WEEK 9: Globalization on the Politics of Identity 1. Chapter 7 – Globalization and the Politics of Identity How can the globalizing processes ignite the politics of identity? To mobilize people in a globalize aspect. The losers of the global economy. The uprooting of local identities and the breakdown of the nation-states (i.e. Post war: Soviet Union, Iraq, etc.) Explain the concept of the Lexus and the Olive Tree on the politics of identity. Concept written by Thomas Friedman where Lexus represents the potential rewards from participating in economic globalization. But this often comes at a cost, represented by the Olive Tree. Identity cannot be lost in the trade-off for economic improvement. Friedman argues that in a healthy society, individuals demand both economic progress and sense of belonging. Explain the “Jihad” and “McWorld” outcomes described by Benjamin Barber.
What are the scenarios that have arise from globalizing processes? Covergence: globalization only continues if everyone benefit from it. It is similar worldwide and based on the Western idea languages ( ex: UN, WTO, Homogenization, Hegemonization and McWorld; McDonald in China, speaks French & English). Fragmentation: Its anarchy; un-democratic and which are not positive to globalization. (i.e. “Jihad”, international ethnic civil wars in Africa, etc..) Overlapping Identities: bi-polar single society which is between Fragmentation and Convergence. (i.e. Ireland, Iraq…) Provide three scenarios. Fragmentation (against globalization), Convergence (support globalization) , and Overlapping Identity
What are the emerging non-state identities and what are their political consequences? Non-states identities are created by principles (i.e. Greens, Human Rights groups, social movement=NGOs, and gender being reconstructed in developing countries.) Example: Vietnamese-American feels
strongly towards their Vietnamese culture in disapproving in the political system that escapes in identify as American on certain principles. What are some of the solutions regarding the political consequences that may derive from non-state identities? Note whether we are asking for both “good” and “bad” examples and what are some specific examples. The emerging non-states identities are based by principles. You are American but based on your activities you tend to create new identity based on a certain principle. Among the developing country you have the elite that have new identities based on you principles they have obtained. An example in the US is Cuban Americans. They feel strongly about Cuba they are against Castro, and that principle has united them as a community. That is their major identity based on certain principles. Nonstates identities are created by principles (i.e. Greens, human rights groups, social movements, NGOs , and gender being reconstructed in developing countries). Some of their political consequences are the reconstruction of the way women see themselves. There are more women in the work place. In order for globalization to work there has to be economic benefits (gain) and values.
2. Globalization And Cross-Cultural Values: The Politics Of Identity And Judgment by Ali Mazrui
Provide two examples of hegemonization and homogenization There is a convergence based on the Western Idea. Western countries practice on American Idea.
How distant is the cultural gap between Islam and the West regarding censorship, gender, dignity, and liberty? What is cultural relativism and how does it help to explain the cultural gap between Islam and the West? West: believe in Clinton affair was ok but not lying (affairs are ok, but not able to have second wife.) Islamic: no affairs but yes to second wife.
3. Will You Become Your Own Nation? By Samuel Huntington
While the nation-state has been the pre-eminent institution of the modern world for several centuries, why is it now seen to be in a condition of decay? Nation-states are eroded. Allow people to have their own saying. Having too much idea is a bad thing. Government policy to support restriction immigration. Nation-states are more concentrated on instead of principle.
WEEK 10: Variations in Globalization Will Present Different Decisions Before States and Their Citizens 1. Chapter 6 – How Globalization’s Impact Varies What are the forces and trade-offs that explain how a country will engage in the global economy? Provide some examples of trade-offs that the US, Canada, England, or Japan had to dealt with. Economic benefits vs. race to bottom ( U.S.) Economic benefits vs. soveignity (Japan) Corporation vs. accountability Domestic actors & preferences ( democracy or one-party system). One party system parties injured. Canada worry about their culture value ex: Lexus & the Olive Tree. France protect their cultural heritage = Olive Tree
What are the advantages and disadvantages of democracies pursuing regional co-operation? Is regional integration or regional/multilateral institutions a cause or effect of globalization? Government created regional and global institutions but they have their own structure or life. Ex: U.S. created the UN, but the UN have its own structures. In today’s globalization, are nation-states trading their sovereignty away? Is globalization Americanization?
