The Dichotomy of the Global Economy

Disclaimer: I am by no means a whiz when it comes to understanding finance or economics, but as a government and politics major with a few classes on developing countries in my repertoire, I would like to think that I have an understanding of the global disparities in wealth. As we press on into the twenty-first century with qualms about the risk of globalized economies and how the interconnectedness of supranational trade organizations present liabilities for state sovereignty, something we so rarely consider is the persistent (and growing) problem of the "plutocracy" as described by Friedman. This graph highlights the drastic inequality in poverty levels between developed and developing countries, and while they may show that poverty was on the decline as of 2008, the gross difference in degree to which the developed and developing states are plagued by poverty is cause for concern.
  While the rich get richer in this globalized economy, is it only a playing field for the developed states of the world? I would argue that this is the case. In consideration of the fact that a large percentage of developing countries are former colonies of Western powers, I would chalk up some of this inability of developing countries to participate in the rich man's global economy as a result of these legacies of colonization. Dependence on western powers, lack of infrastructure, and political/social insecurity which plague developing states inhibit their ability to actively participate and flourish within the globalized economy.

Source: http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/02/daily-chart-20

How our zombie obsession explains our fear of globalization

How our zombie obsession explains our fear of globalization

This article focuses on the idea that every generation finds their inhuman monster to portray our fears and larger issues in society. The author discusses how different monsters have represented fears in the America such as villains like Fu Manchu representing the fear of Chinese immigrants in the 1870s to space invasions and radiated monsters in the 1950s and 1960s representing our fear of nuclear war. Gillings in his article says that zombies are our newest monster to fear and that it is indicative of our overall fear of globalization. While he concedes that globalization does provide advances for technology and society as a whole, he believes that because the world is so interconnected that fears from all over the world can be spread quickly throughout the world. Gillings uses the example of the Charlie Hebdo attack because of its rapid spreading and fear of where the next attack would take place.

While I do not complete agree with the point the author is making I do think that it is a compelling comparison to draw. In most popular zombie movies the reason the virus spreads to the entire world is because the world is so connected. This is also true with economic issues, terrorist threats, and other problems that arise from globalization much like zombies.

The Greek Resistance

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/aljazeeracorrespondent/2012/11/2012111262426515410.html

Aljazeera correspondent Barnaby Phillips went to Greece in an attempt to figure out why there is so much tension between Greece and Germany. "Many Greeks blame the European Union, and Germany in particular, for the crisis they are in". When the Syriza party won the January 2015 elections, they promised that they would end austerity policies. With this promise, they sought to attack those who they perceived as the source of the problem: Germany. This is not a totally invalid conclusion seeing that Germany's promise to assist Greece financially came with many conditions. Syriza has pointed to Germany's own history of reparations and the damaging impact it had on Germany while Germans believe that the matter, of reparations during the world wars, should not be up for discussion. However, as Robert Peston points out in Euro's Existential Threat, "for Germany et al the long-term success of the Euro depends on the perception that its rule, and the application of its rules, apply to all, in all circumstances".  This article concludes that the future of Europe is very much tied to how this conflict plays out. This is the similar to the points made by Peston when he talks about how there is concern that if the euro fails, it may also signify the failure of its "underlying purpose, which was to bind its members ever closer together".

"EU leaders hold out sanctions threat for parties breaching Ukraine accord"

http://globalnews.ca/news/1841051/eu-leaders-hold-out-sanctions-threat-for-parties-breaching-ukraine-accord/

A cease fire between Ukraine and the Rebels was supposed to begin 5 days ago, but has been reportedly broken at least 20-50 times. The European Union Leaders, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Francois Hollande, maintain their stance on upholding their sanctions against those in violation of the Ukraine accord at a joint press conference. Each give speeches announcing that if the peace agreement is still breached their will be sanctions put against both parties. Both Merkel and Hollande state that their goal is not impose sanctions, but to create a state of peace in Ukraine.
The power of this supranational institution displays the effect globalization has had on multiple state actors as Nations. The European Union is addressing this crises not a nations, but a more conjoined force. Highlighting the ideas by Schinkel surrounding globalization and functioning of the state as a political entity.  Additionally highlighting Schinkel's idea of a social hypochondriac state,"a state that see's itself as delineated whole consisting of integrated functional parts. All of its problems are attributed to its environment ,which alternates between global terrorism, migration, or fast-moving violate capital" (Schinkel: pg. 18). Even though the European Union is highlighted in this press conference other nations are taking into account that they will also be placing enforcing sanctions as well. Multiple nations are taking into account global awareness and intervention into this crises, redefining roles, reactions, and "punishments" for not abiding by an international agreement.

