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A World on the Edge. Discussion of Amy Chua article. Chua’s personal background. Aunt Leona 58, ethnic Chinese, living in Philippines Murdered by Nilo A.: an ethnic Filipino, her chauffer Why? What does this have to do with globalization? Chua’s premise?.
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A World on the Edge Discussion of Amy Chua article
Chua’s personal background • Aunt Leona • 58, ethnic Chinese, living in Philippines • Murdered by Nilo A.: an ethnic Filipino, her chauffer • Why? • What does this have to do with globalization? • Chua’s premise?
Various Points of Wealth Disparity • Philippines • Serbian conc. Camps of 1990s • Rwanda – 1994 • Jakarta – 1998 • Palestine - 1998 • NY - 2001 • What do they all have in common re: Chua’s premise
Forces at Work in Globalization • “3 most powerful forces at work today” • Markets • Democracy • Ethnic hatred
Market-dominant minorities • The “Achilles heel” of free market democracy • Why? • What can it lead to? • Ethno-nationalism • Who is perceived as the primary MDM in the world today? • Perception of global markets: • Reinforce the power of United States
Promotional Flaw in Globalization • Major components of Globalization are the concepts of Free Markets and Democracy • Why promote them/what makes them so great? (perception) • Flaws in promoting “Free” Markets and Democracy in the same place at the same time:
Two Views on How to Curb Ethno-nationalism in the face of MDMs • Globalists view: • What is needed is more democracy and more free markets • Chua’s view: • Free market democracy is the principle aggravating cause of group hatred and ethnic violence in the non-western world • Markets and democracy are not reinforcing when a MDM is present
Backlashes • A backlash against markets that targets the MDMs wealth • An attack against democracy by forces favorable to the MDM • Violence (sometimes genocidal) directed against the MDM itself • Zimbabwe – Robert Mugabe • Marcos dictatorship in Philippines; Kenya Pres. ArapMoi vs. Asians • “ethnic cleansing” in former Yugoslavia - Milosevic
Market Disparities • Market disparities must not be overlooked • Otherwise you may miss the dimension of class conflict and not ethnic conflict when assessing differences in wealth and poverty • Do not ignore ethnicity • Indigenization movements are not necessarily good, then. • Note the clarification of her argument on page 74.
Solutions (according to Chua) • Isolate the causes of market dominance of certain groups such as caused by political favoritism. • Find ways to spread the benefits of global markets beyond a handful of MDMs and their foreign investors • Use direct government intervention to correct wealth imbalances… but do note that such programs can exacerbate ethnic tensions rather than relieve them. • These are best used as short-term solutions