By Linnea McCalla
Students enjoying refreshments at a local café in the rural indigenous community we visited. The presence of a café serves as an example of how globalization has changed communities on all levels.
This is one of the few corn fields we saw during our visit to the rural indigenous community.This week was spent exploring the historical context in which Liberation Theology emerged and the development and affects of globalization in Latin America. Globalization is a phenomenon that is greater than the exchange of economics between two different countries. We defined globalization as: “the events and actions of one part of the world [that]are affecting people in distant lands more quickly and frequently” ([i]). This definition opens up the term globalization as being more than just economic transactions between countries; it is also the cultural and political exchanges between countries. One example that was mentioned in class was the existence of the World Wide Web. This tool fosters the exchange of cultural/social, political, and economic beliefs between people at a rapid rate.
Our group explored the affects globalization has on rural communities by spending a weekend in a small local indigenous rural community here in Mexico. It is a Nahuatl community that has held on very closely to its culture. While there during our two-day rural home stays, we got to spend time with families. We also had the privilege of speaking with a few of the local people about their experiences. We were educated on the spiritual beliefs of the community, traditional medicine, and the effects of globalization on local farmers. It was really interesting to hear how globalization—culturally and economically—has affected the traditions of the community. What stood out to me the most was when one of the women was sharing her experience as a farmer in the community. She explained that the local tradition—especially the harvesting of corn—has lost its initial value in their society because of the economic pressures that come along with farming[ii]. The various trade agreements that Mexico has with other countries have strongly influenced the way traditions are lost.
Because of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and other trade agreements, the import of goods such as corn and corn seeds to Mexico have increased over the years[iii]. The prices of these imports are cheaper than the local supply of these goods. In addition, instead of using traditional corn seeds because they last longer, families buy the less expensive ones—that have a dramatically short life-span—and are caught in a vicious cycle of continuously purchasing these seeds in order to provide for their family.[iv] In order to provide for their families, about 60 percent of Mexican heads of families migrate to the United States or Canada to look for jobs.[v] In my opinion, this shows that globalization has opened the job markets across country lines which has positive and negative effects on communities. The positive outcome is that people are able to leave their situation in pursuit of—what may or may not be—a more promising one. However, the negative impact is that indigenous cultures, such as this one, are slowly depleting. For instance, what used to hold cultural clout—the harvesting of corn—is now viewed as a burden.
[i] Judy Shevelov. Lecture Notes: “Overview of Neoliberalism in Mexico: Economics, Politics, and Social Issues to Consider.” Gender and Social Change. 2 September 2008.
[ii] Woman in rural indigenous village. (Protecting her name.) 6 September 2008.
[iii] Guest lecturer on NAFTA. (Protecting his name.) 4 September 2008.
[iv] Woman in rural indigenous village.
[v] Guest lecturer on NAFTA.
This is a picture of three pieces of corn and a conch shell being offered as part of a traditional practice. Each color of corn is placed in a strategic place representing a different meaning. The North is black representing the place of the dead. The South is red representing the mother, women, and the land. The East is white representing the sun and the source of life. The West is the color yellow in order to represent hope and the sun setting. This reemphasizes how important corn is and how the destruction of the traditional corn seed correlates with the destruction of traditional values.
11 comments:
Shelling corn from the corn grown the previous year is the traditional method of obtaining seed. There was never anyneed to buy corn from another community.
Why do the now buy seed when they alredy have seed from the prior year?
The effects of globalization seem to be negatively impacting only those who have little or no means of being heard. The village in rural Mexico may be small, but that should not negate the fact that they are a community with ancient cultural traditions and values. Larger institutions should not force them into meeting trade agreement which force them to compromise their methods. The idea behind globalization seems to be working against a simpler, formerly common method of sustainable farming. In countries that are less developed, governmental forces, people in power, or international influences often push toward development with little or no regard to rich cultures and people who have the right to maintain their way of life. In fact, more often than not, these indigenous people were just fine prior to having to meet the NAFTA requirements. Globalization surely has its benefits, but will the cost always be the culture, livelihood, or lives of indigenous people? Weren’t they here first?
