Global Concerns and the Globalization of Values

There are strong indications that Americans' values operate in a highly global context -- that their sphere of concern extends well beyond national boundaries. Most Americans regard themselves as citizens of the world as well as the US and show nearly as much concern for suffering outside the US as inside the US. [Globalization: Globalization of Values] In a variety of ways these values influence AmericansЎЇ orientation to US foreign policy.

A key example is the strong concern for human rights in a global context. There is very strong support for the principles of universal human rights and for the international human rights movement [see Human Rights: Human Rights in General] and for the effort to protect human rights through the UN system [see United Nations: The Power of the UN Security Council to Authorize Military Force] Perhaps most significant there is strong support for making the promotion of human rights in the world a priority in US foreign policy [see Human Rights: Promoting International Human Rights].

Increasing economic interconnectedness with the world also appears to create an enhanced sense of responsibility for workers in other parts of the world. In the January 2004 PIPA study of attitudes on globalization, 74% took the position that "if people in other countries are making products that we use, this creates a moral obligation for us to make efforts to ensure that they do not have to work in harsh or unsafe conditions" while 20% took the position that "it is not for us to judge what the working conditions should be in another country." Seventy-three percent took the position that Ў°as we become more involved economically with another country that we should be more concerned about the human rights in that country.Ў± [27]

Correspondingly, Americans show a strong concern for maintaining international labor standards. An overwhelming majority favors the US requiring compliance with international labor standards as part of international trade agreements. This is prompted by concern that low labor standards in other countries create unfair competition for US labor as well as a sense of moral obligation to foreign workers as well as. An overwhelming majority also feels that the United States should not allow products to be imported when they have been made under conditions in violation of international labor standards and a strong majority indicates a readiness to pay higher prices for products to ensure that they are not manufactured in substandard conditions.[See International Trade: International Labor Standards]

Americans also show a high level of concern about the impact of their growing global economic activities on the international environment. Here too an overwhelming majority supports incorporating environmental standards into trade agreements. A very strong majority rejects the WTO's current position that countries should not be able to restrict imports based on the environmental effects of their production. [See International Trade: Trade and the Environment] More broadly, a strong majority thinks there should be international agreements on environmental standards, and that the US should abide by them. [See Globalization:International Environmental Agreements]

One of the strongest indications of the globalization of values is the expectations that Americans have of American businesses operating overseas. Applying a new kind of 'golden rule', overwhelming majorities feel US companies operating outside the US should be expected to abide by US laws on working conditions, even though they recognize this would likely lead to higher prices. [See Globalization: Abiding By US Labor Laws When Operating Outside US]. Also, overwhelming majorities feel US companies operating outside the US should be expected to abide by US laws on the environment, even though they recognize this would likely lead to higher prices. [See Globalization: Abiding By US Environmental Laws When Operating Outside US.]

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