Globalisation:International Policy Network: Views on development

Views on development

The IPN use terms such as “pro-growth policies” and “streamlined system of investment” when discussing the benefits of free trade, particularly in developing countries. Being widely regarded as anti-climate change, the IPN promotes the idea of complete free trade, allowing maximum investment in order to fully promote development. Their website lists several of the benefits, although none of the problems, that large-scale investment could bring to certain countries, in this case Nigeria: “ The World Bank reports that it currently takes over a month to satisfy the eight procedures in order to start a business at a cost of three quarters of a year’s average wages. In the new free trade zone this procedure is expected to take less than a week.”

From their website, it can be seen that IPN’s future development projects are mainly focused on Africa’s developing nations. Nigeria and Zimbabwe are both mentioned, with trade plans being discussed. One article in particular calls for Britain to stop giving aid that it can “ill afford” and abolish trade policies, allowing Africa access to the European markets. Timothy Cox states that “A real offer from the British people to help our development would consist of the abolition of the Common Agricultural Policy, which keeps African agricultural exports out of the European marketplace.”