Abstract
The dynamics between globalisation and economic nationalism have been gaining much attention in world politics in recent times as more and more states seek to shield their economies from the forces of globalisation. Most surprisingly, countries that are considered the bulwarks of liberalisation and market oriented policies are among such countries. This has led to a conclusion by many scholars that economic nationalism is a response to globalisation or is as a result of scepticism of globalisation generated by populist elites and grass-root nationalists. This thesis contributes to the literature on globalisation and economic nationalism by studying the case of Ghana’s nationalist trade policy; the Made-in-Ghana policy. Ghana has a liberalised economy as its borders are open to all kinds of trade and investment, but it recently enacted an essentially nationalist trade policy to increase the patronage of local goods and services at the expense of imported ones. This thesis investigates specifically the influences globalisation had on the adoption of the policy.
By using a literature review of the concepts of globalisation and economic nationalism and liberal and nationalist theories, data collected by a semi-structured interview with political elites and other stakeholders that were party to enactment of the Made-in- Ghana policy are analysed together with official documents. The findings show that Ghana’s enactment of the Made-in-Ghana policy to some extent is a response to globalisation, as well as a response to domestic challenges in the form of low nationalism and a lackadaisical attitude of government procurement agencies and departments towards local goods and services. This is discovered from an examination of problems underlying the goals and objectives of the policy which are to spur patronage of local goods and services, to balance trade deficits, to achieve economic development and achieve a balance between protectionism and opening up to beneficial competition.
Keywords: globalisation, economic nationalism, Ghana, Made-in-Ghana policy, neoliberalism