Suzanne Haggerty
CIEE Thailand
I am inclined to agree that globalization does produce positives and negatives; however, I don't believe that migrating to another country to find work should be considered a benefit. I would argue that the people in Mexico who once harvested corn for a living are being unwillingly forced to seek new forms of income.
Prior to the influence of global markets, and foreign economic practices were the farmers in Mexico sustaining themselves? What made Mexican farmers decide to cultivate corn from non-traditional seed sources, and modify their harvesting patterns?
In Thailand farmers who traditionally harvested rice for consumption were greatly impacted by the "Green Revolution." Chemical fertilizers and the concept of export-cropping drove many farmers to transition into mono-cropping and cultivation for international sale. Similar to the Mexican farmers you described, Thai rural communities and lifestyles were eroded and many individuals fled to Bangkok to find a second source of income. I agree with you that globalization has allowed farmers the opportunity to travel in search of work and income, but before globalization many individuals did not need a second source of income.
There are many similarities between the situation in Mexico and the current struggles here in Thailand. Thai farmers have felt the impact of policies proposed by international organizations, similar to Mexican farmers and NAFTA. I believe international organizations, such as the WTO, World Bank, and IMF are the true source of rural farmers’ income and livelihood issues. What do you think of the policies of these groups?
Basically, I would like to here how globalization initially impacted the rural corn farmers in Mexico. What were communities like prior to the influence of global trade agreements and market systems? Did Mexican farmers practice subsistence living, or was trade and exportation already occurring? Do you think the movement of people to Bangkok is similar to the Mexican farmers search for income?
I can't believe that sixty percent of Mexican heads of families emigrate in order to find work! We've also observed that, due to the development of rural areas, which oftentimes has negative effects on traditional livelihoods, many Thai farmers move to the cities (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, etc.) to sell their labor. Next week, we'll be staying in the city of Khon Kaen, so that we can better understand the living and working conditions in these cities, which are home to much drug-use, crime, prostitution, etc. From what I can tell, this migration to the cities has been very detrimental to Thai communities. Not only has it created impoverished, unsupported, and unsafe communities within Thai cities, but it has also let to the degradation of the traditional Thai family structure (most families with whom I've stayed are "missing" at least one parent or child, off to find work in the city). Hearing that there is a similar phenomenon in Mexico only confirms that this is an international issue, which, in my eyes, is a direct result of globalization.
Our group has not sought to define “globalization”, however, we have seen similar effects here in Northeastern Thailand. Not only does Thailand pursue economic transactions with countries worldwide, it attributes much of it cultural changes in the last few decades to Westernization. One district “transaction” of cultural/political theory and information occurred during the “Green Revolution” in 1950. With both financial and political encouragement from the US, Thailand adopted a technology package that included chemical fertilizer, pesticides, and new but destructive irrigation methods such as dams. New varieties of rice were practically forced upon farmers, new varieties that could not survive in Thailand without chemical fertilizer and pesticides. The Green Revolution in Thailand resulted in a downward spiral for many small-scale farmers. Mono cropping of rice ensued, causing efficient and sustainable integrated farms throughout the country to disappear. Steadily, migration towards Bangkok became a well-traveled path for small-scale rural farmers who could not compete with large, mono cropping, chemical using farms.
