“A detailed study of the role of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a number of Middle East and North African (MENA) countries finds two patterns:‘(1) a lack of rigor in developing recommendations geared toward addressing social imbalances and (2) a convenient scapegoating of national governments when policy changes do not produce their intended results’ (Radwan, 2020, p. 8)” (Moghadam 699).

Reflection on What Was Globalization by Valentine M. Moghadam

Moghadam's connection of globalization to the state and neoliberalism reminded me a lot of discussion's I had in a Social Inequality (SOCI 361) class, one documentary that we watched that has stuck with me is Maquilapolis directed by Sergio de la Torre and Vicky Funari. This documentary follows female Maquiladora workers in Tijuana, Mexico and demonstrates the harmful impacts of Western corporation's outsourcing labor to so-called developing nations. The workers at these Maquiladora factories are exposed to toxic chemicals, underpaid, and experience work place abuse. This documentary showcases the greed of the elite, and how far the West is willing to go in the name of capitalism and economic "progress".

I thought this passage was important because it identifies important patterns and a key problem with neoliberal globalization capitalism, which is that Western nation states, and large corporations in the global north prioritize their own profit, progress, and wellbeing. All while they exploit the labor and land of communities in so-called developing nations. As the passage expresses, there's a lack of research, planning, and effort in addressing the social imbalances that have come with capitalism and globalization, this can be seen as a direct result of large corporations and nation states prioritizing profit over people. Adding on, these corporations seek to make the most profit possible with spending as little as possible, which means seeking out locations that pay their workers less and have less safety regulations in place, ultimately demonstrating how western nation states and corporation's place more value on their monetary gain. This explicit disregard for human rights and the exploitation of marginalized workers stem from long lasting colonial legacies that foster the dehumanization of non-western nation's and communities.

Another connection I made, in regards to Moghadam's discussion around the domestic gender regime, patriarchal gender contract, and global care chain, was to the film I, Daniel Blake directed by Ken Loach. This movie touches on the intersectionality of class and gender, and how being a woman and mother shape's the experiences of working class women, and how more is expected from them, and thus they often experience more shaming from society.

Connections

Questions

How can we begin to decolonize our understanding of progress, economy, and what has value?

What sort of developing recommendations, regulations, and organizations would be needed to change the harmful patterns of neoliberal capitalism and globalization, and to properly address the social imbalances these systems have created?