Senior Seminar Week 10-Globalization

Possible discussion questions: Week 10

Berry "Conserving Communities"; Kneen "Restructuring food for corporate profit"; Wiley "The Banana: Empires, Trade Wars, and Globalization"

1. "Globalization" can have multiple definitions and positive or negative connotations. What are some of the ways that "globalization" is defined throughout these readings? What is the tone/stance of each author towards "globalization"? 

2. Why is globalization environmentally problematic or environmentally beneficial, according to these authors and in your own view? If globalization is associated with environmental problems, does that mean that the logical conclusion is that we should do the opposite, e.g. "localize"? What do the authors say? What do you think?

3. Corporations appear in each of these readings. What exactly is a corporation? What would make one "good" or "bad"?

4. Throughout these readings, especially Wiley and Kneen, there are several cases of companies attempting to increase their "market power" or "monopoly control." Do we expect this behavior from all companies or are these companies "bad apples" in the economic system? (Think back to Econ 11.) What should we do about this type of behavior? Should we get rid of the market economy so that we won't have monopolies?  How useful is Kneen’s metaphor relating such corporate behavior to the genetics and evolution of organisms?

5. What do we learn from Wiley's history of the Caribbean banana producers in Chpt. 4? Are there lessons about how to make globalization work for local communities? Can you point to examples of positive impacts of globalization on these developing nations, as well as negative impacts? Do you think these communities should follow Wendell Berry's advice?

6. How does Berry's article compare to last week's articles (Peluso/Roy)? How does he portray rural/local communities? Do you agree that there are really two "parties" in America: that of the global economy and that of the local community?  Are Berry's recommended rules operational? Do they promote or limit personal freedoms?