The existence of social protection systems promotes more humane societies and can be recognized as one of the great social achievements of the twentieth century. In other words, as accurately outlined by Mr. Desai, a process of economic growth which generates resources is necessary to address social protection and vulnerabilities. Therefore, social protection programmes should not be approached or, worse still, labeled as unproductive financial burdens but as an investment for social cohesion and betterment of condition of human beings, and hence, of the society in its entirety. It is, of course, understood and granted that these programmes should be cost-effective and befit country specific situations and the level of development of the country concerned. Moreover, we all need to have a fresh analytical look at the issues of social protection and reducing vulnerabilities in the light of the still on-going globalization process and its impact on social development.
Globalization remains a potentially powerful dynamic force for growth and development.
It carries the potential of improving the overall performance of developing countries in social arenas by, among others, opening up market opportunities for their exports, promoting the transfer of technology and by increasing the financial resources available for investment. Maximizing the benefits and minimizing the risks of globalization requires that the international community address the imbalances and asymmetries in the international economy. Particular attention is called for in the field of information technology and the digital divide, which if not bridged, will inevitably unfortunate as it will be - result in further widening the gap between the poor and the rich, thus rendering many possible changes in social arena impossible or meaningless. It should be quite clear to all of us now that globalization, albeit a reality, is nevertheless subject to policy options. Nowadays, social development and provision of social protection should be understood and approached in a dynamic manner, and thus reflective of unfolding developments and evolution of vulnerabilities or emerging forms of underdevelopment.