HS 103 Lecture 3- Work and trade.

Title: Let's get cheap

The idea of work is related to not only one’s ability to perform the work required but it is also about the challenges involved to keep the job. This might not involve the workers ability in the first place, as companies and corporations have become so empowered now, they survive on a self consuming drive for higher profits. The lack of responsibility a company has towards a country or a society enables it to be extremely mobile. The lack of obligations allows the company to freely choose the cheapest and most value for money region that can support its industries. For the average worker, this process is beyond their control. This process implies that, even if the worker or group of workers are highly productive and efficient, it does no mean that they will get to keep their jobs, they would be passed over when the company deems that a cheaper alternative is available. As in the case of Maytag (Maytag goes to Mexico) the company insisted on moving its plant to Mexico even though the workers wanted to negotiate and promise the company higher efficiency. It seems clear that the focus on companies now is to utilize cheaper labour to drive down production costs. Hence demanding for better pay seems to be working against the workers as they will eventually be passed over for a cheaper group of workers somewhere in the world once their pay requirements cross a certain threshold. The alternative would be the loss of jobs. The bottomline seems to be ruthless yet exceedingly simple, work for as little pay as you can get and you might secure the longevity of your job for just a little bit longer.

The movement of companies to relocate away from the traditional areas in which they were founded on, have gone in line with the reinvention of corporate companies and industries to adapt to the changing world markers, this has lead to the new international division of labour which involves the inclusion of more places geographically in the world to be involved in the production of a single product. This to an extent is good for the world as more people are able to have jobs across the world, this would also theoretically mean that people will become more affluent as the trickle down effects from the profits of the companies goes back to the local economy. However this has largely not been the case as emerging markets hang on to this false reality and invite foreign companies into their country, they do provide jobs for the people, however at the end of the day the quality of these jobs is not improving in line with the movement of societies and the world as a whole. When child labour was commonplace in America in the early twentieth century it is now a phenomenon in India and south Asia. The same problems are still there, it is just in a different place at a different time. Perhaps when India strengthens and enforces harsher labour laws companies will not look at ending the problem but rather extending it to another region who have yet to adapt to the problem. Would companies who are increasing in profits and wealth eventually find a morally sound solution when they run out of regions to utilize child labour for example? Would we then finally see a shift in capitalism to include the repercussions towards the labour force, the force that generates profits in the first place? Is that the final solution to the problems of global poverty and disproportionate distribution of wealth?

Unfortunately companies are creative enough to remain one step ahead of the game, they will likely be able to find a way somehow to reinvent themselves to ensure their profits remain. I believe that governments should be the ones taking ownership and putting the needs of the people first rather than the needs of the country, maybe with this perspective the capitalist centered companies themselves will be forced to rethink their methods and strategies and adapt to the global consensus, instead of it being the other way round.

HS103-Lect 2 Class

Class- From pyramid to hourglass


Divisions in class in society have been part and parcel of man’s evolutionary cycle since there was an order put in place. It is undoubtedly inevitable that different people will be classified into a particular group according to whatever values is defined by that society of that particular regioin at that particular time. These classifications differ with time and with the needs of that particular society, once upon a time, influcence and profession were the benchmarks for the inclusion into a particular class, such as nobles and peasants. Certain professions seemed to grant certain groups an amount of influence that immediately elevated their status into the upper echelons of the society, priests are an example of this.

In an age of gloablisation however, things are not so simple. Class is being increasingly defined via the socio economic potential of individuals. This economic potential does not necessarily rely on the individuals abilities or profession. It is very much dependant on the desires of the world markets of which most people have no control over, unless of course one falls in the category of the Super Rich, which is far too exclusive for many to enter. It is my opinion that the fact that most individuals are no longer in control of how their livelihoods survive in the global economy, is extremely alarming.This is especially so when there is no figure or institution that can guarantee the survival of their citizens or their way of life in the new interdependent economy. The needs of the markets can change almost overnight and certain products might no longer be in high demand hence the people who rely on it for their livelihoods are the hardest hit. It is this lack of control over ones future regardless of abilities and educational level, that should has to be addressed somehow. The income disparity between the rich and the poor is increasing, as even the middle class, those with abilities and some level of specialised skills are being relegated out of the economy as their skills and abilities are deemed obsolete.

