ABSTRACT

Theorists of exploitation have been focusing on exploitation within the state. But in common speech we all talk about the North exploiting the South, the USA exploiting Mexico, Germany exploiting illegal foreign workers, and so on. This question of international exploitation is often raised when free trade is discussed. There is a widespread belief that international exploitation is impossible—even inconceivable—in circumstances of free trade. For example, the Maastricht agreement from 7 February 1992 guarantees free movement of ‘persons, services and capital’. 2 Many people believe that if you have the latter—free movement of services (goods) and capital—you have the former— free movement of persons, which is, they claim, the antithesis of exploitation, especially when this is accompanied by agreements which guarantee that every worker is entitled to social rights wherever he or she works. This, they claim, prevents exploitation. Others, however, find it significant that persons are mentioned with and treated like capital. These people argue that until such an attitude is uprooted there will always be exploitation. So in this chapter I wish to apply the current theories of exploitation to the international domain, although prima facie it would appear as if this cannot be done. But first let me review four types of international exploitation.