2. The Fate of Young Democracies: Speech by Ethan Kapstein • •
What is a major trend among young democracies? Provide a solution to this trend. One of the trends was reversal. There was also mention of when a democracy was formed (i.e. the 60’s and 70’s or the 80’s and the 90’s) and its success rate. The audio said that if democratization and capitalization was taken on in stride as opposed to an overnight change, that success was much more likely. That newest democracies with the highest success rates are those of former British colonies who were expose to things such as political parties and suffrage. Those that tended to fail were excommunist nations and dictatorships that were over thrown.
WEEK 11 The Effects of Globalization on Market Liberalization, Democracy, and Power 1. Globalization and Democracy: A New "Great Transformation"? By Robert Munck
What is Karl Polanyi’s “double movement”? Economic liberalization, social protection (U.S) states are involve in international economy which is more stable. How can globalization have a deleterious effect on democracy worldwide? And how can globalization create new prospects for global democracy?
2. Globalization and Growth in Emerging Markets and the New Economy by Joseph Stiglitz
What is the emerging consensus on the relative merits of these various aspects of globalization (including knowledge, trade, and labor)? Provide a “consensus” for knowledge, trade, and labor. Knowledge: the free flow of ideas that has followed the lowering of communication costs and the closer integration of societies. Knowledge is proven to be the strongest forces for growth in emerging markets. globalization of knowledge not only entails technical knowledge, but ideas which transform
societies — ideas like democracy and markets — and knowledge which forms the basis not only of the adoption of policies which serve to enhance growth but also of institutions Trade: This “unilateral disarmament” approach to trade liberalization, while it has been extensively pushed on developing countries, has been resisted in their own approaches to trade liberalization by the very countries. They have typically refused to lower domestic trade barriers unless they win parallel concessions from their trading partners. To be sure, this is sometimes viewed as necessary to get the broad political backing for trade liberalization — an aspect, however, which is at the same time ignored by the international financial institutions as they make demands for reforms on their developing country clientele, even as they praise them for adopting democratic processes. But even when it is the case that a particular small country might benefit from trade liberalization on its own, there can be terms of trade effects from broad patterns of trade liberalization, and the unfair trade agenda—liberalization directed at lowering global impediments to goods which are the developed countries’ comparative advantage—has resulted in sub-Saharan Africa, the poorest region in the world, actually being worse off at the end of the last round of trade liberalization. Labor: indicative of the extent to which the globalization agenda has been controlled by financial interests that while the important of global financial movements for global efficiency has been continually stressed, hardly a word has been mentioned about labor flows. The fact that the globalization agenda has focused on the free movement of capital, and virtually ignored the movement of labor. While these movements of labor might simultaneously increase GDP in the more developed countries and lower incomes of certain groups within those countries, they have similarly ambiguous effects on the developing world. The remittances of migrant labor have been an important source of income in several developing countries, and, in a few instances, the technology and entrepreneurship of the “diasporas,” the migrants who have succeeded abroad and returned to the home country to establish new enterprise, has played a critical role. At the same time, there are some instances where the outflow of young, skilled workers has bled a country of an essential input for its economic growth.
How has globalization, as currently managed, adversely affects growth in developing countries?
Provide two examples of how bad government management can negatively affect growth. 3. Assessing China’s Growing Influence in Africa by Bates Gill, Chinhao Huang, and Stephen Morrison
What are some of the key components behind China’s Africa policy? China needs Africa-access to energy & others. Scare high volume commodities, and to create block against the West. Getting on the ground to be in on the social & political transformative process. Increase presence via UN keeping mission. China practices non-intervention in states affairs & respect state sovereignty. China likes Africa because of its own country state. China sells old weapons to these countries. U.S. does feel threaten by the China’s Africa policy depend on the different administration perspective. Neo-realism= negative. Neoliberalism= positive Provide three key components.
What does China’s Africa policy fits squarely with its global foreign policy? It has a new security concept. China’s peaceful rite as a global power & strengthen relation w/neighbors, regions which will create a more multi-polar, more equitable international system.
