Introduction

Abstract

At the turn of the twenty first century the relationship between globalisation and global inequality stands as a pivotal issue in global politics. The acceleration of inequality and insecurity associated with contemporary globalisation has attracted significant public and scholarly debate. The United Nations Millennium Declaration (2000: 1.5) stated that “while globalization offers great opportunities, at present its benefits are very unevenly shared, while its costs are unevenly distributed”. Furthermore, a recent United Nations report indicated that the

faith in the ability of unregulated markets to provide the best possible environment for human development has gone too far. Too great a reliance on the “invisible hand” of the market is pushing the world toward unsustainable levels of inequality and deprivation. A new balance between public and private interests must be found (UNRISD 2000: viii).