Tuesday, January 17, 2012

WEEK2 Contexts - "Globalization"

(Source: http://www.mcmcapital.com/2011/04/globalization-shapes-u-s-manufacturing-and-mcm-investment-strategy/)
The emphasis of Globalization is elaborated through the usage of diaspora, transnationalism, Ethnic studies, and global commodity networks. Globalization certainly helps move the world move on with the help of other nations helping other nations though trade and exchanging of ideas through education. Robin Cohen’s “Diaspora in the Age Globalization” chapter in Global Diasporas explains about the engine of globalization and how it works. The five factors in which globalizations work are the world economy, the forms of international migration, the development of global cities, the creation of cosmopolitan and local cultures, and the deterritorialization of social identity. Even though globalization should be helping us decrease the levels of racism, sexism, and other forms of social exclusivism; globalization increases these ideas, because of the many diasporas interacting with each other throughout the world. Meaning there will be more tension everywhere regardless. (Cohen 1997)

Due to transnationalism, there has been a globalization of capitalism that leaves destabilizing effects on less industrialized countries, a technological revolution in transportation and communication, global political transformations in terms of decolonization and the universalization of human rights, and the expansion of social networks that direct the remaking of transnational migration, economic organization and politics. In “The Locations of Transnationalism,” There is a distinction shown between the Hmong cultural brokers and the Miao in China about how the Hmong are below the standards of transnational action and the Miao are above it. Showing destabilizing effects on the Hmong cultural brokers. (Guarnizo and Smith 1999)

Ethnic nationalism can be shown from an Asian American with a position of power that displays achievements in the so called motherland, but with self conflicting ideals of identity can prove to be a problem. The question of being a certain ethnic race, or an ethnic race with the addition of American, or just being only American have all been jumbled up between all Asians in America. I believe that any Asian in America is Asian American due to the fact that we all do have a certain connection to Asia through blood, and we are in America for a reason, which is to move upward in mobility.  Asian Americans are “best positioned” to break down “cultural barriers” standing in the way of U.S. – Asian political and business relations. There is a problem in the business relations between the U.S. and Asia, because there are still sweatshops with Asians working to death in them. Another problem is the disaggregated data about Asian Americans in America that disregard the Southeast Asian refugees, because they are traumatized immigrants that did not arrive in America with families intact, and they do not come armed with social skills and human capital that can be readily adapted to modern American society. This certainly stabs into the false thought of the model minority theory. (Hu-Dehart 1999)



Ethnic studies certainly have been a factor of globalization. With the struggles through world events, ethnic studies strive for survival due to the fact that hate has spread from these world events such as 9/11. Hate towards South Asians have been uncontrollable with the assumptions of terrorism. Being in ethnic studies is to defend the persons being discriminated upon, which means forming student coalitions to counteract the hate being brought upon us here in America. Student coalitions will be used to educate the people. (San Juan Jr. 2005)

Global commodity networks are certainly factors of globalization. With this article’s example about the leather footwear industry and its partnership between Argentina’s leather and Brazil’s manufacturing companies prove to show that these partnerships generate a domestic political economy. Argentina sells their cheaper leather to other countries for the same price they sell their fine leather to Brazil. With Brazil having exclusive rights to Argentina’s fine leather, both parties are making profit, but Brazil has the better end of the deal since they are selling their products to America. This three way network certainly brings a high demand since there is a good quality of products sold to America. (Korzeniewicz 1992)

This week's topic of "Globalism" is an all-encompassing theme of the 21st century. Whether it be in the context of this classroom or around the world, most people in the world have had their lives directly (or indirectly) affected by the forces of globalization. Relating to current day global issues, this article (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/18/world/asia/us-presses-south-korea-to-reduce-oil-imports-from-iran.html?_r=1&ref=asia) reflects growing concern over tensions in the Middle East involving nuclear power. Through globalization and global interdependence, countries such as the United States have extended their influence across borders to countries like Iran and South Korea.

This article relates to the topic of globalism amidst growing concerns over a World War thought to develop later in Iran and the Middle East. The United States is flexing its influence over South Korea in its efforts to contain Iran from developing nuclear power. Due to globalization, the lives of people in nations across the world can potentially be affected if tensions spill-over, resulting in conflict worldwide.

1. What are the four specific factors that help explain the complexity of transnationalism?
2. What are the some of the counter tendencies to globalization (forms of social exclusivism) mentioned in "Diasporas in the Age of Globalism"?
3. Why does E. San Juan Jr. state Ethnic Studies is paradoxical?
4. Why are Asian Americans best positioned to break down cultural barriers standing in the way of U.S. and Asian political interests?
5. How do global commodities positively impact relations between countries?


By Michael Nguyen and Ricky Lai

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