Date Approved

2009

Degree Type

Open Access Senior Honors Thesis

Department or School

Technology Studies

Abstract

In theory, profitable globalization practices in developed, industrialized countries share a symbiotic relationship with cheaper offshore human resources in third-world, poor, or underdeveloped nations. A short case study of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is given, which examines Wal-mart’s increased use of the cheaper Chinese workforce. By seeking out a lower cost labor force in a yet developing country, an ethical dilemma arises in that the business in the industrialized nation must ignore or disregard the job loss this decision creates within the borders of the home nation. Political and philosophical differences have led opponents to create an anti-thesis known as anti-globalization. The antiglobalization movement is apprehensive toward the cultural impact profitable globalization has on the poor and underdeveloped countries. This paper compares globalization versus Marxist thought in which some of the anti-globalization opinions are founded. By exploring a variety of sources and looking for matching patterns or ideas that give relevance to the topic, several sources were used in this study including the review of scholarly journals, engaging video documentaries, news reports, labor statistics, economic texts, and the concept of trade union impact on the work force. This paper establishes a theory that this profitable globalization through the offshore outsourcing of labor to foreign businesses is having a derogatory effect on the United States unemployment statistics.

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