problems

We all live within the confines of man-made structures. All international institutions are male-dominated. For example, at the UN Summit of September 2005 in New York, out of 159 Heads of State only 7 were women. It's clear that male processes and ways of working prevail in these structures. And that there is unequal power in relation to decision-making and control over resources. This situation is reflected from top to bottom in most societies. And as minority members in these structures, it is difficult for individual women to make a difference. But men are also victims of this hierarchical, competitive, adversarial ethos.

The World Bank is one example of an institution that has gone out of control. It applies its linear solutions for development systematically. But development is too important to be left to the economists. The WB continues to plough its way across Africa creating conflict and confusion and no-one can stop it... Is it a conspiracy or is it a cock-up? To what extent are the effects of the World Bank linked to US unilateralism and the US "project for the American century" - which explicitly recommends increased militarisation in the drive to annex the world's economic resources? Read more about US hegemony in The Bush Doctrine

The increase in Militarisation throughout the world reflects the most extreme side of masculinity, the desire for power and control. We know there is no ethical justification behind this process. As militarisation increases, so does the level of violence in everyday society - and so does the violation of human rights by governments in the name of national security...
But on an everyday level, too, there are still cultural practices which discriminate against women and serve men's interests: female genital mutilation, bride price, disinheritance of widows... not to mention polygamy, infidelity, rape, prostitution and the resultant spread of HIV/AIDS which is in nobody's interest. Read more about how many of these practices contravene international human rights law and are not being addressed because of Cultural Relativism

Finally we have the Trojan Horse. You might remember that the Greeks left behind on the plain (when they pretended to leave the country) a huge wooden horse, which the Trojans very stupidly took inside. It contained Greek soldiers who came out at night, opened the gates to their comrades and laid waste the city. Tony Blair's UK government is the 21st century Trojan horse. Within Europe and within the developing world, the UK opens the gates to the US project. As the saying goes: "Beware of the Brits when they come bearing gifts."

If this section has depressed you, skip the examples and go straight to the Solutions