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Globalization can be a peacemaker – but EU trade barriers affect developing countries

Paul-Christian BritzMarch 16, 2015

Guests in DW's talk show "Global Talk" were cautiously optimistic about the effects of globalization. The special program, hosted by DW anchor Sarah Kelly, was first broadcast on Monday from the Post Tower in Bonn.

https://p.dw.com/p/1ErWx
PM Global Talk (Still)
Image: DW

The discussion around the topic "Globalization - Opportunity or Risk?" featured international guests with corporate, economic, political and scientific perspectives on globalization. "Globalization is an opportunity with some hidden risks that must be taken care of," said Witold Orlowski, economic advisor to the Polish Prime Minister.

The international panel vividly discussed the upsides and downsides of globalization. It could be a peacemaker, said Dr. Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL. Especially with a look at the Nordic countries, Germany and also Singapore, "countries which are the most connected countries in the world at the current stage have a very high Development Index and are now really peaceful countries," said Appel.

Although generally seeing globalization as an opportunity, Josef Janning from the European Council of Foreign Relations pointed out that there was no guarantee forsuccess.

Witold Orlowski, Chief Economic Advisor to PricewaterhouseCoopers in Poland and member of the Polish Prime Minister's Economic Council, spoke from experiences in his own country. He said that while globalization could benefit countries greatly, it also came with the risk of leaving behind some of the population, especially a rising middle class.

US professor David Brady, currently at the Berlin Social Science Center, was worried about the inequalities and social consequences for countries that were generally left out of the global conversation. "Does the EU create a fortress around itself where it creates trade barriers or protection for certain commodities and prevents trade with some developing countries? That's the uncertainty," he said, pointing out that Sub Saharan Africa, for example, already had a great disadvantage with exporting their products to the EU.

Broadcasting hours:

DW
MON, 16.03.2015: 16:15 UTC
MON, 16.03.2015: 20:15 UTC
MON, 16.03.2015: 23:15 UTC
TUE, 17.03.2015: 02:15 UTC
TUE, 17.03.2015: 05:15 UTC
TUE, 17.03.2015: 08:15 UTC
TUE, 17.03.2015: 12:15 UTC

DW (Europe)
MON, 16.03.2015: 16:15 UTC
MON, 16.03.2015: 23:15 UTC
TUE, 17.03.2015: 02:15 UTC
TUE, 17.03.2015: 05:15 UTC
TUE, 17.03.2015: 12:15 UTC

DW (Amerika)
TUE, 17.03.2015: 08:15 UTC

DW (Arabia)
MON, 16.03.2015: 23:15 UTC
TUE, 17.03.2015: 02:15 UTC
TUE, 17.03.2015: 05:15 UTC