Life and Debt: Interdependency Between Markets in the Global North and South
In her chapter, “The Gendered Politics and Violence of Structural Adjustments,” Faye V. Harrison reflects on how postcolonial Jamaica has been—and continues to be—profoundly affected by colonial and gendered exploitation in the form of structural adjustments. This exploitation has been expressed in multiple ways: as development, as neocolonization, as gendered violence, but also signals the deep interdependency between countries in the Global North and South in complex ways. The Film Study #2 prompts students to consider the question of globalization and what means for citizens of the global North and South. Using anthropological concepts and theories discussed in the course, students will be asked to respond to a question about the nature of global dis/connections and their far-reaching implications. Assignment Instructions In three pages (or 750 words, double-spaced) please answer the following prompt: With reference to Faye Harrison’s chapter, briefly summarize and explain how one event from the film, “Life and Debt,” addresses the interdependency between markets in the Global North and South. How has the current global economy intensified historically uneven divisions of labour between higher-income and lower-income countries? Your response should include at least two course concepts relating to global transformations (e.g., globalization, neoliberalism, neocolonialism, structural adjustments, underdevelopment, gendered violence, faraway markets, market externalities, and/or “glocal”). Not explicitly engaging with both Harrison’s chapter and the film will result in a lower grade.
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Faye V. Harrison's chapter sheds light on the multifaceted impact of structural adjustments on postcolonial Jamaica. The exploitation discussed in the chapter encompasses various forms such as development, neo-colonization, and gendered violence, all of which underscore the complex interdependency between the Global North and South. As highlighted by Harrison, structural adjustments act as a conduit for perpetuating historical inequalities and power imbalances (Harrison).
Harrison underscores the diverse manifestations of exploitation in postcolonial Jamaica. One of these manifestations is the framing of exploitation as a developmental strategy. Structural adjustments, often presented as measures to spur economic growth and progress, are revealed by Harrison as mechanisms that perpetuate inequality and disadvantage specific segments of the population, particularly women. The ostensibly progressive development agenda becomes a tool for reinforcing existing power structures. Moreover, Harrison delves into the concept of neo-colonization, shedding light on how postcolonial nations like Jamaica continue to grapple with forms of economic subjugation reminiscent