The New Rules of the World by John Pilger, subtitle Indonesia

Globalization has led to mass protests, particularly against economic inequality. Despite advances in wealth creation, poverty persists, with a small number of corporations amassing vast wealth, highlighting severe disparities.

The rise of Indonesia as a nation rich in resources yet plagued by poverty reflects the negative impact of globalization, where local populations suffer under foreign corporate influence, leading to social disparity.

Events like a Jakarta elite wedding reveal a stark contrast between the wealthy and the vast population living in poverty, with millions struggling to survive, illuminating the human cost of mass production.

Working conditions in Indonesian factories are dire, where workers earn below a living wage, exacerbated by cramped housing and lack of basic services, indicating the exploitation behind cheap global goods.

Sweatshops operate in economic processing zones where western brands exploit cheap labor, with workers facing extreme conditions. Brands claim to enforce ethical standards, yet violations are rampant and largely unchecked.

Workers in factories for brands like Gap face grueling hours and little oversight while being subjected to unsafe conditions, raising questions about corporate accountability and workers' rights enforcement.

The code of conduct proposed by brands often fails to protect workers, leading to continuous exploitation due to weak enforcement and intimidation against whistleblowers in Indonesia's labor market.

The narrative exposes how the West's priorities during Suharto's regime favored economic gain over human rights, showing complicity in mass atrocities that led to Indonesia's strategic resource exploitation.

In the aftermath of Suharto's fall, foreign investment continued to exploit Indonesia's resources at the expense of its people's rights and prosperity, perpetuating a cycle of debt and corruption.