Curbing the Negative Impact of Global Capitalism on Fairness, Community, and the Environment
SOC 5 Final exam assignment (2021)
This test assesses your comprehension of reading and lecture materials. The mandatory question also assesses your ability to formulate analysis and arguments. We grade on substance, organization, and clarity. Answer the questions directly. Avoid fragmented thoughts and regurgitation of information. Upload your answers (as one document) to Canvas.
Simple citations are fine, e.g., (Robbins and Dowty, 129) or (U, Nov 10 lecture, slide 9). With external material, give full citations based on APA, ASA, or MLA style. Use quotation marks with phrases and sentences you borrow from somewhere. Group study may help. Write your own answers.
There is ample time to complete the exam. I have covered Q.2 to Q.4 in class. The bonus question requires extra work. I will address Q.1 before and after Thanksgiving; you can start by reading the assigned material. The following deductions will apply for lateness.
1 hour to 1 day late: minus 2 point1 to 2 days late: minus 3 points2 to 3 days late: minus 4 pointsOne additional point deduction per day thereafter
Mandatory question (60 percent, 1000-word maximum)
1. Scholars and activists have proposed ways to curb the negative impact of global capitalism on fairness, community, and the environment. This course looks at four of the proposals: (1) anarchism, (2) debt strike, (3) global tax on capital, and (4) degrowth.
Explain three of the proposals. Build an argument for the proposal that you believe is most suitable for addressing the social issues mentioned above. Explain why your chosen proposal is superior to the other two. Use course material as data and evidence (i.e., readings and lecture material). What’s wrong with the other two proposals that you did not choose? Build your analysis around the principles underlying the proposals, their feasibility, and the issues they each address and fail to address.
Answer one of the questions (40 percent, 700-word maximum)
2. Mike Davis observes that global capitalism and slum formation go together. What are slums? What do they reveal about capitalism? Why has the global slum population multiplied as global capitalism creates unprecedented quantities of goods and services as well as levels of wealth?
3. During the last century, Robbins tells us, beef consumption grew significantly. Explain how beef became a major commodity in the U.S. and the environmental impact of the global beef industry. What does this case study of beef tell us about the relations between capitalism and (a) consumption, (b) taste, and (c) the environment?
4. Peasant resistance and adaptation have been integral to capitalist development. Use Robbins’s and Dowty’s chapter on Malaysia, Nepal, and Mexico (or Kenya, Malaysia, and Mexico in the previous edition), and discuss conditions that precipitated the episodes of resistance and adaptation.
Bonus question (12 percent, no word limit)5. Based on lecture material on the environment and Colin Kinniburgh’s article on Extinction Rebellion (see the reading under Files), identify and discuss challenges facing the climate movement’s efforts to mobilize large-scale support.
Global Social Change
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Global Social Change
Mandatory Question: Three Proposals for Crubing the Negative Impact of Global Capitalism on Fairness, Community, and the Environment
Anarchism is a political theory that is overly skeptical of the most pertinent authority in modern society. Anarchists argue that any form of coercive power is not justifiable. As a result, the proponents of this philosophical theory argue that all forms of coercive power should be abolished for the well-being of society (Bray, 2013). As opposed to coercive power/ authority, anarchists propose individual freedom. They further argue that human beings and societies should be freed from domination (Sylvan, 2017). Considering that global capitalism somehow thrives on the hinges of coercive power, anarchism is potentially a solution to the negative impacts of global capitalism.
The Debt Strike proposal involves resisting debts for economic justice (Strike Debt/Occupy Wall Street, 2014). In capitalistic systems, unemployment and cuts on wages/ salaries are common. Consequently, many people are forced to for to debt to afford basic life commodities. Individuals in capitalistic societies must surrender their valuable items such as land to the bank as surety. The opponents of debt strike consider this phenomenon as selling our future to the bank. Evidence has revealed that debt is the major power source in a capitalistic system (Appel, 2015). The wealthy use debts to enrich themselves. The majority of the people, on the other hand, are left isolated and ashamed. The goal of the debt strike movement is to resist this debt system and advocate for better and more feasible alternatives (Hampton, 2015).
Degrowth is yet another popular political ideology that proposes solutions for the problems caused by global capitalism. The degrowth concept argues that the global capitalistic system pursues growth at all costs (Demaria et al., 2013). The costs of this growth are largely negative and include human exploitation and the destruction of the environment. The degrowth movement seeks a different approach. Instead of focusing on selfish growth, societies should focus on the kind of growth that prioritizes human dignity and promotes social/ ecological well-being (Kallis et al., 2018). With this approach, the negative consequences of global capitalism, such as environmental destruction, will be eliminated (Kallis, 2011).
The approach that I believe is the most suited to address the negative impact that global capitalism has had on fairness, community, and the environment is the degrowth concept. There are several reasons why I believe that this is the best-suited approach. First, the degrowth movement focuses on solving the problems caused by capitalism. The movement is not concerned with destroying the gains of capitalism. Instead, it is focused on dealing with the negative aspects that have been brought about by global capitalism. These problems include unfairness, community degradation, and the destruction of the environment. The movement aims to deal with these issues by providing better approaches to growth (Kallis, 2018). The second reason the concept of degrowth is the best suitable for solving these issues is sustainable. As seen above, the concept of degrowth focuses on establishing mechanisms of growth that value people's dignity while protecting the environment. Scientists have argued that unless the exploitative mechanisms of global capitalism are stopped, the world is likely to suffer from the severe results of unsustainability. These results include harsh climatic conditions and depletion of natural resources. Since the degrowth concept has sustainability at its heart, it is the best-suited approach.
The degrowth approach is superior to debt strike and anarchism concepts. While anarchism may partially help reduce the exploitative nature of capitalism, its propositions are not very practical (Jennings, 2019). It is hard to imagine a society with no centers of power or authority. Further, the theory tends to focus more on power while leaving out the concept of sustainability. Towards that end, the degrowth concept is superior since it provides practical and viable ways of eradicating the negative ills caused by global capitalism (Kerschner et al., 2018). The degrowth concept is also superior to the debt strike for one main reason. While the debt strike mainly focuses on the financial disadvantages brought about by global capitalism, the degrowth concept focuses on a wide range of ills. The degrowth concept is the best approach to promote positive effects on communities and the environment and promote fairness.
There is one main thing that is wrong with anarchism, that is, practicability. The world is organized so that power is delegated to certain entities. Most countries worldwide have state and hierarchical power (Piketty, 2018). It may not be feasible to do away with such power. In addition, it is not even practical. Being free from domination may do more harm than good. It is hard to imagine a situation where everyone is free from domination. It may create such problems as the proliferation of crimes. The best approach would be dealing with the negative aspects of global capitalism as proposed by the degrowth concept. The debt strike philosophy is great and could potentially deal with the negative aspects brought about by global capitalism. It is both feasible and practic...