Class Debate: Globalization and Free Trade encourages economic growth and development
This week we had a class debate on globalization. I was on the affirmative team, which agrees with globalization.
One thing I hadn’t considered was NAFTA, or the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Dominic brought up. This is a trade agreement that has benefited the parties involved, particularly Mexico. It was a good argument and it really helped our case.
Avu used the argument that international trade has put Africa in a debt trap. I said that trade gives Africa more goods and services; ones they mightn’t of had before, or ones that might be better than the inferior ones that are available. It surprised me when Hao also rebutted this point, pointing out the rise in GDP that AFrica has experienced.
Of course, sex trafficking was bought up. I actually researched a lot for this, and found an article that claims that prostitution caused globalization, not the other way around. Unfortunately, I did not get to use this point. If I had known Hao was not going to use it in his rebuttal, I would have used it in mine. I didn’t want to say it because I didn’t want to step on Hao’s argument.
One aspect of globalization I hadn’t even thought of was loss of culture, so I didn’t really have anything prepared. Although I liked Harmeet‘s point that globalization could actually bring cultures together, by using our team as an example. Chinese, Australian, Filipino, Korean, Indian and ‘Whatever Kotaro is’ in one room.
Avu and Amber both used Dominic’s shoes as an example of sweatshop labour. Attacking the other team directly is a good debating technique, as often, they have no way to defend themselves. However, we argued that while what pay they get might be bad by our standards, it could be very good for them. The prices of items in those places mightn’t be as expensive as things in our countries, and so the pay they receive could very well be enough for them to live off.
