Transnational corporations (TNCs)
Over the past twenty years, the expansion of transnational corporations (TNCs) into developing countries has led to a debate about whether or not TNCs have produced or obstructed development in countries of the Global South. Pick either a) one specific TNC, or b) a country where various TNCs operate, to answer the following question: Do TNCs in the current neoliberal global era have a positive or negative impact on human development?
If choosing option “a” (specific TNC), the answer should provide a detailed description of the TNC and its activities abroad, describe its specific investments in at least one Southern country and explore how the government in that country has reacted to the TNC, and assess its impact on human development. If choosing option “b” (a country where various TNCs operate) the answer should briefly provide a historical development profile of the country, with specific attention to government policy toward TNCs, a detailed account of the role of TNCs in the country’s economy, and their overall contribution (or lack thereof) to human development in the country of your choice.
Question 2:
For the past two decades transnational institutions (WB, IMF, WTO) insisted that neoliberal free-market policies were the best policy alternatives to foster development in countries in the Global South. Select a country that adopted these policies in the Global South to answer the following question: did neoliberal development policies had a positive or a negative impact on human development?
Your answer should briefly provide a review of the historical development profile of the country, describe the specific neoliberal policies that were implemented and their outcomes, and assess their impact on the country’s human development.
Question 3:
A new group of countries, known as the BRICS, recently emerged as powerful economies in the global stage. Some observers suggest that this shows that globalization can foster development in the Global South and help some countries overcome dependency and improve the wellbeing of their citizens. Choose one country belonging to the BRICS group to examine its recent development trajectory and to assess whether it has made significant progress toward achieving human development.
Your answer should briefly provide a review of the historical development profile of the country, describe the specific development policies that were implemented and their outcomes, and assess their impact on the country’s human development.
Question 4:
Over the past two decades people around the world organized transnational movements and campaigns to oppose the negative developmental aspects of globalization and/or to implement alternative development practices. Choose one transnational movement or campaign representing what we have called “globalization from below” to assess its levels of success in addressing inequalities and/or fostering human development.
Your answer must describe the movement/campaign (origins, goals, membership, strategies, etc.), the development issues it addresses, and discuss the obstacles and opportunities it encountered in pursuing its goals.
Question 5:
What is globalization and what are its implications for thinking and practicing development?
In answering this question students are expected to map both the different notions of globalization available and the diverse ways of accounting for the relationship between development and globalization. Notions such as “globalization from above” and “globalization from below” should be explored.
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