Globalisation, Environmental Crisis and Social Change in Bangladesh

Over the last two decades, radical transformations have been taking place in the social and economic systems in Bangladesh. Through the process of globalisation increased opportunities exist for some but disenfranchisement and social dislocations for the great majority are also increasing. Globalisation has produced tension between traditional bases of livelihood and emerging export-oriented commercial production of non-traditional items. Tension is reflected in the perceived uncertainty of the future livelihood of workers in the garment as well as shrimp industries. Tension may become significant within the export-dependent industries themselves, especially when future existence is threatened by many international market conditions. Recently, the government of Bangladesh has been forced to provide millions of dollars in subsidies to the garment industry and bail out the shrimp industry suffering from virus-induced production losses as well as market uncertainties. There is a source to provide subsidies and to bail out ailing industries, but the disenfranchised peasants, and garment and shrimp workers facing uncertainties of livelihood, have no such protection in Bangladesh. The traditional mutual support system that is being dislodged by market forces has not been replaced by any social safety net. In the book Globalisation, Environmental Crisis and Social Change in Bangladesh, researchers from both Canada and Bangladesh examine the transformation and its consequences for a great majority in Bangladesh.