The Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) at The University of the West Indies, Mona, continues to champion rigorous and policy relevant research that illuminates the evolving dynamics of global political economy. In his recent column, “Globalisation, power and the rewriting of economic rules,” Dr. Andre Haughton, economist and lecturer in the Department of Economics, offers a timely and incisive examination of the shifting global order and its implications for Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region. His analysis underscores the need for small states to rethink how they navigate international systems increasingly defined by strategic competition rather than neutral economic cooperation.
Dr. Haughton emphasizes that globalisation has entered a phase where the tools traditionally seen as economic, including trade policy, monetary policy, technology, and supply chains, are now instruments of geopolitical strategy. This marks a critical departure from the post World War II era, where the neoclassical model of free trade and comparative advantage shaped international economic policy. Small economies such as Jamaica now confront external forces that significantly influence exchange rates, energy prices, remittances, and capital flows.
For the FSS, this transformation highlights the urgency of equipping students, policymakers, and industry leaders with the analytical capacity to understand economy and power linkages and prepare responses grounded in evidence, resilience, and strategic foresight.
A key insight from Dr. Haughton’s analysis is the long standing imbalance embedded in global economic institutions. Despite the rhetoric of neutrality, many multilateral frameworks and bilateral agreements have historically disadvantaged small states by confining them to low value segments of global value chains. Jamaica’s experience, exporting raw materials while importing high value finished goods, illustrates how structural asymmetries hinder industrial upgrading.
From the FSS perspective, these observations reinforce the faculty’s ongoing work on development policy, institutional reform, and industrial strategy. They also align with the Department of Economics research priorities related to trade, competitiveness, and the political economy of development.
Dr. Haughton also situates China’s economic ascent within this broader context. While the West pursued lower production costs through outsourcing, China used global integration to build technological capabilities and become the world’s leading manufacturing hub. Today, China accounts for roughly 30 percent of global manufacturing output, while the United States share has declined significantly over the past two decades.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), active in more than 150 countries, further shapes global logistics and reduces historic constraints on small economies. For Caribbean policymakers and scholars, understanding these shifts is essential to redefining external engagement strategies.
The FSS views this as a pivotal teaching moment. Globalisation is not disappearing. It is being recalibrated. Students and stakeholders must therefore be able to evaluate new forms of economic dependence, strategic partnerships, and the risks and opportunities created by increasingly intense rivalry between China and the West.
One of the most consequential arguments Dr. Haughton raises is the re emergence of protectionism. Measures once dismissed as inefficient economic distortions are now central to United States strategy, evident through tariff escalation, restrictions on Chinese semiconductor access, and industrial policies aimed at regaining technological leadership. China has responded with accelerated innovation efforts and strengthened domestic supply chains. [jamaicaobserver.com]
This trend has significant implications for Jamaica, which relies heavily on global markets, external investment, and international tourism. The FSS emphasizes the importance of continuous research and policy dialogue on how Jamaica can maintain competitiveness amid tightening global blocs, shifting supply chains, and new interpretations of global economic rules.
At the heart of Dr. Haughton’s reflection is a message that resonates deeply with the mission of the Faculty of Social Sciences.
The FSS remains committed to supporting this national and regional effort through high quality teaching, research leadership, and stakeholder engagement.
Source: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2026/02/01/globalisation-power-rewriting-economic-rules/
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The UWI, Mona ranks first in Jamaica among accredited tertiary-level programmes. In 2012, the University was again one of Jamaica’s Top 100 Employers.
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