GlobalizationGlobalization

Some More QuestionsSome More Questions

Is globalization inevitable?Is globalization inevitable?Does globalization ultimately help or hurt people?Does globalization ultimately help or hurt people?Does globalization make the world more diverse or more Does globalization make the world more diverse or more the same?the same?Does globalization lead to culture-sharing or cultural Does globalization lead to culture-sharing or cultural imperialism?imperialism?Does globalization lead to an increase or decrease in Does globalization lead to an increase or decrease in violent conflicts?violent conflicts?Is globalization ultimately good or bad for the Is globalization ultimately good or bad for the environment?environment?Does globalization increase or decrease instances of Does globalization increase or decrease instances of environmental injustice?environmental injustice?Is globalization sustainable?Is globalization sustainable?

A Popular Literary A Popular Literary Image of GlobalizationImage of Globalization

Samuel HuntingtonSamuel Huntington The Clash of CivilizationsThe Clash of Civilizations

and the Remaking of World Orderand the Remaking of World Order

(1993, 1998)(1993, 1998)

The “Civilizations”The “Civilizations”

Another Popular Another Popular Literary Image of GlobalizationLiterary Image of Globalization

Benjamin Barber Benjamin Barber Jihad vs. McWorld:Jihad vs. McWorld:

How Globalism and Tribalism How Globalism and Tribalism

are Reshaping the Worldare Reshaping the World

(1995)(1995)

And Two Last Popular And Two Last Popular Literary Images of GlobalizationLiterary Images of Globalization

Thomas Friedman Thomas Friedman

The Lexus and the Olive Tree:The Lexus and the Olive Tree: The World is Flat:The World is Flat:

Understanding Globalization A Brief History of theUnderstanding Globalization A Brief History of the

(2000) (2000) Twenty-first CenturyTwenty-first Century

(2005)(2005)

Some Responses to Globalization in Terms Some Responses to Globalization in Terms of Nation-States of Nation-States

and International Economic Integrationand International Economic Integration

Skeptics: Globalization has not significantly Skeptics: Globalization has not significantly reduced the regulative and redistributive reduced the regulative and redistributive capacities of nation-states. Nation-states can capacities of nation-states. Nation-states can adequately respond to globalization.adequately respond to globalization.

Deregulators or Hyperglobalists: Globalization Deregulators or Hyperglobalists: Globalization has reduced the regulative and redistributive has reduced the regulative and redistributive capacities of nation-states. This is a beneficial, capacities of nation-states. This is a beneficial, efficient, and overall good thing, and efficient, and overall good thing, and globalization should be encouraged. globalization should be encouraged.

Some More Responses to GlobalizationSome More Responses to Globalization

Reversers: Globalization is constraining the Reversers: Globalization is constraining the public policy making abilities of nation-states and public policy making abilities of nation-states and other political actors, and this is undesirable. other political actors, and this is undesirable. Globalization should be slowed down or Globalization should be slowed down or reversed.reversed.

Internationalists or Transformationalists: Internationalists or Transformationalists: Globalization is constraining the public policy Globalization is constraining the public policy making abilities of nation-states and other making abilities of nation-states and other political actors. To deal with the bad political actors. To deal with the bad consequences of this, international systems of consequences of this, international systems of effective governance should be developed.effective governance should be developed.

““Assessing Global Poverty and Inequality:Assessing Global Poverty and Inequality:Income, Resources, and Capabilities”Income, Resources, and Capabilities”

Ingrid RobeynsIngrid Robeyns

Scholars and Politicians on the Political Scholars and Politicians on the Political Right, and Mainstream Economists:Right, and Mainstream Economists:

There are fewer people living in poverty today than there There are fewer people living in poverty today than there were in the past ten or twenty years!were in the past ten or twenty years!Inequality between the poor and the rich countries is Inequality between the poor and the rich countries is decreasing!decreasing!People in poor countries benefit from economic People in poor countries benefit from economic globalization!globalization!People in poor countries have become better off thanks to People in poor countries have become better off thanks to the policies of the World Trade Organization, the World the policies of the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund!Bank, and the International Monetary Fund!

Scholars, Politicians, Scholars, Politicians, and Social Activists on the Political Left:and Social Activists on the Political Left:

There are more people living in poverty today than there There are more people living in poverty today than there were in the past ten or twenty years!were in the past ten or twenty years!Inequality between the poor and the rich countries is Inequality between the poor and the rich countries is increasing!increasing!People in poor countries are harmed by economic People in poor countries are harmed by economic globalization!globalization!People in poor countries have become worse off thanks People in poor countries have become worse off thanks to the policies of the World Trade Organization, the to the policies of the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund!World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund!

