Arms Quote by Joseph Stiglitz
“The international institutions go around the world preaching liberalization, and the developing countries see that means open up your markets to our commodities, but we aren't going to open our markets to your commodities. In the nineteenth century, they used gunboats. Now they use economic weapons and arm-twisting.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Economic Forum, 2015
He critiques that developed nations push liberalization while protecting their own markets, using economic coercion instead of force.
In simple terms: Rich countries demand open markets but protect their own.
Key Takeaway
Watch for hidden trade barriers.
Themes
economics
inequality
globalization
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
economic
When to use this quote
- international negotiations
- development aid
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
trade policy
neocolonialism
Questions to Reflect On
- What are fair trade practices?
- How can developing nations negotiate better?
A Different Perspective
Developed nations may also benefit from openness.
![“World War II was really unusual, because America was in the Great Depression before. So the war did help the US economy to get securely out of this decline. This time, the war [in Iraq] is bad for the economy in both the short and long run. We could have spent trillions in research or education…” quote by Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/860/joseph-stiglitz-1351_america_world-war-ii-was-really-unusual-because_156000.jpg)
