Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

What International Relations means to me , now?

April 25, 2008

To me international relations are the diplomatic interaction that different nation’s part takes in on daily basis. My understanding of international politics has changed as a result of having studied the IRT. From the IRT, I know that there is more then one school of thought implement when talking about the relations between nations.

1. The first idea of IRT is that it is a process very similar to a structure, according to Robert Keohane & Joseph Nye, which have interdependent with other nations and share a sensitive ration.

2. The second perspective of lRT is the “English International Socity’s” which were proposed by Hardley Ball and Adam Watson. They believed that international politics was made out do international society’s that believed in “we-ness”, shared common rules and interest.

3. The third and final perspective of IRT is neo-liberalistic that believe that each state is an anarchic state that acts for its self interest only.

Although, the IRT is not the only think that I think when thinking of international relations it is one of the fundamental keys to understanding the different interaction between nations . The change in my ideas of IR was a result of having studied the IRT. I had not known the intricacy of the IRT, and how more then one perspective can be accepted at the same time. The most important thing that I walked away from having studied IR is the intricacy of modern day interactions between nations.

A synonym that a associated with international relations is the United Nation for it is essence the prime example of international relation at its finest. In class we discussed the structure of the UN, and the weak point in ability to take fierce military actions.

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In general, the topics discussed and covered in class were much more interesting then theories studied, especially when talking about the moral and ethics of nations. It was very interesting to see different cases in which the United States act immediately and sometime fumbled the ball. ( Kosavo and Rwanda) .

My topic [Outsourcing of American Jobs] and International Financial Institutions

April 18, 2008

My topic [Outsourcing of American Jobs] and International Financial Institutions don’t really share many similarities in goals or origin. However, outsourcing and IFI can be discussed on an economical level.

  • Outsourcing in essence is a tool that is used by companies in developed countries to reduce cost and increase efficiency.

What is happening is that companies in developed countries are realizing the increase in developing their goods in undeveloped countries. In our scenario American jobs are outsourced to countries such as the India, China and Japan.

The IFI’s provide money that is loaned out to undeveloped countries to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty. The idea of having an IFI’s such as the World Bank in theory is rights, however the reality is that it’s a trap used to keep undeveloped countries from economical success by keeping them in dept.

The World Bank initially was created to serve as a transitional solution for war-struck countries that were rebuilding their economy. Today, the World Bank serves as multi-million lender to undeveloped countries. The idea of having IFI’s organization such as World Bank theoretically are right, however they are not the solution for poverty struck countries. No matter the amount of money undeveloped countries are willing to invest into their economy their results will not be immediate or effective. How can one expect to turn around the economy by simply investing millions of dollars into an undeveloped country? That is where “outsourcing” comes in.

When undeveloped countries attempt to develop economical partnership with America (other developed countries), there might be a chance that they would throw a means of production at them. India is a perfect example of such an event. Prior to the technological boom , India used to be considered a undeveloped country suffering from a weak economy. Today however, India is reckoned as one of the fastest growing due to the influx of money that is coming in from “outsourced jobs” , and several other conditions.

Our blog is not oriented on weather or not outsourcing of American jobs is right. However, we do see outsourcing of American jobs to undeveloped countries as a better option then lending money from IFI such as the World Bank.

Outsoucing and rule/end based ethics

April 4, 2008
I would like you to use the rules-based, ends-based distinction to analyze an aspect of your topic.
End based or consequentialism assumes that the morality of an action must be ultimately judged by the good results that are realized. However, rule based or deontological thinking which asserts that actions should be judged by their inherent rightness and validity, not by the goodness or badness of policy outcomes. The topic of outsourcing from the American point of view can best be viewed from the consequentialist perspective. The American government is sacrificing the means of employing American workers for the return of cheaper products in the
United States. In term of the means, American workers are out of jobs because their jobs are being sent overseas and a cheaper labor price. From a consequestialist perspective, although the means are morally illegitimate, the out come is positive, resulting in cheaper goods for U.S. citizens.

 

Outsourcing: Morality and Ethics

March 27, 2008

If the government is concerned solely with the morality of the citizens of the United States then the government would prevent the outsourcing of American jobs. However, outsourcing brings jobs and prosperity to impoverished areas of the world.  Therefore on the account of morality, it could be perceived that the government is be acting morally.

According to its nonintervention in the outsourcing of American jobs the United States government would, therefore, be focusing on the issue of morality as it relates internationally. However, this assumption that the United States is not acting against outsourcing because it is providing income for impoverished areas of the world, is a disguise to United states’s actual intentions of action out of self interest. The US government has not steeped in because the effects of outsourcing allows for the sale of cheaper goods in the United States, because of cheaper labor in the impoverished areas. The government has not acted morally to provide jobs to impoverished areas, although it may perceived this way, but rather the governement has made the decision out of its own self interest to abandoned its American workers.

“[My Topic] and the role of the state”

February 27, 2008

 Idea

            Outsourcing falls under the issue of economical issues when addressed from the state perspective. It’s obviously undeniable that the issue of outsourcing also effect other regions such public image of  a nation, national relations of the states, and  general moral of the state as a whole.  An obvious example is the close relationship between the United States and China as a result of the large amount of money invested by many American cooperation. US Policy Considerations – China, Taiwan, and the Pacific Rim  by Rebecca Jimerson, Lawrence Cooper , and Corinne Contant at the George Washington University does a great job identifying the dual threat of China.

