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