Nationalist Extremism By Another Name?

http://www.visionofhumanity.org/sites/default/file /Global%20Terrorism%20Index%20Report%202014_0.pdf

The Global Terrorism Index is an annual report by the Institute for Economics and Peace on terrorist trends. A major pattern in global terrorism since 2000 is the rise of religious-extremist violence and the fall of nationalist-separatist violence. This report is in line with Schinkel's conception of deterritorialization and differentiation. In terms of deterritorialization, extremist groups are now less likely to use violence for tangible gains like territory for nationalist separatists. Rather, extremist violence is done for strictly ideological motives. This is a reflection of the unpopularity of religious extremism in affected countries, relative to nation separatists whom often wish to inspire revolution among a population. Religious extremists simply lack the manpower to make physical gains. In terms of differentiation, Schinkel mentions "identity politics" as deteriorating national identities. Extremist groups such as the Caucus Emirate have become increasingly concerned with their religious identity and not their national identity. This trend would support the sharp increase in religious violence in the last 15 years as more disgruntled people turn to religious movements as a means of change and away from nationalist groups.

It is possible that instead of religious violence replacing nationalist violence, there is actually a synthesis of the two. Groups like ISIS push religious rhetoric to the forefront and justify themselves through their interpretation of Islam, but the backbone of their organization is their territory. Their oil fields fund the entire Islamic State operation, and ISIS's push into Kurdistan and northern Iraq is what made the group famous. ISIS is identified as an extremist religious group, but religion is simply the most visible part of their identity. They are actually more complex than "religious extremist", this is supported by their insistence on creating a functioning government in the territories they occupy. Similar terrorist groups may also have similar religious identities that do not fully explain what their organization is or does. Its is possible that terrorist violence has not changed as much as the GTI indicate; instead, we are simply labeling it differently.  

Post #2

http://www.stanforddaily.com/2014/08/06/humanitarian-crisis-at-the-border-are-we-to-blame/


The United States has recently begun dealing with an great influx of immigrant children escaping from central america. Many correlate that influx with current crime rates, drugs, sex trafficking and gang activities. However, while the United States attempts to determine a plan on fixing this problem, there is data that shows that the United States is to blame for the economic and social turmoil. This directly relates to Schinkel's theories on welfare states and their global roles. Schinkel states "not only has this in the current situation led to a welfare state increasingly occupied  with solving the problems by it's own previous problem solving..." (Schinkel, pg. 4) Such instances can  be observed in the case of El Salvador's civil war in which the United States funded anti-communist fighters that ended in the death of more than 75,000 civilians. This violence and instability continues in El Salvador with ripple effects extending across borders into our territory. Similar cases can be seen in Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala as well as in South America.

The iPhone launches in India

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2014/10/iphone-launches-india-andriod-20141016172919957810.html

Apple released the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus on October 17, 2014 in India. The most technologically advanced version of the phone costs about $1,000. The cost of the iPhone 6 converted from Indian Rupees to U.S. dollars is $867 and $1014 for the iPhone 6 plus. This is almost double of the median income per capita in India which is $616. China's cost for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus is just barely below the median income per capita while the US's cost for both phones is well bellow, about $800, the median income per capita. The article goes on to describe how long it would take for a person, in each country, surviving on a median income to be able to afford the iPhones. This calls into question Thomas Friedman's argument that the world is flat and the playing field is becoming increasingly leveled. Though the median income has been rising in India, possibly due to more opportunities presented by globalization, it is still shocking that the cost of a phone is more than what some people make. 

Globalization's Biggest Threat -- Slow World Economic Growth

Globalization's Biggest Threat -- Slow World Economic Growth

This article from Forbes is concerned with the idea that the slow global economy that has emerged threatens countries from wanting to continue to expand globalization. Since countries are facing their own economic issues they do not want to become further involved in the world's affairs for fear of harming their own economies further. In addition to just facing economic issues in their own states, countries are also harmed by economic issues in their regions as well which makes states more reluctant to get involved in globalization. The author mentions how the EU is the best example since southern European nations are facing economic turmoil while northern European nations are not. This creates issues between the two groups and causes reluctance in the region and making states want to stay within their own boundaries. While I do not think this trend will necessarily persist once the economic climate gets better, I do believe that this trend will reoccur whenever there is economic issues in the world.