4. Global Issues’ “The Ends of the World as We Know Them?” (Article 5) • What are the five groups of interacting factors that have caused the historical collapses of once-powerful societies? • According to the author, what are the key lessons we can learn from history? Provide two.
WEEK 12 Who are the winners and losers in developing countries? 1. Winners and Losers in the Context of Global Change by Karen L. O’Brien* and Robin M. Leichenko
Define the concept of voluntary winners and losers. Define the concept of structural winners and losers. Voluntary: emerge from competition in which before the event, the game is “fair” and outcome undetermined. Structural: emerge from a larger
societal processes or changes whereby the distribution of the impacts in unequal. What is the natural, inevitable, and evolutionary (NIE) view of winners and losers? Natural: a rational outcome of ongoing social and political process (based on ecological or economic processes). Solutions are based on adjustment and adaptationone can create a win-win opportunity. Inevitable: depending on where you are in the region there are certain resources that are/are not available to you. Survival of the fittest. Evolutionary: Niche market in order to survive or get out of market. What is the socially and political generated (SPG) view of winners and losers? Outcome is generated by unequal social and political structures in the determination of winners and losers (based on Marxism perspective). Solutions are that there is room for intervention to adjust patterns/identities of winners and losers.
2. Developing Countries: Winners and losers by Carol Lancaster
Who is the developing world? Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, SE Asia, Middle East, and North Africa. Why do these considerable differences among regions and countries in the developing world exist? Governance = policies and institutions Leadership Social economic groupings External threats
Is there evidence for the “relative deprivation theory”? NO, in the sense if this was true then you would have a lot of conflicts.
3. Linking globalization to poverty by Machiko Nissanke and Erik Thorbecke
What are the transmission mechanisms through which the process of globalization affects poverty directly and indirectly? Why have wage gaps between skilled and unskilled labor been increasing in many developing countries (particularly in Latin America and Africa)?
4. Winners and Losers of Vietnam’s Leading Food Exports by Long Le
Does becoming a world leading food exporter serve as engine for long-run economic growth?
Who exactly benefits from the country’s world leading food exports? Provide one winner in absolute terms. Provide one loser in relative terms. The farmers benefit, they are much better off then they were before. In terms of region the farmers are the ones who get paid the least. Vietnamese farmers in absolute terms are winners but not in relative terms. American shrimpers are losers while American consumers are winners because of lower seafood prices).
WEEK 13 The proliferation and effectiveness of “north” and “south” non-governmental organizations 1. The Power Shift and the NGO Credibility Crisis by James McGann and Mary Johnstone What has fueled the growth of non-state actors? How many NGOs do we have today? Trends of greater democratization & the importance of civil society promoting democracy. The need of independent information & analysis. Perceived inability of both domestic & the international institutions to problems associated with globalization. INGOs= 37,000 1.5 million in terms of non-profit organizations 1 million in India of local NGOs
Is there a global method to ensure that NGOs are accountable? What approaches would make the finances, governance, and programs of NGOs more transparent? No. “Ask no dogooders to prove they do good” or NGOs community must be willing to practice what they preach. Developing a set of credible and verifiable standards.
In the U.S., all NGOs must file financial reports annually with the IRS. Japan & European countries require similar measures. What can NGOs do at the international level to increase their transparency? 2. Development, NGOS, and civil society by Jenny Pearce What is the split between North and South Development NGOs? North NGOs adopted too quickly the official agendas for their donors and refuse the idea of direct funding to South NGOs. =>>North NGOs as “the delivery agency for a global soup kitchen” and do not critique or evaluate the neoliberal policy Provide three splits.
What are the key debates about the future direction of Southern NGOs? Whether South NGOs focus on the delivery aspects that empower NGO personnel and staff instead of the poor and the disadvantages. =>> If South NGO engages in self-financing activities (provide services for the state) does this make South NGOs less effective in terms of their original goals/objectives. What can distract southern NGOs from focusing on their original goals (i.e. helping the poor and the disadvantage?