This much power to change the lives of so many people in almost a blink of an eye should not rest in the hands of those who are propelled by wealth and generation of profits. At this rate everyone becomes expandable at one point or another. When one considers that more and more people are deemed expandable, and that more and more people are joining the painful poverty class, it becomes extremely alarming that this system is allowed to continue at the cost of so many lives. Surely this trend is set to continue as new technologies are invented that render human resource of lesser skilled labourers unnecessary, with the drive for efficiency at the forefront there is no doubt that more and more jobs will become irrelevant in the new economy. Of course it can be argued that machines for instance creates jobs for maintenance, however these jobs are not created at the same rate it takes away, hence there is a net unemployment and newer members to the poverty cycle are added. Lets not forget when these jobs are taken; there is a net increase in profits, which just gives the result of a widening income gap.

This system clearly will result in suffering and torment in the long run and even though governments are tasked to look after their citizens even there are powerless at the face of economic pressure and uncertainties. Would Marx’s theories then come true? History has proven that this ideology also has its pitfalls. Does this all add up to a word with a structure resembling a lopsided hour glass rather than the iconic pyramids associated with societal diagrams? Perhaps this is the evolution that the world is heading towards and it is just another part of our progress as mankind. At this rate however it does not indicate many bright days ahead.

HS103-Lect 1 introduction to global problems

Globalization, a process that has grown in prominence increasingly in the past decade. Its interesting that this phenomenon is able to affect so many people in so many different places in the world. Its powerful enough to unite while at the same time dividing us, the human race. Strong enough to form commonality between the many civilizations while at the same time powerful enough to wedge new divisions.

When the topic of globalization is raised, McDonald's is the first thing that comes to mind. Not so much due to the for digestive whims of a thinking individual but rather the effect McDonald's has brought onto the world. I believe McDonald's in many ways symbolises the opportunities presented by globalisation. This fast-food restaurant has brought with it a physical form of commonality between different regions. If a poll was done on familiar foods by people of varying regions the results would place the "Big Mac" would earn a higher standing as compared to the "Nasi Lemak". Food aside, this commonality though physical in nature has provided people across the world an avenue to discuss important topics that relates to everyone in the world. Problems such as obesity in young children has come into the fore for many developing or developed countries. No doubt this is related to the rise of fast food as an adopted staple food in many developed regions nonetheless this has resulted in the issue being recognised as a problem in more countries and regions. This is possible due to the common features, effects and implications noted from other regions with a similar demographic. Hence through the identification of this problem as an issue that is not isolated to one particular society it becomes easier to receive a wide range of possible solutions primarily due to the fact that more academics and scientists as well as stake holders are looking at the same problem. This obviously leads to more ideas being floated around and new solutions being discovered. Although it must be noted that no solution fits all, it is still a positive phenomenon that a solution or a range of solutions exist to be adopted or tweaked to fit the respective demographic facing the problem.

Globalization however has brought about new divisions between societies as well. Every society or group of people who have lived together for a particular period of time would like to protect certain aspects of their lives to ensure that their traditions and beliefs are not eroded with time. As globalization presents an opportunity for societies to streamline thought the presentation of many avenues to do so, it also produces by-products of societies adopting the values held by each other, and occasionally the values that were once held by the particular society becomes watered down or even worse forgotten altogether. This streamlining inadvertently leads to a common system of beliefs and values needed to make progress under globalization a reality. It has become more of a necessity to change values to fit the changing times rather than the desire of the society to develop to a higher level of sphere of evolutionary thought. The streamlining of values in this manner is not a negative effect. In fact it helps the society adapt to the changing times, but, there is a trade off which results in the "special" factor of being in a particular society to be eroded. As society is an entity involving many individuals it is expected that some individuals will reject this phenomenon and this develops into a kind of resistance. Although resistance could bring about more dialogue within a society resulting in it becoming a hybrid of ideas, a mixture of young and old values of beliefs, it can also result in feelings of uneasiness especially when the external newer beliefs attempt to impose themselves onto the society. As in the case of Afghanistan where a western styled democracy was installed to bring peace and order to a country that is already steeped in tradition and history, as the change of such a big idea was brought upon the society through force not all the members took it in readily. Hence a splinter group emerged with views that were considered radical in the newly created environment. This resulted in terrorism to still ravage the country as they attempt to look for a solution to their current predicament. Overall it might result in a feeling of resentment to the west the longer this drags on as people seek to return to life before turmoil. The values or systems or problems faced back then becoming less important as they seek to regain some balance within their lives. Though its probable that even prior to the War there were critics within that society but there was a sense of order as there was a group that was in control. The methods employed by this group is of course not being discussed here, rather only the effects produced from it.

TESTING