So what is the real story?So what is the real story?

Robeyns:Robeyns:

Different evaluative approaches used to assess well-being, Different evaluative approaches used to assess well-being, poverty, and inequality give different answers to these poverty, and inequality give different answers to these kinds of questions.kinds of questions.

1. Income Measures1. Income Measures

2. Classifying Resources2. Classifying Resources

3. Functionings and Capabilities 3. Functionings and Capabilities

Income Measures from the World BankIncome Measures from the World Bank

The World Bank says that poverty is decreasing in the world.The World Bank says that poverty is decreasing in the world.

http://devdata.worldbank.org/wdi2006/contents/cover.htmhttp://devdata.worldbank.org/wdi2006/contents/cover.htm

But how is poverty defined?But how is poverty defined?

The most often cited measure is someone who lives on $1 (U.S.) or The most often cited measure is someone who lives on $1 (U.S.) or less a day.less a day.

This is equivalent to the purchasing-power parity of $1.08 in the U.S. in This is equivalent to the purchasing-power parity of $1.08 in the U.S. in 1993. 1993.

Classifying Resources I: GDP and GNPClassifying Resources I: GDP and GNP

Human development traditionally is based on economic growth in Human development traditionally is based on economic growth in monetary outcome terms for nation-states:monetary outcome terms for nation-states:

1. Gross Domestic Product (GDP): A monetary measure of the value 1. Gross Domestic Product (GDP): A monetary measure of the value of goods and services, for final consumption or investment, of goods and services, for final consumption or investment, produced by a national economy over the course of a year.produced by a national economy over the course of a year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)

2. Gross National Product (GNP): Start with GDP. Then add income2. Gross National Product (GNP): Start with GDP. Then add income that accrues to domestic residents from investments abroad. that accrues to domestic residents from investments abroad. Then deduct income earned in the domestic economy which is Then deduct income earned in the domestic economy which is owned by people abroad. owned by people abroad.

Classifying Resources II: Classifying Resources II: Rawlsian Social Primary GoodsRawlsian Social Primary Goods

Recall John Rawls’ theory of distributive justice.Recall John Rawls’ theory of distributive justice.People in the original position (POPs) behind a veil of ignorance know People in the original position (POPs) behind a veil of ignorance know

nothing about who they are. They do know, however, that nothing about who they are. They do know, however, that regardless of who they turn out to be, they will want regardless of who they turn out to be, they will want social primary social primary goodsgoods, including income, wealth, liberties, opportunities, and the , including income, wealth, liberties, opportunities, and the social basis of self-respect.social basis of self-respect.

To determine these goods, we could track and compare:To determine these goods, we could track and compare:1. Individual disposable income within a given state.1. Individual disposable income within a given state.2. Basic rights guaranteed by a given state.2. Basic rights guaranteed by a given state.3. What kinds of social, political, and economic opportunities are 3. What kinds of social, political, and economic opportunities are

available to individual people within a given state.available to individual people within a given state.4. Whether or not people feel there exists a social basis for 4. Whether or not people feel there exists a social basis for

self-respect within their given state.self-respect within their given state.

Human Development ReportsHuman Development Reports (HDRs) (HDRs)

Developed by the United Nations Development Program Developed by the United Nations Development Program in the 1990s as an alternative to simple GDP and GNP in the 1990s as an alternative to simple GDP and GNP to measure human well-being.to measure human well-being.

Theoretically linked to capabilities approaches to justice.Theoretically linked to capabilities approaches to justice.

In addition to goods and services, an HDR is designed to In addition to goods and services, an HDR is designed to capture peoples’ opportunities, choices, valued ways of capture peoples’ opportunities, choices, valued ways of living, and flourishing.living, and flourishing.

Based on an aggregate of data:Based on an aggregate of data: http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/statistics/indicators/http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/statistics/indicators/

Capabilities ApproachesCapabilities Approaches

These are theoretically linked to HDRs, but they might allow us to move These are theoretically linked to HDRs, but they might allow us to move beyond welfare comparisons and actually compare people’s lives.beyond welfare comparisons and actually compare people’s lives.

Central insight: Human development concerns not just what people have Central insight: Human development concerns not just what people have (such as resources and money) but, more importantly, what people actively (such as resources and money) but, more importantly, what people actively can do with their lives. can do with their lives.

Amartya Sen’s approach is based on the idea that expanding peoples’ Amartya Sen’s approach is based on the idea that expanding peoples’ freedoms is both the principal means of development and the primary end of freedoms is both the principal means of development and the primary end of development.development.

