10 Minute Essay (3/4)

Sill No Easy Solution

Globalization, as many have discussed, is a complex phenomenon that may either help or harm developing nations. Many scholars in the past have had an unwaveringly positive view of globalization. It is true that in many cases, foreign aid and industries bring money and a diversity of trade partners that may be otherwise unattainable. However, it is important to keep in mind that there are negative consequences of globalization, and cases in which existing problems are acerbated by global influences. One such case is that of Haiti.

Haiti has serious domestic issues such as AIDs, deforestation, political unrest and instability, as well as poverty and starvation on a massive scale. Globalization has not helped with these problems. An anthropological study will reveal that deforestation is caused by the creation of swiddens (slash and burn fields). As the population increases, the fallow period decreases to meet the demand for food, reducing fertility and causing more deforestation for the creation of additional swiddens. In class, I explored several proposed solutions to Haiti’s problem, such as giving the Haitians more trees to plant. However, the corrupt government lead to such distrust that the Haitian people would not participate in re-forestation projects. Additionally, the need for food triumphed the need for trees and so swidden creation continued. Another instance of the failure of globalization is in the introduction of foreign factories and capital. Although fit appears that foreign money that could have alleviated starvation and environmental strain, the opposite was true. Food prices rose and demand for wood for cooking and heating rose as workers concentrated in cities, making the problems of malnutrition and deforestation worse. In Haiti globalization did not help a suffering populous, it only made existing problems worse.

It is important for students and intellectuals to study such cases as Haiti. It is tempting to view globalization as an easy solution to problems in the developing world. However, sometimes global forces can make existing problems worse, as in the cease of Haiti. When globalization is involved, it is vital to remember that there are no easy solutions.