Today, Dr. Marquez discussed the numerous aspects of sweatshops and border industry: work conditions, industry structure, the personal behavior of management and the reactions of Mexican government. For tonight's blog, let's think on a macro-level about these issues--particularly how they are reflected in the Williamson article assigned for tomorrow.
In the article, Williamson articulates the multiple levels, actors and positions involved in an international campaign for justice in a maquiladora. Who were those actors, and were the traditional "bad guys" always bad? Do you feel that the article presents an accurate or believable portrayal of the multiplicity of positions? What does that mean for us when we approach the maquis we will be seeing? Finally, given the complexity of the system presented in the article and today's lecture (international treaties, the American public, owners/managers who believe that they are doing "good," our own consumption patterns, local activists and government) is there "guilt" to be assigned? Or, do you believe the structural argument (it's not me, but the system)?
