ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND GLOBALIZATION THE POST-SEPTEMBER 11 WORLD

This article examines the complex interplay between economic prosperity, social justice, and globalization, arguing that the post-September 11 world has made the connections between these issues more critical than ever. It posits that the terrorist attacks highlighted the dangers of a world characterized by vast inequalities and a sense of marginalization and injustice among large populations. The study critiques the neo-liberal model of globalization, which has prioritized economic efficiency over social justice, for exacerbating these inequalities. The research argues for a new, more inclusive model of globalization, one that is explicitly aimed at achieving both economic prosperity and social justice. The paper explores the policy changes needed to achieve this, including reform of the international financial institutions, a fairer global trading system, and a greater focus on poverty reduction and human development. The analysis concludes that in the post-9/11 era, a globalization that is not socially just is ultimately not sustainable or secure.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, were a profound shock to the international system, and this paper argues that they should have triggered a fundamental rethinking of the nature of globalization. The study begins by challenging the view that the attacks were an isolated act of fanaticism, positing instead that they were, in part, a symptom of a deeper global malaise rooted in inequality and a perceived sense of injustice. The core of the article is a critique of the dominant model of globalization of the 1990s. It argues that this model, while generating significant aggregate wealth, had also led to a widening gap between the rich and the poor, both between and within countries. This, the paper contends, created a fertile ground for resentment and extremism. The paper then shifts to a prescriptive agenda, outlining the key elements of a more just and sustainable model of globalization. This includes a call for a fundamental reform of the governance of the global economy, giving a greater voice to developing countries in institutions like the IMF and the World Bank. It also advocates for a new global trade round that is genuinely a "development round," focused on addressing the needs of the poorest countries. The findings lead to a powerful conclusion: the quest for global security in the post-9/11 world cannot be separated from the quest for global social justice. A safer world requires a fairer world, and this demands a new model of globalization that is committed to achieving both economic prosperity and social equity for all.