3. Scaling Up Microfinance in Eastern and Western Africa with Lessons From India by Sultan Rehman Sherief
Describe the role and effectiveness of Self-Help Groups (SHG) in microfinance in India. Microfinance is costly for banks to to business in rural areas. It has high default rates are really high- SHG (5-25) Bank- SGH- Individuals Bank- NGO- SGH- Individuals Bank- Individuals ( SHG and NGO acts as an advisor) How do Self-Help Groups in India operate? Why are SHGs considered to be effective? Form the Basic constituent group in INDIA. There are a collective effort by a group of individuals where as the bank merely acts as the facilitator of funds and the group governs where and to whom the funds will
be available to. Peer pressure in society causes the individual to repay all fund receives.
In general, what are key challenges facing microfinance system in Africa? Provide three challenges. 1. Membership conditions 2. Obligation to save prior to access of credit 3. Two fold structure based on elected member and professionals. The precondition to save excludes low income clients Governance issues (i.e. corruption)
4. Globalization, Religion and Culture by Maryann Cusimano Love
Can religious institutions help to bridge the institutional gaps, helping to forge a more just and more peaceful globalization? What institutional deficits and benefits do U.S. Catholic institutions have in trying to bridge the capacity, jurisdiction, participation, legitimacy, and ethical gaps which globalization presents?
WEEK 14-15: The effectiveness of global institutions and the rise of the global citizen 1. By Democratizing the World Trade Organization by Fiona McGillivray • How much representation does the United States get within the WTO?MFN rule and in combination with the principle supplier negotiations. What is the purpose of the WTO? What allows the US to garner influence within the WTO? •
Because US Trade Representative (USTR) plays a crucial role within the WTO, does USTR more likely to represent the interests of the multinational corporations or NGOs? USTR is nominated by the President and is confirmed and the Senate. The USTR is accountable to whom? Explain why in general the President is more likely than Congress to support the multinational corporations? Explain why some industries are more likely to be protected from congressional legislation than other industries?
2. What I Learned at the World Economic Crisis by Joseph Stiglitz • Why was Joseph Stiglitz unable to persuade the IMF to reduce its high interest rates on East Asia countries? Didn’t not know who was in control and who should be held accountable. What did Joseph Stiglitz fear might happen to East Asian countries as consequence of IMF’s high interest rates for these countries? • Why are some of the criticisms of the IMF’s "mission" of economists? -One-Policy fits all. –Not accounting for local’s history cultural and norms. -3RD rate economist without including local economists. –Not proactive. –Using bad economics. 3. The United Nations and Human Rights in the New Millennium by David Forsythe • How can the UN in the new millennium better integrate human rights and economic concerns? Provide examples of how both multinational corporations and global institutions (i.e. the World Bank, and the IMF) can benefit by incorporating human rights to their work? Multinational corporations pay attention to human rights standards. If they do, then this can be an asset to the buying public. World Bank and IMF should brought into the human rights movement. The World Bank is more likely than the IMF to integrate some aspects of human rights (i.e. good governance). Why is the concept of human rights so central in the globalizing processes? •
Why has been difficult for the UN to make US foreign policy more cosmopolitan regarding human right issues? The US has great difficulty in accepting that international law and organization should take precedence over strictly American standards and procedures; or place U.S. citizens solely under international jurisdiction (i.e. international criminal court). Why is the U.S. hesitant in accepting international standards on human rights?
4. "Guiding Students Toward Global Citizenship," by Remarks by Jonathan Fanton • What are some incentives for colleges and universities to develop an education for global citizenship? Prepare college graduates to live in a globalized world. The most interesting jobs will go to the student with a global perspective. It is also in the nation’s interests to combat the anti-American attitudes by sending students to different countries.
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Why is being more international or Kingman Brewster’s five-year BA good for individual students? Study abroad. Foreign language. Internships with NGOs.
5. Corporate Citizenship on the Rise by Jill Colford • What are some key components behind corporate citizenship? Giving back to the community, (i.e. one-stop career center for any citizen; an entrepreneur development center for any citizen with an idea for business; and grants to middle-and high school students to do voluntary services.) • How can corporations become globally and locally relevant in regard to corporate citizenship? Provide corporate funds at the corporate level while its employees at different locations will do the legwork (i.e. Habitat for Humanity).