Globalization, Internationalization and Rankings

Abstract

The impact on Portugal of trends towards globalization are examined. It is argued that the aggravation and increasing unrest in Portugal's rural areas must be explained with reference to global changes. European integration and globalization have meant unequal impacts on different social sectors, with the rural people less able to benefit from integration. Consequences include the abandonment of farming, decline of traditional activities, rural exodus and ageing rural populations, as well as failure of individual and collective projects and loss of faith in public institutions. Portugal's agricultural markets have declined following membership of the EU and farm incomes have fallen sharply. Domestic consumers now prefer imported goods. The protective role of the state has declined as policies to help small farmers have been dismantled. Structural adjustment imposed by EU membership, together with globalization, have compelled Portuguese agriculture to modernize, but this has sometimes led to the loss of high quality regional products.