FINAL REVIEW – JULY 07

THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF STATE FINANCE

AK/SPPA 4115 6.0A

 

{SYNOPSIS AND GENERAL OVERVIEW: THIS SECTION OF THE COURSE HAS BEEN DIVIDED INTO FOUR SUBJECT AREAS: (1)GENDER PARADOXES PAY EQUITY & THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF CHILDCARE (2) ABORIGINAL PEOPLE IN CANADA {THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF-DETERMINATION AND SELF-GOVERNANCE}, (3) THE NEW URBAN EXPERIENCE OF GLOBALIZATION{THE RISE OF “THE GLOBAL CITY”}.

 

{*THE SOCIOLOGICAL KEY ====> IN THIS FINAL SECTION OF THE COURSE WE LEARNED ABOUT THE GENDERIZATION, RACIALIZATION AND URBANIZATION OF POLITCAL ECONOMY, AND [SOME] CONTEMPORARY ATTEMPTS TO INTERVENE IN THE STATUS QUO}

 

PART I – GENDER PARADOXES PAY EQUITY & THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF CHILDCARE

A)      GENDER PARADOXES AND THE RISE OF CONTINGENT WORKER

THESIS: A FEMINIST POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE LABOUR MARKET {FOCUSING ON SPECIFIC FEATURE OF WOMEN'S LABOUR MARKET EXPERIENCES}

BY THE MID-1990S ONLY 33 PERCENT OF CANADIANS HELD NORMAL JOBS {STANDARD EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS}; AND THERE WAS A PREDOMINANCE OF PRECARIOUS FORMS OF NONSTANDARD WORK THAT WAS PERSISTENLY GENDERED AND RACIALIZED IN CHARACTER.

CONTINGENT WORK INCLUDES THOSE FORMS OF EMPLOYMENT INVOLVING ATYPICAL EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS, LIMITED SOCIAL BENEFITS AND STATUTORY ENTITLEMENTS, JOB INSECURITY, LOW JOB TENURE, LOW WAGES, AND HIGH RISKS OF ILL HEALTH =====> VULNERABLE POPULATIONS SUCH AS YOUTH, WOMEN AND IMMIGRANTS ARE OVERREPRSENTED IN CONTINGENT WORK.

CONTINGENCY WORK PRODUCED SEVERAL “GENDER PARADOXES” ======> (1) CONTINGENCY WORK CAN NO LONGER MEDIATE THE CONTRADICTION BETWEEN PRODUCTION AND REPRODUCTION{AS MORE PEOPLE WORK TO SUSTAIN THE HOUSEHOLD THE TIME DEVOTED TO SOCIAL REPRODUCTION DECLINES}; (2) THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN'S LABOUR IN SOCIAL REPRODUCTION IS BECOMING MORE VISIBLE {EVEN GARNERING ATTENTON FROM THE STATE --- DECLINING FERTILITY, CHILDCARE POLICY, TAX ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE DEVELOMENT}; (3) CONTINGENCY NOT ONLY UNDERMINES THE STANDARD OF LIVING FOR WORKING PEOPLE, BUT ALSO JEOPARDIZES THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO REAR CHILDREN, CARE FOR LOVED ONES, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOCIAL GOOD; (4) EVEN WITH WOMEN'S HIGH RATES OF LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION, THE STATE IS WITHDRAWING FURTHER THE PUBLIC SUPPORTS NECESSARY TO REPRODUCE A HEALTHY WORKING POPULATION.

SOLUTIONS: (1) CULTIVATE STATEGIES AROUND IMPROVED CHILCARE, EDUCATION, AND HEALTHCARE, AS WELL AS JUST IMMIGRATION POLICEIS THAT ENABLE WORKERS TO RESIST CONTINGENCY; (2) NONSTANDARD, OR “FLEXIBLE” FORMS OF WORK NEED NOT AMOUNT TO CONTINGENY WORK; RATHER, CERTAIN FORMS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE REDISTRIBUTION AND REDESIGN OF WORK AND WORKPLACES {INSTITUTIONALIZE FORMS OF LABOUR REGULATION THAT LINK PRODUCTION TO REPRODUCTION BY ELEVATING AND INTEGRATING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TRADITIONALLY GENDERED WORK}.

 

B)      PAY EQUITY AND EMPLOYMENT EQUITY {ASIDE}

A NUMBER OF STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN AN ATTEMPT TO ACHIEVE GREATER GENDER EQUALITY IN THE LABOUR MARKET.

