalist eras. And things haven't changed much since. Egypt is still trying to adjust to the rising tide of globalisation, and hoping to make sense of it all. And among us are many conspiracy theorists who blame others for the fact that we've lagged behind for almost two centuries.

International powers have used policies that have not always been to our benefit, and still do. But this is no reason for us to lose hope. Nations are capable of using international developments in their favour. Globalisation can work for us if we play our cards right.

The way I see it is that this country has two courses of action: either do nothing and risk marginalisation, or get involved in the international scene and make the most of it. These are familiar choices, and not radically different from ones we have faced in the past. The risks are clear, so are the choices. But one cannot refuse to take part in the game and then complain of foul play.

Globalisation is a work in progress. No one knows exactly where the complexities of global economy or of intermingled cultures could lead us. What we know is that things are happening, and changes occur -- at different paces -- all over the world. Economic globalisation has found its way to Egypt, just as the Egyptian economy has found its way to globalisation.

The domestic factor, I believe, is what matters most. The domestic factor is what decides how our economy is going to engage the world. The future of our economy depends on what we want. Are we going to stay on the sidelines and risk marginalisation? Or are willing to accept the challenge of integration in the world economy? We cannot afford to be passive, and it is not true that we're not up to the challenge. There are some among us who believe that the country is not yet ready for globalisation. Theirs is a mistaken assumption, and one that could prove costly.

Egypt has much to learn from its own history. We are not exactly starting from scratch. But we cannot face up to the challenges of globalisation unless we have a strategic vision, an order of priorities, a desire to interact with the world, and a willingness to unleash our latent potentials.

We need a strategic vision. We need commitment to economic efficiency, equal opportunity, political democracy, national security, and pluralism. We need a national consensus on market economy, an economy that is open, advanced, regulated, and socially- responsible. We need a critical assessment of globalisation, its advantages and restrictions, its prospects and risks.

* The author is an expert at Al-Ahram Strategic & Political Centre