American Trade and its Affect on Globalization (Cultural Event #3)

                On Tuesday April 1, 2008 I attended the Globalization and American Trade meeting held by Pi Sigma Alpha, a Political Science honors society. The main speaker was a woman by the name of Donna Lee. Donna is a teacher at the University of Nottingham and is also an author to numerous articles of the Oxford Press. Her main topic of discussion was that of the ever-growing issue of globalization. The first image presented on the power-point summed up the entire meeting from the start. It was a picture of an African woman carrying an abnormally large McDonald’s bag while balancing giant sized coke can on top of her head. Quickly, Professor Lee proved how most of the world now clings to these big name brands.

                Not only is the world’s fascination of name brands an issue, but it is disturbing one that leaves poorer nations being controlled in their own market. Due to competitiveness of nations globalization is increasing alongside economy, somewhat hiding its true nature. To fit trade regulations, many nations have reduced taxation; however this has led the increase of poverty and a decrease of welfare. Much of this problem derives straight from the borders of America. Currently ninety percent of the World Wide Web is in English; thus proving that America has a strong hold on trade and economy around the entire world.

                One nation that is experiencing the full affects of globalization is that of Africa where more specifically three countries that deal with cotton are being controlled to support the needs of richer nations. Africa’s problem stems from the fact that its markets are unprotected, thus other nations or businesses can come in and control their markets. For instance, the United States has free access to Africa so that they can reform markets. This entails a somewhat triumph of neo-liberalism. Going back to cotton, the nations of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Chad are all single commodity producers of cotton. The most eye-popping stat is that these countries produce cotton at one-tenth the price that Americans do. Even more strange is that from 1999 to 2002 there was an increase of the export of cotton by fourteen percent, however earnings fell an astonishing thirty-one percent. These statistics prove the grasp the United States has on poorer nations such as Africa through the pipelines of production and trade. If free markets existed to where Africa can control its own exports and imports, African nations would grow on an economical scale by more than seven percent.

                Overall this meeting was a very informative one that grew great concern into my eyes. That fact that my nation misuses its power to exploit poorer nations is quite disgusting. This definitely has altered my vision of big industry and quite possibly may reduce my support and use of certain products. The meeting was very professional and without a doubt passed on its message.