SINCE THE 1980'S THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SOME PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS, AND A NUMBER OF PRIVATE COMPANIES HAVE IMPLEMENTED PAY EQUITY AND EMPLOYMENT EQUITY POLICIES. {*PRO-ACTIVE STATEGIES TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENCES}

1)      PAY EQUITY ATTEMPTS TO RAISE THE VALUE OF THE WORK TRADITIONALLY PERFORMED BY WOMEN.

PAY EQUITY IS SOMETIMES CALLED COMPARABLE WORTH, AND IT REFLECTS THE BELIEF THAT WAGES OUGHT TO REFLECT THE WORTH OF A JOB, NOT THE GENDER OR RACE OF THE WORKER.

LEGISLATION: REQUIRES THAT SPECIFIC KINDS OF JOBS BE EXAMINED FOR DETERMINING (A) SEX SEGREGATION, AND (B) JOB VALUE WITHIN WORKPLACES.

HOW CAN THE COMPARABLE WORTH OF DIFFERENT JOBS BE DETERMINED(?)

ONE WAY IS TO COMPARE THE ACTUAL WORK OF WOMEN'S AND MEN'S  JOBS AND SEE IF THERE IS A DISPARITY IN THE SALARIES PAID FOR EACH. TO DO THIS, ANALYSTS BREAK A JOB INTO COMPONENTS – SUCH AS THE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND SKILLS REQUIRED, THE EXTENT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR OTHER'S WORK, AND WORK CONDITIONS – AND THEN ALLOCATE POINTS FOR EACH.

FOR PAY EQUITY TO EXIST, MEN AND WOMEN IN OCCUPATIONS THAT RECEIVE THE SAME NUMBER OF POINTS SHOULD BE PAID THE SAME.

IN SHORT, PAY EQUITY PROMOTES THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUAL PAY FOR WORK OF EQUAL VALUE. {*EQUALITY OF CONDITIONS}

2)       EMPLOYMENT EQUITY STRATEGIES FOCUS ON WAYS TO MOVE WOMEN INTO HIGHER-PAYING JOBS TRADITIONALLY HELD BY MEN – BY:

ELIMINATING THE BARRIERS TO AND THE EFFECTS OF DISCRIMINATION, TO FULLY OPEN THE COMPETITION FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED HISTORICALLY.

A)      ELIMINATE SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION.

B)      REMEDY THE EFFECTS OF PAST DISCRIMINATION.

C)      ACHIEVE A REPRESENTATIVE WORKFORCE.

THAT TARGET GROUPS FOR EMPLOYMENT EQUITY {AND “STATISTICAL EQUALITY” NOT MERELY “EQUAL TREATMENT”} ARE VISIBLE MINORITIES, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, ABORIGINAL PEOPLE AND WOMEN.

IN COMPARISON TO PAY EQUITY, WHICH ADDRESSES WAGE ISSUES ONLY, /// EMPLOYMENT EQUITY COVERS A RANGE OF EMPLOYMENT ISSUES SUCH AS RECRUITMENT, SELECTION, TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT, AND PROMOTION.

 

C)      SOME} RESULTS AND CONTRADITIONS OF PAY EQUITY

PAY EQUITY IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW FEMINIST ACTIVISTS AND OTHERS HAVE USED THE LAW TO TRANSFORM SOCIAL RELATIONS. IT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED WAGES FOR MANY WOMEN IN A WAY NO OTHER APPROACH HAS ACHIEVED. BUT THE TRANSFOMATIVE PROCESS AND THE RESULTS ARE CONTRADICTORY.

TRANSFORMATIVE RESULTS:

1)       IT HAS ENCOURAGED MANY WOMEN TO REASSESS THEIR WORK, TO EXAMINE THE KINDS OF SKILL, EFFORT, RESPONSIILITIES, AND WORKING CONDITIONS INVOLVED IN THEIR JOBS, AND TO DEMAND RECOGNITION.

2)       IT HAS REFLECTED AND PROMOTED SOME POWER SHIFTS WITHIN UNIONS AND WORKPLACES AND WITHIN SOCIETY AS A WHOLE AS WOMEN’S WORK WAS REGARDED IN A NEW AND MORE VALUED WAY.

3)       IT CHALLENGED SOME OLD HIERARCHIES IN WORKPLACES AND UNIONS.

RESISTANCE:

1)       DIFFERENCES IN WAGES AMONG WOMEN HAVE INCREASED (ARMSTONG AND CORNISH,           1997).

