Globalisation and Economic Nationalism in Ghana: An Analysis of the Made-in-Ghana Policy: Globalisation and Economic Nationalism in Ghana: An Analysis of the Made-in-Ghana Policy
Translated title
Globalisation and Economic Nationalism in Ghana: An Analysis of the Made-in-Ghana Policy
Author
Wahabu, Esther
Term
4. term
Publication year
2017
Submitted on
2017-07-31
Pages
79
Abstract
I de senere år har spændingen mellem globalisering og økonomisk nationalisme fået fornyet opmærksomhed. Globalisering handler om stigende strømme af varer, kapital og idéer på tværs af grænser, mens økonomisk nationalisme beskriver politikker, der favoriserer indenlandske producenter og forbrugere. Overraskende nok ser selv lande, der normalt forbindes med liberalisering og markedsorienterede reformer, mod mere nationalistiske tiltag. Dette speciale undersøger Ghanas nationalistiske handelspolitik, Made-in-Ghana, som blev lanceret i en i øvrigt liberaliseret økonomi for at styrke efterspørgslen efter lokale varer og tjenester frem for importerede. Specialet spørger, hvilken rolle globalisering spillede for, at Ghana vedtog denne politik. Undersøgelsen bygger på en litteraturgennemgang af globalisering, økonomisk nationalisme samt liberale og nationalistiske teorier. Derudover analyseres semistrukturerede interview med politiske eliter og andre aktører, der var involveret i tilblivelsen af Made-in-Ghana, sammen med officielle dokumenter. Resultaterne viser, at politikken delvist er et svar på globaliseringens pres og muligheder, men også et svar på indenlandske udfordringer: lav nationalfølelse knyttet til lokale produkter og en uengageret indkøbspraksis i offentlige myndigheder og afdelinger. Disse forhold fremgår af de problemer, som politikken søger at løse gennem sine mål: at øge brugen af lokale varer og tjenester, mindske handelsunderskud, fremme økonomisk udvikling og finde en balance mellem protektionisme og åbenhed over for gavnlig konkurrence.
In recent years, the tension between globalization and economic nationalism has drawn renewed attention. Globalization refers to growing cross-border flows of goods, capital, and ideas, while economic nationalism describes policies that favor domestic producers and consumers. Surprisingly, even countries known as bastions of liberalization and market-oriented reform are turning to more nationalist measures. This thesis examines Ghana’s nationalist trade initiative, the Made-in-Ghana policy, launched within an otherwise liberalized economy to encourage demand for local goods and services over imports. The study asks how globalization influenced Ghana’s decision to adopt this policy. It combines a review of literature on globalization, economic nationalism, and liberal and nationalist theories with analysis of semi-structured interviews with political elites and other stakeholders involved in designing the Made-in-Ghana policy, alongside official documents. Findings indicate that the policy is partly a response to the pressures and opportunities of globalization and partly a response to domestic challenges: weak national identification with local products and an indifferent approach to purchasing local goods and services within government procurement bodies and departments. These drivers are reflected in the policy’s goals, which seek to increase use of local goods and services, reduce trade deficits, promote economic development, and strike a balance between protectionism and openness to beneficial competition.
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