             

Action

            One of the most effective actions that can be taken by nation to prevent or stimulate trends of outsourcing is to impose sanctions. Sanction will allow the nation to control the amount of product that is imported and exported based on the amount of taxes and tariffs. However, the effects of sanctioning have to be weight especially carefully. The relations of state  A with state B  very fragile and sensitive when discussing altering the effectiveness of the other nations economy.  If major companies in state A though it be cost-effective, and lucrative to export their production site, and telecommunication to foreign countries such as state B. The reaction of state B would be to seek out those major investors expand their opportunity to invest money in their nation due to the positive effect the new investment has toward state B rising economy.

A real life example is the amount of many outsourcing industries are over sees currently in America. The new and modernized economy of the America is globalized and extends its reach beyond just their allies. The reference to allies is a direct indication that China one of the largest , if not the larges trading of the America does not uphold the human rights, and freedom of speech –that characterize the two top moral values of America.

A Diffrent Aspect-

            Outsourcing might be a positive for a benefit for the America industry that is maximizing the amounted of production while decreasing their cost, but is it worth it for the China.  The economical leaps made by China due to foreign investment can not be ignored, however does China want to be become the working backwater of the world. The effect of pollution will eventfully become a concern when it reaches the point where living conditions catch up to the world such as America. What will the reaction of China be to outsourcing of American jobs when they realize the fact that America is actually taking advantage of their poor living conditions? It might not make be apparent but the cost of outsourcing is not taken by American’s as a result of the benefits for the nature of the state, but cost. The economist would see nothing besides the $$$, however how long will America be able to afford to outsource their work and still be able to a healthy amount of money back into the economy.

 Is America run dry out their economy due the industries large amount of outsourcing? My personally opinion is that America will be forced to either reconsider their tactics of monitoring the economy. Or the onset of World War III will help America either relapse into the WWII economical power it used to be or fall like England into the pit of an old legacy that surpassed their prime.

What the Simpsons Think of This……

The International System and Outsourcing

February 14, 2008

A system is an assemblage of units, objects, or parts united by some form of regular interaction. The concept of the international system is viewed differently by liberals, realists, radicals and constructivists.

- Liberals have three main conceptions of the international system

  1. Views it not as a structure but as a process
  2. View that international system as an international society or community
  3. View that the international system is anarchic, can produce positive outcomes

-Realists view of the international system revolves around anarchy and state interests. In addition, these states focus on the polarity of the international system because of its focus on power.

-Radicals view the international system according to stratification, where the system is broken into three different strata’s: developed countries, partly developed countries and developing countries. The crippling stratification in the internationals system is caused by capitalism.

-Constructivists analyze the changes in the international system 

Liberal International System and outsourcing

liberal view the International system as a process. through this process the actor interact with each other and they learn from these interactions, and many national interest define the liberal international system. in the case of outsourcing the economic interest of the countries would be considered in the international system. multinational corporation are trying to benefit by providing lower cost products and developing countries are trying to benefit from the increase in the job market in their country. In addition, anarchy plays a role in outsourcing in the liberal international system. however, liberals believe that this economic interaction between  the countries can be positive.

Realist International system and Outsourcing

The international system according to realists revolves around anarchy. they believe that there is no higher authority regulating the actions of the countries in the system. however realist would assume that outsourcing is an action of the state that is not controlled by anything therefore they shape the system. However, neorealist believe that states are controlled by the system. Therefore, the would believe that outsourcing results from the United States needing to find cheaper production cost and this has lead to outsourcing.

Radical International System

The radical view of the international system is based of stratification. Radicals would view outsourcing as the exploitation of the developing countries such as china and India by the developed country of the united states. In addition, they would argue that this exploitation is due to the capitalist system because the it has forced companies to outsource.

 Constructivist International System

Consructivists would view outsourcing as one medium through which the international system is evolving. The world is becoming more globalized and outsourcing is just one aspect of the globalization that is taking place between countries and multinational corporations.

A Rant – Blogs -Olympics 2008 –China

January 30, 2008

Article in The New York Times   

Some of us might take this privilege of posting as nothing much but to some other it might mean life or death. Or at least in the case of Hu Jia it meant arrest and charges for subverting power of the state. You might wonder the reasoning presented by the state or the trail procedures, but unfortunately communist China does not really have to explain its action to anyone else. This article might present one of the many stories that lies hidden behind the great wall of communism that keeps the nation secret behind closed doors, but thankfully to the bold human activist and other group stories such as this are once in a while heard of.

The question that I don’t really understand is although the rest of the world does not really support or think highly of communism why are the 2008 Olympic Games held there? Obviously I knot that a certain portion of the selection process is done by random and also agreed upon by a board of directors, yet why is the whole world bringing the biggest tourist attraction the world to the one and only powerful communist country that is on the verge of becoming a gigantic economical power. I personally wish the world games would be held somewhere else instead of China.

What this is about ?

January 29, 2008

As a group we are going to take the look of how outsourcing in the United States and the rest of the world has effected the economy of both America and the Rest of the World.

 

My partner will go into further details with a brief summery paragraph.

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Germany 1995-2000

January 27, 2008

Living in Nuremburgh, Germany as a political asylum.

How IR affects me and how I affect IR.

January 23, 2008

One way that i am affected by international relations, is by the outsourcing of American jobs to India. In the field of information technology, jobs are being sent overseas because of the lower in labor cost in developing countries. My dad is in the IT field and his job may be in jeopardy because of the financial move of big IT business.

 I have affected International Relations when I purchase my soccer equipment. My cleats come straight from Germany and my uniform from other parts of the world. I also affected International Relations when i hosted an exchange student from France.