Group of the eight / Globalization

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The group of the eight (prominent industrialized countries and Russia sieve; G8) belong to Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Canada, Russia and the USA. Besides also the European commission is represented in the committee. Spain strives already since longer around the admission than full member. In each case a country takes over the presidency for the duration of a yearly. The G8 is not considered as international organization. Their meetings are informal - to advise over in "relaxed round" global topics and problems. The G8 of countries combines approx. 50% of the world trade and the world gross national income (BNE) - in purchasing power parities measured - or two thirds of the BNEs - in actual prices measured - on itself.

On the annual world economy summit the state and head of the government of the G8-Staaten and other states meet. The ministers of foreign affairs of the states meet briefly before and discuss topics particularly with regard to foreign policy. Besides there are constant consultations under the full members in the context of the G8-Prozesses.

The group was created as G6 (group of the six) 1975 in the context of a fire-place discussion on lock Rambouillet, at that the state and heads of the government of Germany (represent Helmut Schmidt by Federal Chancellors), France (with president Giscard d'Estaing as hosts), Italy, Japan, Great Britain and the USA participated. The topics were the monetary policy at that time after the collapse of the exchange rate system of Bretton Woods and the reaction to the first large oil crisis. At that time the summit was planned as forum, in order to discuss in small circle financial and currency questions. Topics with regard to foreign policy pushed themselves then however soon into the foreground. Russia is in the meantime likewise member, from finance and monetary consultation however still excluded.

From the annual meetings in small round in the meantime a permanent co-operation on the level of Ministers and high government officials became. They prepare the annual summits, co-ordinate national positions and provide already in the apron of the summits for a partial clarifying of different positions. For this purpose each country sends Sherpas and Sous Sherpas so mentioned. The German Sherpa assigned by the Federal Chancellor at that time is Dr. Bernd Pfaff brook, undersecretary of state in the Federal Ministry for economics and work. Former German Sherpas of prominent Reputation is among other things the present Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany, professor Horst charcoal burner, as well as the former president of the German Federal Bank, professor Hans Tietmeyer.

Economic meaning

In the countries of the group of the eight only 13.5% of the population of world live, there develop however nearly two thirds of the world gross national income (in current US Dollar counted, see World development report 2006 of the World Bank).

	Million	%	Billion $	%
2004	Population		BNE
\|Welt	align= " right " \|6345,1	align= " right " \|100,0	align= " right " \|39833,6	align= " right " \|100,0
The USA	293,5	4,6	12150,9	30,5
Japan	127,8	2,0	4749,9	11,9
Germany	82,6	1,3	2489,0	6,2
United kingdom	59,4	0,9	2016,4	5,1
France	60,0	0,9	1858,7	4,7
Italy	57,6	0,9	1503,6	3,8
Canada	31,9	0,5	905,6	2,3
Russia	142,8	2,3	487,3	1,2
\|G8	align= " right " \|855,6	align= " right " \|13,5	align= " right " \|26161,4	align= " right " \|65,7

1975 and 1976 were the G6 and/or the G7 the six and/or sieve largest national economies of the world, based on the GROS DOMESTIC PRODUCT or in the meantime at the BNE, in respective rates of exchange and prices (in US-$). In the meantime however China Italy and Canada and before Russia overhauled would come a whole set of countries with larger BNE such as Mexico, India, South Korea, Brazil and Australia. Spain created it up to the respected place. Italy is no more No. 6 separates No. 7, because China is No. 6.

From G6 to G8

1975 G6 Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, the USA
1976 G7 Canada become member
1998 G8 Russia become participant and hold 2006 the presidency of the G8

Whether it comes to a full membership of Russia, remains undecided in view of numerous reservations (the assumption of the presidency was already criticized in the USA by some violently). Therefore it is still appropriate to differentiate between the G7 of the full members and the G8 including Russia.

Criticism and protests

Exactly the same as the summits of the world trade organization (World Trade Organization) also the G8-Gipfel became again and again a goal of protests of the globalization-critical movement. Since to these protests mostly a broad alliance from left parties and organizations, trade unions, Nichtregierungs organizations (NGOs), which calls anti-capitalistic and autonomous movement, the action forms and points of criticism are very various. Therefore only a small cutout of the points of criticism can be called here, which are stated partially only by individual groups:

The G8-Staaten would not notice its responsibility opposite the so-called developing countries and/or would still worsen by their politics their situation.
The G8 is understood as center of the modern imperialism.
The G8 would operate a environmentaldestructive policy.
The decisions of the G8 would be insufficiently democratically legitimized.

The death of Carlo Giuliani represents the sad high point of the protests, which was shot during the protests 2001 in Genova by a policeman. Also otherwise this summit was characterised by an extremely violent procedure of the police, which led in the result to the fact that more policeman because of criminal offences in the context of the G8-Gipfels were condemned up to now when demonstrators (see also G8-Gipfel in Genova 2001).

In Germany organizing the protests begins already now against in the year 2007 planned summits in holy dam with Rostock.