This week readings showed a different part of globalization, the poor part, which is a normally forgot part, but so important. Just in the Introduction, the author gives us the perfect summary for the following chapters. It begins explaining that while some countries like US or China benefit gratefully from globalization for its trade components, the advancements in technology, and much more, many other countries participate in the bad part of this process, having less access to resources, inequality and poverty. This makes us question the uneven distribution of advancements in globalization, and what can be really consider advancement. At what point this process provides opportunity and equality? In what levels is this a question of destiny or then a matter of political and influential choices? All these questions and more prepare us for the chapters that try to give it answers, bringing an idea of globalization as a coin of two sides.
In chapter 70, Sen challenges the idea of development, showing an interesting idea of growth, not only as economy, but human freedom and access. For this author, development has to do with education, rights, health and political participation. When not giving these developments, people live a type of poverty, even being in a rich country. This chapter showed advancement in a more humanitarian side, rather than the economic that we are always presented. I agree firmly, once I believe that a rich country is nothing if its major population is not enjoying this. For the future of humankind, Sen provides great questioning about what do we think advancement is, and who and what is advancing and at what cost.
Chapter 76 deeps the poverty issue, with a more positive view. For this author, poor countries are normally stuck in this position, with no much possibility of getting out of it. Sachs believes that rich countries should contribute to the development of these poor countries, aiding in their infrastructure and health, as a benefit for the world. He believes that globalization can be a tool for advancement and growth out of poverty if the international community cooperates. This might not be so easy, maybe even a utopian scenario, but I admire the author’s vision.
By other side, in chapter 77, Easterly is more pessimistic. He think that foreign aid can be harmful without local analysis, as we saw with IMF in Jamaica video. It is presented that local research, local markets and local opinions are very important to advancement, more than just a foreign plan that doesn’t last and doesn’t apply to all. With this two chapters it is clear to me that foreign aid is a delicate subject and needs to be well organized or it can be even worse for the country in the long run.
The E-reserve reading then closes it all, talking about advancement from an individual perspective. It talks about different perspectives in Mexican society and migration from its perspectives. With globalization, many small farmers now lack demand, and economy changes. Because of this, migration, especially to US, becomes their idea for survival, even being harder jobs that pay very low wages. It presents the parts of migration that are bad, like being away from family and home and in hard living arrangements, and the good ones, like sending money to family and saving for a house or else. We see that migration can be a good opportunity, but also a consequence of the globalization arrangements that do not benefit all equally.
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