On the contrary, history tells us that globalization, irrespective of its distributional consequences, is Asia's lifeline to a brighter future. The solution is to curb the excesses of globalization. At first it may seem that democratization is inimical to globalization. As the gap between rich and poor becomes more severe, democratization could force a disruptive backlash such as in Seattle. But any such setback is likely to be only temporary.
Inequality is acceptable as long as it conforms to societal notions of justice.
The democratic process prevents those norms from being violated, and is therefore our best hope that globalization will occur in a framework that is generally accepted as fair. The experience of the 20th century is instructive. Even though globalization was almost as advanced in the 19th century as it is today, the global trading system then was characterized by Western monopolies backed by brute military force. The spread of universal suffrage made it harder for the West to exercise force and eroded popular support for colonialism. As a result, developing countries now have a much greater voice in the world trading system than they did a century ago.