After visiting a rural village in Sisaket Province of Northeastern Thailand, learning about large-scale irrigation projects like the construction of dams for electricity access to the people, industries, and also corporations, globalization has hit the villages of Northeast Thailand. In a discussion with a villager of the region, the term globalization including the definition of economic, cultural, and political transactions and exchanges between countries was discussed. Like the World Wide Web, a villager stated, “the younger generation listen to technology, it is very easy for them to be connected.” Many villagers of the region have access or own mobile phones, feeding off of globalization as a result of the impact of modernity and development projects within the country that have affected. Meeting with a member of the Northeastern Strategic Institution Board in Khon Kaen, Thailand further displayed its drive to create an East West Economic Corridor, connecting trade routes to boost investment, industry, transportation, and culture enhancing the Northeast of Thailand and globalization.
It is interesting how parallel the effects of globalization plays in places that are literally half way across the world today, especially on farmers and villagers who are still attempting to hold strongly to their local wisdom and traditional ways. The same problems you discovered in Mexico with small scale farmers are very similar to the problems we see facing small scale farmers in Thailand, particularly in the northeastern provinces. The problems mostly are the cause and effects of globalization as well as Thailand’s attempt to become a more developed and advanced country. Similarly with the corn situation, Thai farmers have lost their rights to many indigenous rice species due to the demands of the Green Revolution that started in the 1970s. The biggest concern about this particular situation is parallel to what you have stated about corn species in Mexico; that is, farmers and villagers in rural NE Thailand, who have historically been rice farmers, are losing their culture and local wisdom that were so closely tied to the various indigenous rice species. Local rituals and traditional practices have become stories of the past or completely forgotten with the lost of the rice species. While many continue to think that the idea of globalization is potentially better for the world, you and I both have seen the negative affects of globalization. The question is, how do you stop globalization for happening?
After reading the original post, I planned on responding to the similarity of negative effects globalization in such separate regions of the world and the implications of this similarity, but having read the responses of other students, it seems everyone has come to this realization in one form or another. I want to point out how meaningful it is for each and every one of us to have this opportunity to discover the effects of globalization in such a profound way. Before coming to Thailand, when the word globalization was mentioned, one of the first images that would come to my mind was a Coke can. I wouldn’t say this made me particularly happy, because I would think of all of the other soda companies that can’t make it due to competition with Coke products. However, it also didn’t make me particularly sad because, let’s face it, it’s just soda. I imagine we all come from very different backgrounds where we may or may not have ever thought of the implications of globalization in other parts of the world, but having seen the loss of culture, community, and family due to globalization in Thailand and Mexico, we can continue to keep these issues in our minds and, hopefully, some day our actions can serve to better the negative impacts of globalization.
Everybody on this site is complaining. What is the purpose of so much discontent? What actions are you taking other than repeating the refrain ---Globalization causes difficulties to be obvious!!
Do not bother me with such howling at the dark of the moon.
I am unsubscribing so no need to answer me. Reread my first post.
Oh Amatlán…this was such an experience! I will never forget our time with Nacho in the mountains and the ceremony. I’m so glad you took a picture of the offerings everyone left…it will help me remember such an amazing experience. I truly felt at one with the land. I also will never forget Doña Irene and how she was one of the nimblest 70 year old women I’ve ever seen, climbing rock walls and going through fences to get to her beloved corn field to talk to us about it. She is such a strong woman to have been keeping up that field all her life alone. Another part of this trip I will never forget is the fact that sometimes it is pointless for farmers to even drive their corn to the market to sell, because due to NAFTA, the corn coming in from the United States is flooding the market and making the U.S. corn so cheap. This is such a hardship for farmers here in Mexico, and is only one of the negative impacts NAFTA has had on Mexico.
Linnea I like how you focused on globalization. It’s such a powerful force that affects everyone, whether we realize it or not. Lately when I think of globalization I think of free trade and the affects on farmers. For example, farmers in the U.S. are given government subsidies, allowing them to sell their products at a cheaper price. The products and prices flood the market in Mexico at a rate that farmers in Mexico cannot compete with. When we went to El Salvador this same topic was mentioned as well. For me this is most challenging to grasp because when the topic at hand is regarding subsidies for farmers, I hadn’t previously understood the full effect it has on other countries.
CRH
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