ISIS: A Modern Example of Globalization and Sovereignty

 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29052144

  In the past several months, political analysts everywhere have offered their interpretation of the actions and political agenda of the Islamic State, a radical Islamist group which threatens the physical and ontological security of states everywhere. In this comprehensive article detailing the origins, moral code, and action patterns of the Islamic State, something for readers to consider is the possible global repercussions of a group with the ability to indoctrinate new followers through the use of fear tactics. Today, more than eight million persons live in areas under the rigid control of ISIS. As the group continues to pursue the establishment of a caliphate ("a state ruled by a single political and religious leader"), the ability of ISIS to achieve this goal and develop their own sovereign state, as well as the possible global spread of the ideology supported by ISIS are ideas which beg for critical evaluation. 
   While to most citizens of the Western world, the abhorrent practices of torture and killing performed by ISIS are enough to incite a military response, the growing insecurity and fear of attack by ISIS in Middle Eastern states have created an environment which facilitates the spread and domination of such an extremist group. The boundaries of areas controlled by ISIS have swelled to 15,000 sq. miles, and with fighters for ISIS coming from 81 states globally, the ability of this group to establish an internally recognized state seems possible. While external recognition of ISIS as a legitimate state would probably never happen due to the inhumane practices of this regime, is it possible that the ideas of this organization could globalize? I do not think that Western philosophies would ever foster the extremist actions of ISIS, but in states with political insecurity and ethnic disparity, there could be potential for takeover by ISIS. 

“Informal stock-taking meeting of ECOSOC on the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States"

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?page=view&nr=818&type=13&menu=203

Summary on “Informal stock-taking meeting of ECOSOC on the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States”

            According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, during the international Conference in Samoa on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) certain issues, challenges, and proposals were raised among the states in attendance. The Conference was centralized around “’the sustainable development of SIDS through genuine and durable partnerships’ and prioritized Sustainable Economic Development; Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management; Social Development; Sustainable Energy; Oceans, Seas and Biodiversity; and War and Sanitation and Food Security” (Small Island Developing States). This provided opportunity for private and public advocates to openly discuss plans for expansion in new and old partnerships. Also, enabling analysis for the new stock taking outcome as well as planning accountability measures for stake holders.  Thus helping the further economic and state development of Small Islands involved in this conference. Arrangements in which have and currently are helping to expand and globalize these tiny states.

Angella Ferrufino Post #1

http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2012/06/20-taiwan-un-winkler

Although Taiwan is considered a state, it is not considered to be sovereign as China maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory. Therefore, although it does have clear set borders and a government that its people recognizes, it is not free of foreign intervention. While Taiwan has continually attempted to achieve recognition and admittance into the United Nations, China has repeatedly blocked their attempts.  China has been successful in doing so since not only do they hold a seat within the UN but also one of the permanent members in the security council.
             Taiwan has had to attempt more passive approaches at becoming members of the UN. For example, in 1996 Taiwan attempted to be allowed to participate in UN activities due to their mass population while not becoming a member simply so that they would have the ability to be represented. However, again they were unable to do so because of China. Then again, they attempted the same passive approach in 2000, which also resulted in a failure. The most recent attempt in 2007 as far more aggressive in which they requested full membership and recognition from the UN. However, the UN Secretary General an Ki-moon denied the application, stating "]n accordance with [General Assembly Resolution 2758], the United Nations considers Taiwan for all purposes to be an integral part of the People’s Republic of China.” (Winkler, 2012) Therefore, while Taiwan is recognized as a state, it continues to fight to achieve status as a sovereign state, independent from China. 

The Mulitple Faces of Sovereignty: How Far Does Israeli Sovereignty Really Extend?

 

The current (United Nations) recognized border of Israel are shade lighter yellow in the included map, while the State of Palestine is currently recognized as the two dark grey areas. While Palestine does not have full membership in the United Nations, it is recognized as a fully autonomous state apart from Israel. According to Robert Jackson's definition of sovereignty, Palestine is sovereign over both the West Bank and the Gaza strip because the Palestinian National Authority has both de facto and de jure control over those areas. However, they would not fit Max Weber's definition of sovereignty because Palestine has not had a "monopoly on legitimate physical violence within its territory" since WWII. Rather, the Israel military uses violence in both the Gaza strip and West Bank on a semi-regular basis.

Even when the PNA does not recognize Israeli violence as legitimate, world powers have consistently sided with Israel and found their actions legitimate. Furthermore the State of Palestine cannot prevent violence in their borders by Israel, while Israel can and has stopped military actions by Palestinians in both the Gaza strip and the West Bank. It stands to reason then, by Weber's definition of sovereignty, that Israel currently has more legitimate sovereignty in Palestine than the Palestinians themselves.