Globalization with a Capital "G"

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I had intended to publish another installment on the subject machine translation, the research direction of the MT Spring, recent developments, resources, etc. Fact is, the upcoming Summit of the Americas and the counter-conference, the Second Peoples' Summit of the Americas, preoccupies me.

I live in Quebec. These days, I can't read a paper without coming across an article on the Summit, the legitimacy or not of its agenda, the security measures, the protests rumored to be bigger than the Battle of Seattle. In the last week alone, Quebec Prime Minister Landry, federal Ministers Menard and Manley, and former Canadian minister of foreign affairs Lloyd Axworthy have all expressed themselves publicly on the up-coming Summit either in press conferences or, in Axworthy's case, in writing.

Why is the Summit a preoccupation and why, in a forum devoted to localization, does it deserve attention?

First, while globalization in the specific context of localization, i.e., Web site globalization, and the other kind, i.e., globalization as the most world-altering economic trend of our times, may be two distinct notions, that they are related is indisputable. Localization, the process and the industry, acts as a facilitator of globalization, the kind with a capital "G." As such, globalization is a legitimate preoccupation within the context of a localization topic.

Second, to argue that the localization industry, while instrumental to globalization, is not a decision-maker and, in so doing, duck responsibility for any nefarious consequences of the trend is plainly irresponsible. It's like the driver of a get-away car who says, "You can't blame me. I just drove the car," or, claiming ignorance, says, "Gee, I thought he went in to buy a pack of gum. I had no idea he was going to make off with the cash register." Other, less amusing, analogies come to mind.

Finally, because globalization is such an important trend, some say unstoppable, one has an obligation to think about it. So, what's to think about?

• From April 20 - 22, according to a backgrounder published by Canada, "leaders of the hemisphere's 34 democratic nations will come together to consider the most important issues affecting the region." Despite repeated calls for a more transparent process, the Summit organizers have refused to impart the particulars of the agenda.

• Notably, Cuba will be absent from the Summit. If Cuba had the geopolitical and economic clout of the People's Republic of China (PRC), would it be excluded based on the same democratic principles? The recent Canadian trade mission to the PRC suggests the contrary.
  The copyright of the article Globalization with a Capital "G" in Export Marketing is owned by Nancy A. Locke. Permission to republish Globalization with a Capital "G" in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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