Global Trade - Good or Evil

Global trade can be good or bad, depending on how it's conducted. It's bad when the more powerful nations use their economic and military might to impose unfavorable conditions on poor nations. It's bad when it allows wealthy people, goods, and capital to move freely, but blocks workers from moving freely. These conditions create disparity between rich and poor nations, AND between rich and poor people within both classes of nations.

However, were global trade to be conducted fairly it would be an extremely positive force, as nations are less likely to go to war with each other when they have healthy and vigorous trade relations with each other. And if workers are allowed to move as freely as goods, then the forces of supply and demand will tend to reduce wage disparities between nations, reducing the instability caused by poverty.

That still leaves unanswered the disparity between rich and poor of each nation, but that's another topic.

Note: When NAFTA was being debated, the media framed the question in terms of the USA vs Mexico: Which country would benefit and which would lose? But that was the wrong question, because NAFTA, which allowed the free movement of goods and capital and the people who owned capital, did not allow the free movement of workers. So the result was, predictably, that the wealthy of both nations benefitted, while the workers of both nations suffered.

 

First, a question - would we be in the middle of a war in Iraq if not for international (read: oil) trade? I know what your answer will be, Berman, but the reality is we wouldn't care what Saddam was doing there or how many he killed if the region didn't hold great interest for us in terms of international trade. Just look at all the other countries that commit atrocities we haven't invaded and you'll see my point.

That being said, I think international trade is overall a neutral force. On one side, like you said, it promotes greater understanding between two cultures and countries, and encourages the leaders to cooperate for the greater good of their merchants (which are the rich and powerful in the country). On the other side, it's an avenue which creates dependence, which, in turn, can create increased tensions between countries. It also creates a situation where local producers are effected by foreign producers, causing resentment and fear, which leads to the tariffs and protectionist actions, and through that to increased tensions.

 

Highly doubtful it can be benifitial to anyone but the large corporations involved. I refer to David Korten on the subject since that is what he was educated and trained to do and did as part of his long career and he eventually quit in disgust and started his work on educating people in the misconceptions of "global trade" that get spewed by our government and the corporations who have the politicians in their pockets. Remove the greed, corruption and ethnocentric conditions and global trade could be very beneficial. David calls it, The Global Community.

The opposite of The Global Community is what he termed:

 

I don't have a problem with global trade.. I do have a problem with trading with China and other commie nations.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ Apr 9 2007, 12:09 PM) [snapback]420296[/snapback]</div>

Ohmigod fatal - who do you think owns and works for the evil multinationals??? You are being sucked in by your liberal professors - break free - think on your own!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUwS1uAdUcI...smedia%2Ecom%2F