Setting international standards

Providing international standards
Establishing international norms
Globalizing standards

Description

The "globalization of standards" is the most important consequence of a "bottom up" globalization. Local communities as well as being subject to the impacts of international trade are also feeling the impacts of new conceptions of justice and equity that are being intercommunicated throughout the world. This means that old ways of life that were bearable in isolation and in ignorance of alternatives are beginning to be called into question locally. Workers in the most diverse places in the world are understanding and comparing the working conditions at other latitudes. The mobility of labour produced by communications makes displacement or expectations of displacement possible, at least in theory. Globalization thus leads to globalization of needs, levels of expectation, conditions of security, and consumption needs. Unacceptable levels that are increasingly shared are being established as a result of the globalization of expectations for standards of living and work.

Claim

In a globalized world, the role of national governments is increasing limited. But the difficulty in setting international standards lies in getting a culturally and economically diverse international community to agree on what those standards should be. There is abundant evidence that legally-binding standards set internationally are lower than those the societal need demands. For example, during the negotiations on the Kyoto Protocol, nations were unable to agree even the minimum targets advocated by the scientific community, mostly due to economic arguments.

Technical standards developed by international standard bodies like ISO, ETSI and CIEC are examples whereby public accountability and democratic institutions are substituted by private bodies dominated by representation from industry. International standard bodies are pretending to involve all stakeholders. This is not the case since only standard institutes from the developed world and large companies can afford participation. International standard bodies should not be entrusted with the task of developing standards for the purpose to harmonise regulation.

The need for new international standards for product quality and the environment should be taken into account with the full participation of developing countries in future standard-setting.