2)       EMPLOYERS HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE SKILLED AT USING THE LAW TO RESIST.

3)       MORE AND MORE THE “LIMITED” SUCCESSES OF SOME GROUPS IN WORKING TOWARDS PAY EQUITY IS DEFINED AS A PROBLEM SOLVED – AND THERE ARE DEMANDS TO MOVE ON TO “OTHER ISSUES.”

4)       WOMEN’S VICTORIES ARE UNDERMINED BY NEW STATEGIES SUCH AS CONTRACTING-OUT AND A REFUSAL TO FUND.

5)       {IN SOME CASES} THE FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND OR PROMOTE PAT EQUITY HAS LED TO A REINFORCEMENT OF OLD HIERARCHIES AND TO TOO MUCH FOCUS ON “LEGAL PROCESSES, RATHER THAN STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE.”

CONCLUSIONS:

COMBINDED WITH A NEW {NEO-LIBERALISM} EMPHASIS ON MARKET FORCES AND DEREGULATION, PAY EQUITY WAS DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT IN THE FACE OF MOUNTING RESISTANCE =====> AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER, SUCH LEGISLATION IS NOW OFTEN THE ONLY PROTECTION WOMEN HAVE AGAINST THE PRESSURES OF EFFICENCY, WHICH ARE DEFINED SOLELY IN TERMS OF PROFITS AND MARKETS ====> ESPECIALLY IN SUCH TIME, ANY HUMAN RIGHTS LEGISLATION HAS TO BE DEFENDED AND EXTENDED AS A COUNTER TO MARKET FORCES.

D)      CHILD CARE AND THE CANADIAN STATE SYSTEM AND PROVINCIAL VARIATIONS

THE HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZED STRUGGLE FOR CHILDCARE IN CANADA HAS BEEN A LONG ONE =====> THE ROLE OF CHILDCARE HAS CHANGED FROM THE INITIATION OF THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT ---- ORIGINALLY IT WAS CONSIDERED TO HELP EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN AND SUPPORTING WOMEN'S NEEDS {SOCIAL JUSTICE PERSPECTIVE} ---- NOW IT IS RECAST BY THE STATE AS A “THREE-PRONGED DISCOURSE” ON {1} SUPPORTING HEATHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT, {2} INVESTING IN CHILDREN FOR FUTURE PAYOFF TO SOCIETY, AND {3}AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR INVOLVING THE LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION OF TWO PARENTS {EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT}

MARKED BY ABANDONED ATTEMPTS AT CREATING A NATIONAL STRATEGY (WITHOUT MUCH PUBLIC OUTCRY).

IN RECENT YEARS, PRESCHOOL EDUCATIONAL HAS BEEN DEFINED AS AN EARLY AND CRITICAL CONTRIBUTION TO MEETING THE LIFE-LONG LEARNING REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH AN EMERGENT “KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY.” ====> COST-CONSCIOUS GOVERNMENTS PRESENT EARL CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AS A MEANS OF REDUCING FUTURE COSTS GENRATED BY UNEMPLOYMENT AND/OR CRIME =====> THE DISCOURSE SURROUNDING CHILDCARE POLICY

CREATIVE TRANSFORMATIONS --- TRANSFORMATIVE POLITICS --- TODAY INVOLVE MLTIPLE ROUTES, RATHER THAN A SINGLE PATH =====> AS PROVINCES MOVE IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, STRONG NETWORKS THAT CONNECT CHILDCARE ADVOCATES AND THEIR ALLIES FROM THE LOCAL TO THE PROVINCIAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS BECOME AN ESSENTIAL MEANS OF LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE AND OF DEVELOPING THE POLICY CAPACITY NECESSARY TO INFLUENCE SEVER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AT ONCE.

 

II)      ABORIGINAL PEOPLE IN CANADA

A STORY OF COLONIALIZATION, CULTURAL GENOCIDE AND RESURRECTION THROUGH ORGANIZED RESISTANCE}}}

CONTEMPORARY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ABORIGINAL AND NON-ABORIGINAL RELATIONSHIP IN CANADA:

1)       INEFFECTUAL GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE AND PATERNALISTIC HANDOUTS.

2)       THROWING MONEY AT A PROBLEM ====> EXPANDING LEGIONS OF EXPERTS IN HOPE OF FOSTERING ASSIMILATION THROUGH SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

3)       RHETORIC OF SELF-GOVERNMENT AND A “NEW SOCIAL CONTRACT” ======> IN REALITYMOST INITITATIVES SIMPLY REFORM/ TWEEK THE OLD ONE AND REFUSE TO RELINQUISH ANY SUBSTANTIVE POWER.

