GLOBALIZATION AND CONTEMPORARY ETHICAL THEORIES

Globalization

Process through which businesses, cultures, technologies, and individuals become interconnected and interact across national borders

Exploitation of Labor

Globalization can lead to a "race to the bottom" where companies seek the cheapest labor available, often in countries with poor labor protections. Workers in low-income countries may be compensated far below living wages, work in unsafe conditions, or be subjected to labor rights violations.

Exploitation of Labor Example:

In 2013, the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh collapsed, resulting in the deaths of over 1,100 garment workers. It showed how unsafe factories are for workers making clothes for global brands like Primark and Walmart.

Child Labor and Forced Labor

To reduce costs, some global supply chains exploit vulnerable individuals, including children and marginalized workers, who may face dangerous work conditions and be denied basic rights.

Child Labor and Forced Labor Example:

Cocoa production in West Africa often involves children working on plantations that supply major chocolate companies like Nestlé and Mars.

Job Displacement in Developed Countries

Outsourcing jobs to cheaper labor markets can lead to unemployment or wage stagnation in higher-income countries. Workers in developed nations lose jobs or face reduced job security, while companies profit from cost savings.

Job Displacement in Developed Countries Example:

U.S. manufacturing jobs have been lost to overseas production, particularly in the steel, textile, and electronics sectors, leading to economic decline in industrial communities.

Widening Economic Inequality

While globalization increases Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the gains are often unevenly distributed. Corporations and elite groups benefit significantly, while many workers remain in poverty.

Widening Economic Inequality Example:

Apple earns massive profits, while workers assembling iPhones at Foxconn factories in China report long hours and low wages

Ethical theories

Guide decisions concerning right and wrong in a complex, globalized world.

Intersectional ethics

Examines the various aspects of identity, such as gender, race, class, sexuality, and ability, to create unique experiences of oppression or privilege.

Multiple Identities

People have overlapping identities that shape their experiences.

Multiple Identities Example:

A transgender woman may face different challenges than a cisgender woman, particularly in accessing healthcare services.

Interconnected Systems of Power

Different forms of disadvantage, such as economic hardship and disability, often interact and cannot be understood separately.

Interconnected Systems of Power Example:

A person who is both experiencing poverty and living with a disability may face challenges that are not fully captured by looking at one factor alone.

Social Justice and Equity

Intersectional ethics calls for tailored policies that address the specific needs of marginalized groups and promote equity across society.

Social Justice and Equity Example:

Expanding access to affordable healthcare can help meet the diverse needs of individuals across different communities.

Kimberlé Crenshaw (Born 1959)

Coined the term "intersectionality" and highlighted how race, gender, and other factors intersect in social justice issues. She is known for her 1989 law review article, Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex.

Ethics of Care

Moral theory that emphasizes relationships, empathy, and the responsibility to care for others, particularly those who depend on us.

Relational and Interdependent Nature

Humans are inherently relational beings, and ethics should consider the impact of our actions on relationships and those we care for.

Relational and Interdependent Nature Example:

In healthcare, a doctor listens to a patient's concerns and offers comfort, not just treatment, to strengthen the doctor-patient bond.

Moral Importance of Emotions

Emotions such as empathy, compassion, and concern are essential to guiding ethical behavior.

Moral Importance of Emotions Example:

In education, teachers who show empathy and support struggling students foster emotional and academic growth.

Responsibility to Care

This approach emphasizes the responsibility to care for those who are dependent on us, such as children, elderly family members, or vulnerable individuals.

Responsibility to Care Example:

Caregivers who ensure the elderly receive proper medical attention fulfill this ethical responsibility through compassionate action.

Carol Gilligan (Born 1936)

A psychologist and ethicist, Gilligan challenged traditional male- centered models of moral development. She is best known for her book In a Different Voice (1982), which argues that women's moral reasoning emphasizes care, relationships, and context over abstract justice principles.

Animal Ethics

Examines how humans should treat animals and the moral implications of our actions towards them.

Moral Consideration for Animals

This concept questions whether animals have moral status and whether their well-being should influence human decisions.

Moral Consideration for Animals Example:

In wildlife conservation, decisions about land use must consider the impact on animal habitats and populations.

Animal Rights

This principle argues that animals have inherent rights, such as the right to life and freedom from suffering, which should be legally protected.

Animal Rights Example:

Activists advocate against factory farming, arguing that animals deserve protection from cruelty and exploitation.

Animal Welfare

This concept ensures animals are treated humanely and their well-being is prioritized, even when used for human purposes.

Animal Welfare Example:

Ethical guidelines in research require that animals experience minimal pain and distress and be used only when necessary.

Peter Singer (Born 1946)

An Australian philosopher best known for his book Animal Liberation (1975), which argues for the ethical treatment of animals and challenges society's views on animal rights. Singer's utilitarian approach to animal ethics stresses that the ability to suffer, rather than intelligence or species, should determine how we treat animals.