Feature:

You are here: Home > Features > Kananaskis G8 Summit> Criticisms of the G8

The G8 Itself

Most G8 critics accept the right of G8 countries to meet and discuss world issues important to them. Instead, their criticisms generally center on the following:

• The G8’s structure
• The G8’s focus
• The G8’s effect on international institutions

Structure of the G8

Criticisms of the G8’s structure tend to be twofold:

• Limited Membership
  G8 membership is limited to only eight countries. Furthermore, except for Russia, these member countries tend to have the same characteristics. They are industrialized, market-oriented, wealthy, northern countries. Critics argue that this limited membership excludes the views and needs of other countries, in particular poor countries in the south.
   
• Secretive Meetings
  G8 Summits are held in private, away from the press and the public. The only information that we ever get about what is decided at G8 Summits is the Summit Final Communiqué, which a statement by the leaders prepared in advance of the summit. Critics argue that this secretiveness is undemocratic and is an example of “elitist” and “closed door” government.

Focus of the G8

The G8 focuses primarily upon the following world economic issues:

• Global economic growth, in particular the economic growth of member countries.
• World trade issues such as trade tariffs, duties and subsidies.
• World financial issues such as currency exchange rates, international financial institutions (i.e. banks), and international stock and commodity exchanges.

Common criticisms of the G8’s focus are as follows:

• Too Narrow
  The G8 does not focus on social and environmental issues, such as world poverty, health problems, education, climate change, and deforestation. In recent years, the G8 has given more room to these social and environmental issues. However, critics suggest that it is merely “lip service.”
   
• Self-Serving
  The G8 tends to focus on its own economic needs, and pursues policies that will benefit G8 members. This is often done at the expense of other countries in the world.

G8 and International Institutions

The G8 plays a very important role in global governance. Through the G8, member countries can make deals and compromises with one another and then form powerful alliances to exert influence on international institutions.

Critics argue that this ability undermines the credibility of more representative institutions such as the United Nations (UN). Imagine that you are in an organization in which everyone is supposedly equal. However, a small group of people meets separately without you, decides how it is going to act, and is able to dominate the organization. Would you feel that the organization is credible?

G8 and the Group of 20 (G20)

In 1999, the G8 created the G20 to address some of the above concerns. The G20's purpose is to include other countries in discussions on financial reform and to make G8 policies more representative. The G20 consists of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States.

Critics argue that the G20 does little to alter the “elitist” nature of the G8. The G20 functions mostly as a sounding board for G8 initiatives, and has little real power to affect reform. In addition, the G20 is used only for discussions on international finance and is not included in discussions on trade, debt reduction and social issues.

© 2001-2006 Maple Leaf Web.
All Rights Reserved

This page was last modified: August 10, 2007