SO, WHEN WE TALK OF THE “ABORIGINAL PROBLEM” IN CANADAWE NEED TO TALK IN A WIDER DISCOURSE THAT PUTS THE BURDENS ON INSTITUTIONS SO THAT WHAT COMES UNDER THE MICROSCOPE ARE THE POLITICS, THE CULTURE, AND THE ECONOMICS OF DOMINATION

{{{THE CONTEMPORARY POLITICS OF “ABORIGIALITY” REVOLVES AROUND THE KEY ISSUE OF SELF-DETERMINATION ======> OR MORE ACCURATELY, ABORIGINAL MODELS OF SELF-DETERMINING AUTONOMY =======> MEANS THE “DEVOLUTION” OF REPONSIBILITY AND FEDERAL JURISDICTION OVER ABORIGINAL LANDS AND AFFAIRS, AND THE TRANSFERENCE OF RIGHTS AND AUTHORITIES TO ABORIGINAL PEOPLE ====> IN SHORT, LAND, IDENTITY AND POLITICAL VOICE}}}

STRATEGIES OF RESISTANCE

FOLLOWING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, AND MORE PARTICULARLY IN THE 1960S -- WHILE THE STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL STILL PREOCCUPIED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN CANADA AN AROUND THE WORLD -- A PLATFORM OF WIDER AND MORE PROACTIVE CONCERNS BEGAN TO TAKE SHAPE THROUGH:

1.       VIOLENT CONFRONTATION OR ARMED RESISTANCE.

2.       “DECOLONIZATION” OF THE MIND STRATEGIES

3.       NURTURING AND SUSTAINING CULTURAL SYSTEMS.

4.       NEW AGENDA FOR INDIGENOUS ACTIVITY THROUGH A FRAMEWORK FOR GLOBAL STRATEGIC ALLIANCES.

ABORIGINAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

TERMS OF ALL INHERENT SELF-GOVERNMENT AGREEMENTS ARE SET OUT IN A 1995 FEDRAL POLICY DOCUMENT; INHERENT SELF-GOVERNMENT IS BASED ON CONTINGENT RATHER THAN SOVEREIGN RIGHTS --- THAT IS, ABORIGINAL SELF GOVERNMENTS MUST OPERATE WITHIN THE CANADIAN FEDERAL SYSTEM, WORK IN HARMONY WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS, BUT CONSISTENT WITH THE CANADIAN CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOME, AND ENHANCE THE PARTICIPATION OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES IN CANADIAN SOCIETY

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CANADA ENTAIL RETHINKING THE PLACE OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES WITHIN THE CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK – THE FOUR POLICY PILLARS ARE:

1)       ACCELERATED LAND CLAIMS SETTLEMENT,

2)       IMPROVED SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ON RESERVES,

3)       RECONSTRUCTION OF ABORIGINAL-GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, AND

4)       FULFILLMENT OF ABORIGINAL CONCERNS (I.E., PRIVILEGING INDIGENOUS INTERESTS AND PRACTICES).

LAND CLAIMS IN CANADA

LAND CLAIMS HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE WITH ABORIGINALS FOR WELL OVER TWO CENTURIES AND A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF LAND IN CANADA IS BEING DISPUTED BY ABORIGINAL PEOPLES.

COMPREHENSIVE CLAIMS

·        ABORIGINAL PEOPLES TRADITIONAL USE AND OCCUPANCY OF LAND

·        LAND TITLE

·        SPECIFIED HUNTING, FISHING AND TRAPPING RIGHTS

·        FINANCIAL COMPENSATION

SPECIFIC CLAIMS

·        OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE TREATIES AND THE INDIAN ACT NOT BEING MET BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

ABORIGINAL EDUCATIONAL BARRIERS

AN INDIAN YOUNGSTER GROWING UP IN CANADA HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF BEING SENT TO PRISON THAN OF GOING TO UNIVERSITY.

·         HISTORICAL

·         RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLING

·         SOCIETAL

·         LACK OF ROLE MODELS IN COMMUNITY

·         DISCRIMINATION

·         GEOGRAPHIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC

·         POVERTY AND LACK OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT

·         CULTURAL BARRIERS

·         INDIVIDUAL/PERSONAL BARRIERS.

