Pragmatism and Integration for Central America’s Economic Future: Exercising Freedom of Choice
Urging pragmatism toward advantageous relations and sustainable fair trade practices with new economic allies while targeting equitable domestic development strategies, this piece identifies key policy areas where Central America is set to benefit most from its strategic positioning in the Americas and within the wider global economy. In light of the economic shortcomings and detrimental social implications associated with free trade agreements and historical dependency on the United States, this set of policy recommendations seeks a new approach. In short, Central American leaders, while eager at the opportunities, must practice caution in opening to new markets in China and Europe, while at the same time strengthening regional integration within Central America and with the rest of Latin America through bilateral and multilateral approaches geared toward diversification, wealth redistribution and economic growth with sustainable social equity.
The Current Global Paradigm: Obsession with Production
“For the rich to live on the backs of the poor,
the poor need to have backs that will not break.”
– Unknown
Break this statement down into context. In the context of globalization, socio-economics, and social politics, this statement can be rewritten as: “To continue exploiting a resource, that resource must be limitless.” When I first began critically analyzing this sentence, I focused on proving how it represented an economical and political fallacy. I had a rhetorical paper, full of morals and ethics when I finished. It was full of how this neo-slavery paradigm was immoral and therefore it must constitute an overall negative impact when it came to global politics and economics. How could anything that was immoral prosper? I grabbed my laptop and began my web-search. I turned up with nothing; a few blogs, a few anti-globalization organizations, and vague articles from unknown sources.
It was then that I realized that this statement, no matter how morally disgusting it sounds, not only represents an efficient means for a productive outcome for economies and their governmental policies, but it also represents the current global ideology. The following paper will demonstrate how the above statement: “For the rich to live on the backs of the poor, the poor need to have backs that will not break” summarizes the current globalization paradigm. The contents will accurately highlight society’s current obsession with production, and discussion will continue on why it is important to understand this sentiment when it comes to exploring alternative paradigms that support economies and governments that exist for the benefit of the people, all people, globally. After consideration of all of these points, this paper will conclude with the question of if our current global paradigm should continue, or if it is time for a global frame shift in ideology.
Degrowth Through a Post-Development Lens
If current crises like environmental degradation and social inequality can be said to be the result of our economic and social systems, the concept of a degrowth economy has been advanced as a possible solution. Degrowth is in direct contrast to economic systems such as capitalism or sustainable growth, and in fact has much more in common with a post-development perspective in advocating for a fundamental transformation of society that will challenge the very notion of what an ‘economy’ is as well as the dominant discourses which shape our perception of reality.
Financing Development After the Financial Crisis
The faltering economies and tighter budgets of Europe and America, the traditional providers of development financing, have left organizations and communities wondering where the continued funding of their development projects will come from. In this special report, veteran fundraiser and development guru Jürgen Carls reviews the remaining instruments and possibilities for north-south financing, and argues that the solution may be in a completely new approach to fundraising — an approach based on longer term relationships between funders and recipients, characterized by trust, openness, honesty, commitment, and international cooperation.
The Tajik Energy Crisis
Muhiba Rabejanova reports on the energy crisis now facing Tajikistan, and the humanitarian disaster which will only be exacerbated by the continued apathy of the international community.
“Vulture” Feeds on Zambia
“Vulture” Feeds on Zambia Author: Ashley Seager Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 02/28/2007 Category: In the News A so-called “vulture” fund has been given permission by a British court to enforce a claim for tens of millions of dollars theoretically owed by Zambia. The decision was immediately slammed by campaign groups who […]
A New Look at Economic Development
Considering the most recent developments in Western societies, there is a growing consciousness that a deep change is needed in the type of economic development as well as the social values that are currently pursued.
The International Scope Review was created at the end of 1998 to bring an answer to this situation. In 2002, The Social Capital Foundation was created to support and manage the Review and to set up other types of actions likely to make the public aware of alternative approaches. This article discusses the underpinning theory and practice of the Foundation.
UN’s Choice: Millennium Development Goals vs. Financial Crisis!
Key words: UN, millennium development goals (MDGs), financial crisis, poverty, economic turbulance, collective security, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The Bougainville conflict: A classic outcome of the resource-curse effect?
Pre-existing ethnic and economic divisions between Bougainville and the rest of Papua New Guinea and the mismanagement of the copper wealth of the Panguna Mine exacerbated existing tensions and provided radical Bougainvilleans an excuse to legitimise the pursuit of violence as a means to resolve their grievances. This article examines the causes of the Bougainville conflict in Papua New Guinea from 1988 -1997, specifically investigating the role of the resource curse (as propounded by Collier) and briefly discusses implications for democracy and future development on the island.
The article finds that not one single factor should be isolated as a sole cause of the conflict but that there is a series of predominant causes which can trace their roots directly to the Panguna Mine. Pan-Bougainvillean ethnicity should not be discounted as an important factor but should be seen as an external projection of economic and inter-ethnic grievances.
The real roots of the 2007-2009 economic crisis: questions and answers
Simon Stander discusses the real roots of the 2007-2009 economic crisis with questions and answers and with help, sometimes but not always, from Karl Marx. As is occasionally said Marx is good for analysis but not always for prediction. Simon Stander, formerly professor of Peace Studies (and founding editor of the Peace and Conflict Monitor) at UPEACE seems to agree.