Martha Nussbaum’s approach is based on the idea that there are core Martha Nussbaum’s approach is based on the idea that there are core human capabilities that are central in human lives and that distinctively human capabilities that are central in human lives and that distinctively make us human.make us human.

These approaches support the creation of social, political, economic, legal, These approaches support the creation of social, political, economic, legal, and moral conditions for people to develop and exercise their capabilities.and moral conditions for people to develop and exercise their capabilities.

Amartya Sen: “Development as Freedom”Amartya Sen: “Development as Freedom”

What justice ought to “distribute”:What justice ought to “distribute”:

1. 1. Elementary functionsElementary functions: “doings” and : “doings” and “ “beings” such as having access to beings” such as having access to adequate food and shelter that can be secured by adequate food and shelter that can be secured by personal liberty, income, and wealth.personal liberty, income, and wealth.

2. 2. Complex functionsComplex functions: “doings” and “beings” such as: “doings” and “beings” such as having self-respect and being able to take part inhaving self-respect and being able to take part in political communities that depend on factorspolitical communities that depend on factors

independent of possessing resources.independent of possessing resources.

Some Aspects of Sen’s ApproachSome Aspects of Sen’s Approach

Rather than an exclusive focus on economic Rather than an exclusive focus on economic indicators, focuses also on the range and quality of indicators, focuses also on the range and quality of valued options of people’s choices.valued options of people’s choices.

To examine a person’s capabilities, normatively rank:To examine a person’s capabilities, normatively rank:

1. A set of life paths that person could follow.1. A set of life paths that person could follow.

2. How that person actually lives.2. How that person actually lives.

3. How satisfied that person feels3. How satisfied that person feels

4. The goods/commodities that person uses.4. The goods/commodities that person uses.

Martha Nussbaum: “Capabilities Approach”Martha Nussbaum: “Capabilities Approach”

Develops an open and revisable threshold list of central human Develops an open and revisable threshold list of central human capabilities that all people ought to be able to exercise.capabilities that all people ought to be able to exercise.

This list can be used for public planning purposes by governments This list can be used for public planning purposes by governments and other political entities. The goal would be to develop legal, and other political entities. The goal would be to develop legal, political, and social institutions and procedures that create political, and social institutions and procedures that create conditions in which people can develop and exercise their conditions in which people can develop and exercise their

capabilities.capabilities.

List of Central Human Capabilities List of Central Human Capabilities to be “distributed.”to be “distributed.”

1. 1. LifeLife: being able to live a normal human life span.: being able to live a normal human life span.2. 2. Bodily HealthBodily Health: being able to have good health.: being able to have good health.3. 3. Bodily IntegrityBodily Integrity: being able to be physically secure, including rights over : being able to be physically secure, including rights over

one’s own body.one’s own body.4. 4. Senses, Imagination, and ThoughtSenses, Imagination, and Thought: being able to use these mental : being able to use these mental

capacities in a truly human way through adequate education, capacities in a truly human way through adequate education, informed consent, and freedom from repression.informed consent, and freedom from repression.

5. 5. EmotionsEmotions: being able to have and freely express feelings and sentiments. : being able to have and freely express feelings and sentiments. 6. 6. Practical ReasonPractical Reason: being able “to form a conception of the good and to : being able “to form a conception of the good and to

engage in critical reflection about the planning of one’s life.”engage in critical reflection about the planning of one’s life.”7. 7. AffiliationAffiliation: (a) being able to interact well with other people, and : (a) being able to interact well with other people, and

(b) having the social bases for self-respect, dignity, and non-humiliation. (b) having the social bases for self-respect, dignity, and non-humiliation. 8. 8. Other SpeciesOther Species: being able to live with concern for the natural world.: being able to live with concern for the natural world.9. 9. PlayPlay: being able to play and laugh.: being able to play and laugh.10. 10. Control Over EnvironmentControl Over Environment: being able to effectively participate in: being able to effectively participate in

political processes, to have possessions, and to seek employment.political processes, to have possessions, and to seek employment.

ConclusionConclusion

We might be able to reconcile conflicting We might be able to reconcile conflicting answers to questions about poverty, inequality, answers to questions about poverty, inequality, and economic globalization by viewing these and economic globalization by viewing these different evaluative approaches as different evaluative approaches as complementary rather than as purely rival complementary rather than as purely rival alternatives.alternatives.

This might open a door for bringing together This might open a door for bringing together globalization champions from the political right globalization champions from the political right and anti-globalization champions from the and anti-globalization champions from the political left. political left.