The G8 represents the major political driver of contemporary globalisation. It is also the most powerful political force behind the multilateral institutions that are shaping global economic practice and governance. The aid, trade, and investment policies and practices of G8 member nations largely shape the development possibilities of poorer countries around the world. This book provides a report card of the G8 commitments over the past three summits (1999, 2000 and 2001), with a preliminary assessment of the most recent 2002 summit in Kananaskis, Canada. It presents findings from the G8 Research Centre of the University of Toronto in Canada, which has been tracking compliance on G8 commitments for a number of years. Based on research funded by the IDRC, this book extends these assessments of compliance to an examination of how adequate G8 commitments are to global development needs. No other publication has taken such a frank report-card approach to studying the behaviour of the G8 nations. The book’s focus on Africa reflects the major focus of the 2002 G8 Summit: the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad). It also reflects the fact that Africa has been more exposed than any other continent to the forces of market liberalisation – primarily through structural adjustment programmes – and yet has benefited least from the presumed gains of market liberalisation.

 

 

 

 

 

• Globalization, health and development: the right prescription?
• Macroeconomic policy, structural adjustment and debt relief
• Health and health systems
• Education
• Nutrition, food security and biotechnology
• Official development assistance
• Trade and market access
• Environment
• Equity, health and Nepad: a case study
• Promises kept and broken, right or wrong

 

“This book is, to our knowledge, the first attempt to bring together an analysis of G8 policies, commitments and actions  related to the South in the major domains known to influence health … In addition to providing a rigorous and well-referenced  evidence base for policy makers, researchers and activists, it is also an innovative presentation of what is effectively a  textbook on policy for global health.” From the Foreword by Chistina Zarowsky, Leader, Governance Equity and Health Program

Initiative, International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada

• Academics, researchers and students studying political science, health studies, development studies and African studies
• Policy and decision-makers in government (in G8 and African countries)
• Development agencies
• Civil society organisations concerned with both short- and long-term implications of globalisation.

Ronald Labonte is the Director of the Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit, Canada. Ted Schrecker is  an Associate Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada. David Sanders is a Professor and Director  of the School of Public Health at the University of the Western Cape. Wilma Meeus is a Research Associate in the School of  Public Health at the University of the Western Cape.