Technology, Globalisation and Inclusion Is Innovation a Development Tool? Wednesday, 25th January 2006 Bibliothèque Solvay, Brussels Click Here for the Summary of Debates
“For the young, bright and mobile, it’s a brave new world, but it’s not all good news for traditional blue-collar workers” John Monks
Opinions differed as to how effective innovative technologies were being in narrowing the digital divide. Speaking at the latest Friends of Europe Café Crossfire, the ETUC’s Secretary General John Monks saw globalisation as bad news for blue-collar workers unable to re-train for hi-tech jobs. Monks was concerned about the fate of the many “losers”. His views were in direct opposition to those of the Economist’s Publisher and Managing Director, Andrew Rashbass who saw globalisation as being good for all countries. He wanted a world “without fences.” Between the protagonists was Microsoft’s General Counsel Brad Smith, who wanted governments to ensure that globalisations’ game took place on a level playing field. He argued that no one had taken full advantage of the many opportunities brought by innovative technologies. For Smith, making cheap copies of Western products was not enough. If there was one conclusion, it was that certain sections of the developing (and developed) countries would benefit from innovation, others would not. Giles Merritt, Secretary General, Friends of Europe, came down on Monks’ side. He was not convinced that the knowledge economy was being successfully transferred to the developing world. The gap was still widening for many.