The acronym G-8 corresponds to the group of the 8 richest and most influential countries in the world, including the United States, Japan, Germany, Canada, France, Italy, United Kingdom and Russia. Previously called the G-7, the acronym changed with the inclusion of Russia, which joined the group in 1998.
Explicitly, the role of the G-8 is to decide which path or paths the world should follow, as these countries have consolidated economies and their political forces exert great influence on world institutions and organizations, such as the UN, IMF, WTO. The discussion revolves around the process of globalization, market opening, environmental problems, financial aid for economies in crisis, among others.
According to group leaders, the discussions proposed at the meetings are intended to reduce disparities between the economies of underdeveloped countries. Although this is not the case in practice, as it is clear that the decisions taken serve the internal interests of the group’s entities, a convincing example is linked to the ecological approach, often the G-8 countries do not commit to signing environmental agreements, considering that they are the ones that most cause such problems.
The embryo of the G-8 was generated in 1975, in France, near Paris, in a castle called Ramboullet, where an informal meeting was held with some leaders of important countries.
The following took part in the meeting: USA, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan and Italy, for discussions on regional and international problems, as early as 1976, Canada was included in the group, totaling 7 countries, a reference that gave rise to the acronym G -7, at that time. This configuration remained until 1998, when Russia joined the group, forming the current G-8. Despite the homogeneous discourse of the member countries, the protectionism of each participant is clear.
In recent years, whenever this meeting takes place, a series of demonstrations take place simultaneously, led not by people from poor countries, but by people from developed countries that do not admit the increase in social and economic inequality and globalization.
Don’t stop now… There’s more after the publicity 馃槈
Eduardo de Freitas
Graduated in Geography