 

III)    THE NEW URBAN EXPERIENCE OF GLOBALIZATION

THE DERIVATION OF THE TERM “GLOBALIZATION” IMPLIES THAT IT INVOLVES WORLDWIDE PROCESSES THAT ARE RELATIVELY NOVEL AND STILL UNFOLDING. THESE MULTIDIMENSIONAL PROCESSES ARE BEING EXPERIENCED UNEVENLY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND IN DIFFERENT SECTORS OF SOCIAL LIFE.

GLOBALIZATION IS A COMPLEX SET OF HUMAN FORCES INVOLVING THE PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION/ TRANSMISSION, AND CONSUMPTION OF TECHNICAL, ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND SOCIOCULTURAL GOODS AND SERVICES WHICH ARE ADMINISTRATIVELY AND TECHNOLOGICALLY INTEGRATED ON A WORLDWIDE BASIS

DIMENSIONS:

1)       ECONOMIC PHENOMENON: HIGH VOLUMES OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE AND INVESTMENT.

2)       POLITICAL PHENOMENON: DIMINISHING STATE SOVEREIGNTY BECAUSE OF INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND REGULATORY BODIES.

3)       CULTURAL PHENOMENON: POTENTIAL HOMOGENIZE CULTURES BECAUSE OF MARKET FORCES THAT DISRUPT LOCAL CONVENTIONS.

4)       SOCIAL PHENOMENON: DISRUPTION OF COMMUNITY PATTERNS – E.G. URBANIZATION (DISPLACEMENT OF TRADITIONAL PRACTICES AND LIFESTYLES) AND GLOBAL MIGRATION.

5)       COMMUNICATIVE PHENOMENON: NEW AND RAPID INFORMATION NETWORKS.

 

{FOR MORE ON THE DIMENSIONS OF GLOBALIZATION AS THE PRESENT STAGE OF CAPITALISM SEE CHANGING CANADA – MEL WATKINS “POLITICS IN THE TIME AND SPACE OF GLOBALIZATION” (PP. 8-9)} =====>

ECONOMIC OR CORPORATE GLOBALIZATION [FREE TRADE, UNLIMITED MOBILITY OF CAPITAL – TECHNOLOGICAL GLOBALIZATION [THE WIRED WORLD] – IDEOLOGICAL GLOBALIZATION [NEOLIBERALISM; FUNDAMENTALIST MESSIANIC CHRISTIANITY] – CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION [THE MONOCULTUAL AMERICANIZATION OF EVERYTHING AND ETHNIC FRAGMENTATION] – MILITARY GLOBALIZATION [THE AMERICAN MILITARIZATION OF EVERYTHING; HIGH-TECH WEAPONIZATION OF LAND AND SPACE; WORLD MARKETS FOR ARMS AND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION] – POLITICAL GLOBALIZATION [THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND{IMF}; THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION {WTO}; NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION {NATO}; EMPHASIZING THE ANALYTIC HUB OF LIFE IN “TRANSNATIONAL PROCESSES” BEYOND THE LEVEL OF THE NATION-STATE] – SOCIAL GLOBALIZATION [GLOBAL APARTHEID AND GLOBAL MIGRATION AND DISPLACEMENT] – THE GLOBALIZATION OF DISEASE – [PAN-EPIDEMICS OF AIDS MAD COW, FOOT-AND-MOUTH, ETC.,] - THE GLOBALIZATION OF DISSENT [WORLD-WIDE MOBEMENTS AGAINST GLOBALIZATION FROM CHIAPAS TO SEATTLE TO QUEBEC CITY TO GENOA]

