Summary of "Globalization: Profits over people (2/2) | DW Documentary"
The documentary explores the complex realities of globalization, highlighting how the promise of worldwide prosperity and peace through free trade contrasts sharply with the restricted movement and exploitation of people, especially migrants. While goods move freely across borders, labor migration faces significant barriers, forcing many to undertake dangerous journeys in search of work and better lives.
In southern Spain, particularly Almeria, the agricultural sector heavily depends on migrant labor, mostly from Africa, who endure poor wages, exploitative conditions, and legal uncertainties while waiting years for work permits. Many live in informal settlements ("Chabolas") with limited rights, facing systemic exploitation including wage theft and sexual harassment. Despite these hardships, migrants seek opportunities for training and integration, hoping to move beyond agricultural jobs.
Senegal exemplifies the root causes driving migration: overfishing by foreign fleets (Chinese, European, Turkish) depletes local fish stocks, devastating coastal communities that rely on fishing for survival. Climate change and land-grabbing by multinational corporations further erode farming livelihoods, pushing people toward migration as a last resort. The Senegalese government acknowledges these challenges but points to global overfishing and environmental pressures as key factors.
The film also contrasts the African migrant experience with that of the Chinese diaspora in Spain, which is portrayed as more economically successful and integrated into global trade networks. Chinese immigrants have established thriving businesses, benefiting from a strong work ethic and global connections, reflecting China’s broader economic ambitions through initiatives like the Belt and Road.
Overall, the documentary critiques Europe’s selective immigration policies that fail to acknowledge its dependence on migrant labor and the economic potential of organized immigration. It calls for more humane, fair immigration policies that recognize migration as a historical constant and a necessary adaptation to globalization’s inequalities.
Speakers in the video:
- Migrant workers from Senegal and other African countries (various individuals sharing personal stories)
- Local Spanish employers and authorities in Almeria
- Ndeye Thioro (Senegalese migrant retraining as a chef)
- Samba (Senegalese migrant worker in Spain)
- Djibril Thiam (Swiss aid agency worker familiar with Senegal’s farming and fishing issues)
- Matar Ndoye (Senegalese migrant living in Almeria)
- Alioune (Senegalese law graduate planning to migrate to Europe)
- Dawei Ding (Chinese radio host in Madrid)
- Shuang Sheng Xu (Founder of Visiotech, son of Chinese immigrants)
- Various unnamed fishermen and local residents in Senegal
- Narrator/Documentary voiceover
