Abstract This paper is a book report on Dani Rodrik's book "Has Globalization Gone Too Far?" This well-argued and creative approach to globalization tries to adopt a rational median path between those who zealously support international economic integration and others who fervently condemn it. Rodrik objectively weighs up both the benefits and risks of such global economic integration, and criticizes mainstream economists for downplaying its dangers.
Abstract This paper compares the sexual practice of United States citizens and the tribes of the Grand Valley Dani in Papua, New Guinea. The focus is on the differences between a dominant and a non-dominant culture. The paper covers the following issues: 1) marriage and sex, including mate selection, rituals, and sex; 2) postpartum sexuality; and 3) alternative sexual outlets, such as polygamy, masturbation, and homosexuality
From the Paper "Anthropologists, Sociologists, and the like have studied human sexuality for more than one hundred years now. In the past, studies focused mainly on the reproductive aspect of sexuality. More recently, researchers have been more concerned about such aspects as society's standards, physical desires, and community influence on sexuality. The cause of certain sexual behavior in humans has been a topic of serious debate. In fact, human sexuality as a whole has been a major, yet taboo subject of controversy for many years."
Abstract This paper begins by taking a brief look at the positions of both critics and supporters of the global economy. The paper then summarizes and reviews Dani Rodrik's book and points out that Rodrik's book looks past the controversy and, instead, focuses on what factors have allowed the global economy to take hold in nations, which have diverse governments and widely varying amounts of investment capitol. Finally, the paper also discusses the three individual factors that Rodrik claims are responsible for sustained economic growth among developing countries.
From the Paper "According to the New Dictionary of Global Literacy (2002) a global economy is the international spread of capitalism, and capitalism based economic system, especially in recent decades, across national boundaries and with minimal restrictions by governments. For many reasons the global economy has become hotly controversial, and there are as many critics as supporters of this recent wave of economic evolution. Critics allege that the mechanism by which global economy operates, which are the free markets and free trade, take jobs away from well-paid workers in the wealthy nations while creating sweatshops in the poor ones. Supporters of a global economy insist that the free movement by nations toward capital stimulates investment in poor nations and creates jobs in them. While this may be a temporary shift of investment from established countries to developing nations, the result is a global sharing of wealth which inevitably lifts all peoples, like an oncoming tide lifts all the ships in the harbor."
Tags: transportation communication currency conversion, imf wto investment expansion
Abstract This paper takes a look at Dani Rodrik's book, 'The New Global Economy and Developing Countries'. According to the paper, the barriers that once stood in the way of developing a global economy, such as transportation, communication, and currency conversion, have now been taken down by the airline companies, the Internet, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Trade Organization (WTO). The paper further discusses how a country which engages the world in an open mindset is able to import and purchase ideas, goods and services, capital, and institutions because of its positive relationships, and working agreements with other nations.
From the Paper "Large differences in growth curves exist between developing nations over the past decade. Many countries, such as those in the Pacific Rim, that pursued macroeconomic stability, liberalized trade, and implemented market-based reforms in the early to mid-1980s are now well established as the high performers in the developing world. Their policies have enabled them to better withstand adverse external developments and unpredictable market variables. More recently, many other developing countries have adopted similar policy frameworks and have, in turn, made substantial progress in fostering macroeconomic stability. For many of these countries growth has exceeded expectations, and their prospects are better than they have been for some time. Growth in a number of other developing countries remains weak, however, and there are at present relatively few indications of improvement. Although policy differences do not fully explain the growth experiences among developing countries or within an individual country when compared to its neighbor, over time the lack of economic stability, inadequate and distorted financial markets, unproductive state intrusion, and inward-oriented trade policies all act to restrain growth. Although simple comparisons with the strong performers point to relatively straightforward explanations for the difficulties of low-growth countries, a closer look at their experiences suggests that their failure to grow at more satisfactory rates is attributable to a complex set of interactions among policy failures, poor governance, lack of incentives for reform, and adverse external developments. "
Abstract This paper explores the problems involved in the use of film by anthropologists as a means of portraying the social customs and experiences of a people. A discussion of fictional film versus scientific documentary is presented. Three ethnological films are examined to demonstrate the ineffectiveness of this method. The conclusion is drawn that a filmmaker must make a choice between "telling a story" and conducting true scientific research.
From the Paper "One of the first considerations for the anthropological filmmaker is who their audience will be. In general, an anthropological writer will have their work published in a professional journal or book, which is intended to be read by other professionals. With the film, however, they can be released for a general audience who is not familiar with the terms and techniques of anthropology. The presentation of the information must therefore be in a format that the lay person will understand. It must also hold their attention, therefore some consideration must be given to character development and plot, yet at the same time, this must be done without losing accuracy.
Often, films about "exotic" people are made by people with no anthropological background. In the film "Dead Birds" shot among the Dani tribe of New Guinea, its maker Robert Gardner hinges on becoming a scientific fantasy (Ruby, 1991). The film was shot in a very artistic manner, which at times tended to sway the opinion of the viewer about what the persons were doing. The filmmaker can choose to show or not show certain elements, which skew the impressions of the viewer. This same problem exists in written anthropological works. The writer can choose to include or not include certain elements, which are key to understanding the actions of the people presented, therefore the work becomes an interpretation of how the anthropologist feels about the people and not a true work of scientific documentation."
From the Paper "Two different kinds of leadership have been identified among societies of the South Pacific islands: Chiefs and Big Men. The Trobriand Islanders of Papua New Guinea and the Dani, from mainland Papua New Guinea, exemplify these contrasting types. Trobrianders have Chiefs who have inherited power, are socially elevated above the rest of their group, and can exert some semi-coercive types of power. The Dani, on the other hand, have Big Men who develop influence rather than possessing power. Big Men must achieve whatever political or social ends they desire by means of persuasion and the exertion of various levels of influence. The difference between the inherited and non-inherited forms of leadership can be seen most easily in the high degree of regulated behaviors by and toward the Trobriand Chiefs as opposed to the relative lack of ceremony connected with the ..."