THE GLOBAL CITY

ACCORDING TO KEIL AND KIPER [IN CHANGING CANADA – “THE URBAN EXPERIENCE AND GLOBALIZATION] =====>

THE GLOBAL CITY IS THE ANALYTIC UNIT AND FOCAL POINT OF THE ERA OF WORLD CAPITALISM, CHARACTERIZED DEMOGRAPHICALLY AND IDEOLOGICALLY AS THE CONTEMPORARY GATHERING PLACE (1) TRANSNATIONAL & NATIONAL IDENTITIES, AND (2) DIVERSITY AND COSMOPOLITANISM =====> THE IMPLICATIONS HERE FOR SCHOLARSHIP IS PROFOUND: THE CENTRAL FEATURE OF THE IDEA OF GLOBALIZATION IS THAT MANY CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS CANNOT BE ADEQUATELY STUDIED AT THE LEVEL OF NATION-STATES, THAT IS, IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, BUT NEED TO BE THEORIZED IN TERMS OF GLOBAL {TRANSNATIONAL} PROCESSES, BEYOND THE LEVEL OF NATIONS STATES (SKLAIR 1998) =======> SOME SCHOLARS SEE GLOBAL CITIES AS THE PRIMARY UNIT OF ANALYSIS WHERE THE GLOBALIZED PROCESSES INTERSECT WITH TRANSNATIONAL (GLOBAL) COMMUNITIES {INCREASING DIVERSITY AND COSMOPOLITANISM AND THEIR LOCATION WITHIN THE CIRCUITS OF CAPITAL, COMMODIES, SERVICES, AND PEOPLE} =======> THESIS: GLOBAL CITIES AS THE GATHERING PLACE OF THE 21ST CENTURY SOUL SEARCH FOR ECONOMIC VIABILITY, POLITICAL GOVERNANCE, SOCIAL JUSTICE, CULTURAL ENRICHMENT, AND ECOLOGICAL STUSTAINABILITY.

THE CHALLENGE OF INCLUSION

SOCIAL FACT: TO DATE, GLOBALIZATION IS AN EXCLUSIONARY FORCE, DENYING ACTIVE PARTICIPATION TO PARTICULAR RACIALIZED REGIONS, CULTURES, AND CLASSES. IN TURN, THIS IS CAUSING BACKLASH. FOR MANY NATIONS, CULTURES, INSTITUTIONS, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE WORLD, MODERN GLOBALISM CONSTITUTES AN ELITEST, NORTHERN-BASED, WESTERN-FOCUSED, TECHNOLOGICALLY SUPPORTED FORM OF ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL IMPERIALISM.

IN ORDER TO TURN THIS VICIOUS CIRCLE INTO A VIRTUOUS CIRCLE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD BANK (WOLFENSON, 997:6) HAS ISSUED A CHALLENGE OF INCLUSION “TO REDUCE ... DISPARITIES ACROSS AND WITHIN COUNTRIES, TO BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE ECONOMIC MAINSTREAM, [AND] TO PROMOTE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO BENEFITS OF DEVELOPMENT REGARDLESS OF NATIONALITY, RACE, OR GENDER

IN SOME SENSE, THE CHALLENGE OF INCLUSION IS TO CHANGE THE INERTIA OF GLOBALIZATION FROM AN IMPOSITION “FROM ABOVE” BY GREEDY CORPORATE INTERESTS TO A “BOTTOMS-UP” FOCUSED GLOBALIZATION THAT PUTS PEOPLE AHEAD OF PROFITS (STAR AND ADAMS, 2003)

[AS R. ALAN HEDLEY PUT IT IN — “UNDERSTANDING GLOBALIZATION”] WHETHER THIS CHALLENGE BECOMES REALITY REMAINS TO BE SEEN; HOWEVER, UNTIL IT DOES, THE WORLD AS A WHOLE CANNOT TRULY BE CHARACTERIZED AS GLOBALIZED.

HUMANITARIAN GLOBALIZATION

PRIORITIZES HUMAN NEEDS AND CONCERNS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF GLOBALIZATION THAT SPREADS THE WEALTH AND BENEFITS MORE EQUITABLY --- IT IS ABOUT CONSERVING COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE, PUTTING PEOPLE'S NEEDS ABOVE PROFIT, USING LOCAL RESOURCES, ENCOURAGING DIVERSITY (FLERAS 372)

IT IS CHARACTERIZED BY A “BOTTOMS-UP” NEO-GLOBALIZATION THAT ENSURES BENEFITS ARE EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED, RATHER THAN A “TOP-DOWN” GLOBALIZATION THAT IS DRIVEN BY TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS PRIMARILY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CORPORATE ELITE

TO ACHIEVE HUMANISTIC GLOBALIZATION WE NEED TO:

1.     SHIFT ECONOMIES FROM PRODUCTION FOR EXPORT TO PRODUCTION FOR LOCAL MARKETS

2.     BECOME LESS DEPENDENT ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND MARKETS

3.     DISTRIBUTE INCOME TO CREATE A MORE THRIVING INTERNAL MARKET

4.     DE-EMPHASIZE GROWTH TO ENURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

5.     SUBJECT THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO MONITORING BY PUBLIC SOCIETY

6.     ENCOURAGE PRODUCTION AT ALL LEVELS TO PRESERVE THE INTEGITY OF SOCIETY