...respective political parties office. Rather, the response is dependent upon the types of economic elites found within the nation-state, and contingent upon the extent to which the social formation allows national elites to couch their interests under the guise of nationalist discourse. The more economic elites stand to benefit from the process of globalization, the more they encourage the state to push ahead with the process of globalization, even if it has negative consequences for the general population. On the other hand, the more that economic elites stand to lose through the process of globalization (i.e., material well-being), the more likely they are to urge the state to resist the process of globalization, justifying such actions in the name of "national interest."

Theoretical Concerns

The process of globalization is contradictory process. For analytical purposes, it is seen as having three levels: supra-statal, statal, and intra-statal. Within each level there are three dimensions: the economic, the political, and the cultural/ideological. These levels and dimensions are involved in a dialectical relationship with each other (Ramsaran and Price 2003).

Globalization is not a new development. Capitalism took on a global character when European countries began establishing colonies in the 1500s. In the 1800s that process escalated, resulting in the carving up of Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean to suit the needs of European governments and their economies. Indeed, colonial societies were organized to suit the needs of core countries in the capitalist world system (Chase-Dunn 1989; Frank 1978; Levitt and Best 1978; Wallerstein 1974).

Even though globalization is not a new phenomenon, there are new developments in contemporary capitalist operations that necessitate some amendments to the traditional ways of analyzing such operations. In contemporary capitalism there is greater interconnectivity between the economic. political, and cultural sectors. They are interconnected through markets, finance, goods and services, and transnational corporate networks (Chase-Dunn 1999). Further, the way in which groups are incorporated into this process within their respective societies is dependent upon both their position within the global distribution of power between nation-states, and their power position within their individual societies.

The "economics of globalization" refers to the process of capitalist expansion. It is manifested through the intensification of global commodity chains and a global division of labor; the increasing concentration of industries into the hands of a small number of transnational corporations; and a shift in world trade away from goods and services toward financial instruments, deregulation, and free trade (Ramsaran and Price 2003). The "politics of globalization" refers to an examination of how decisions are made and how power is distributed among, and within, nation-states. Under contemporary capitalism, global finance requires global governance and, as a result, global regulatory institutions are becoming more powerful and are redefining national sovereignty. This global regulatory system is built upon a world system arrangement of core and periphery. This arrangement allows one nation (or group of nations) to force another nation (or group of nations) into economic and social programs that their population may oppose. This kind of power relationship also plays itself out through organizations specific to the local situation and includes the use of culturally specific issues and symbols to articulate local interests (Ramsaran and Price 2003).

The "culture of globalization" refers to the ideologies that drive the process of globalization. It highlights the increasingly interconnected social world, which weakens the uniqueness of national ways of living, local cultures. and non-capitalist values. At the center of this are the ideologies of neo-liberalism, individualism, and the promotion of the consumer citizen. Within societies these ideologies are promoted under the rubric of civil society and citizenship. As such, social justice is promoted within the context of meritocracy and equal opportunity. National elites promote equality and social justice in so far as it maintains their hegemony. At the grassroots level, the battle over the process of globalization takes place on the basis of equality of opportunity or the lack thereof (Ramsaran and Price 2003).

The various types of elites within the nation-state are important participants in the globalization process. In ex-colonial societies there are three types of economic elites. First. there are traditional elites; their economic power is based on the control of agricultural production and land ownership. Second. there are national elites sometimes referred to as a mercantilist class who are commercial based. Under state protection they control the distributive and import/export sectors within their respective societies. The third type of national elite is the entrepreneurial elite. Their power stems from control over manufacturing and services. The entrepreneurial elite are the type most likely to embrace the globalization process. The main goal of any national elite is to retain their position of power and privilege. In ex-colonial societies, a high percentage of the elite classes are persons of European descent or expatriates, and are a political minority. Political elites are those that control the state apparatus. Generally, the political elites that emerged from the de-colonization process came from the ranks of the petit bourgeois who promoted a populist agenda. Further depending on the nature of the social formation--race, ethnicity, and religion can have significant influence on who becomes part of the political elite, and how the populist agenda is implemented.

The nature of the relationship between the economic elites, political elites, and other organizations that represent the wider population, determine how the process of globalization is implemented. National elites can either embrace or resist the process of globalization, The benefits of globalization, as defined by multinational corporations and the international ruling class, are not necessarily consistent with the interests of national elites. The reduction of trade barriers and the free flow of goods and services advocated by contemporary capitalism can threaten the power of national elites in developing countries, particularly those who have enriched themselves by having exclusive access to natural resources and market protection. Cooperation with the forces of globalization is dependent upon the extent to which cooperation enhances the hegemonic position of economic elites within the society. Further, the amount of opposition that elites exert is directly related to the extent to which their interests are uniform or diverse. In other words, the cohesion of national elites, and the extent to which they can make their interests seem the interests of the broader population, will determine the extent to which the state will challenge the forces of globalization.

How this process plays out is determined by the historical relationship between the elites and the masses as enshrined in cultural practice. If the ruling elites who stand to lose can pitch the struggle against globalization in nationalistic terms, they can incorporate broad masses of the people. It is then more likely that the state can resist or delay the process of globalization, particularly if is has negative short-term consequences for the population. On the other hand, the more the economic elites have to gain from the process of globalization, and the more united they are in this belief, the more likely it is that the state will embrace the process. This situation also makes it more likely that groups within the society who are against the process will be in an antagonistic relationship with the state.

Methodology and Background

Data for this study comes from a combination of content analysis and interviews. The primary method of data collection was content analysis of the major daily newspapers in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. Interviews were also conducted with key informants in the respective Governments, as well as with leaders of businesses and civic organizations.

The news transmission dimension of the newspaper through its opinion pages, investigative reports and letters sent to the editors can provide useful insights into the issues that confront a society. In...

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.



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