Neoliberal Globalization, Advocate And Austerity
For this assignment, you will be expected to write a 5 page (1500 words) paper combining positive assessment and formative assessment and using course materials and limited outside research.
We are living through the era of neoliberal globalization and austerity. This era is marked by an invigorated imposition of trade liberalization and state restructuring on countries in the Global South, as well as a dramatic reversal of the Keynesian welfare state that characterized the “Golden Age” of capitalism in North America and Europe. This essay will give you an opportunity to critically reflect on these dynamics.
Your assignment is to critically assess neoliberal globalization, using two case studies: one from the Global North and one from the Global South (see lists below). Your paper should describe the process and effects of neoliberalism in the countries you have chosen, paying close attention to the way neoliberalism has changed the relationship between business and those countries' governments and, in your conclusions, you should offer your perspective on how people ought to respond to the current situation. After all, governments are supposed to be reflective of popular will. So, if you lived in one of these countries, what would you tell your government to do about neoliberalism?
You are expected to draw from the course materials (readings, lessons, etc) and you should also use at least three (3) outside academic/scholarly sources. Random blogs or news articles won't be enough – especially these days! Use the library's resources and find legitimate peer-reviewed articles or academic books.
Your grade will be primarily (but not entirely) based on: 1) the coherence of your argument; 2) your demonstration of complex critical thinking; 3) the clarity of your writing; 4) your effective use of course materials and outside sources.
Papers must be submitted in hardcopy – no emailed papers will be accepted!
* Global North refers to the core industrialized capitalist powers. Most notably this means Canada, the US, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, smaller Western European states like Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries, as well as Australia and Japan.
* Global South refers to the poorer states on the periphery of global capitalism. Most of the world's countries fall into this category, especially those in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
* Some countries do not fit neatly into either category. Brazil, Russia, India, and China are examples of rapidly expanding peripheral capitalist states that are not part of the traditional ‘core.' Spain, Portugal, Greece, or the Eastern European states are caught somewhere between the two categories. Others like Venezuela or Cuba are non-capitalist states and therefore belong to neither category.