This page is for articles and other resources regarding globalization and trade agrements such as NAFTA, CAFTA and TPP. Some are downloads; some are links. I have tried to organize the materials by category, but sometimes the categories overlap. So look through everything.
| Curricula and workshop descriptions |
| Videos and slide presentations |
| Articles and papers |
Curricula and Workshop descriptions
Transnational Capital Auction
by Bill Bigelow, suggested by Judy Ancel:
"There’s ... a game called the Transnational Capital Auction which gets people to take the part of poor countries and bid each other down in order to get capital investment. "
Here's the link to it: Transnational Capital Auction
Common Sense Economics Globalization Curriculum
suggested by Charlie Fanning
The Economy on a Cocktail Napkin
from John Kretzschmar
"I teach only non-credit classes for members out here in fly over territory. When I explain how the macro economy works, this exercise begins the discussion. There’s a component for saying that globalization is an inevitable tool for MAXIMIZING short term profits."
The Economy on a Cocktail Napkin
"Globalization for Beginners Trainers Guide"
by United for a Fair Economy, suggested by Riahl O'Malley
This trainer's guide and accompanying charts is several years old, and will need to be modified, but has some good information.
There are also some activities in our [UFE's] Growing Divide trainer's manual and our Economic Refugees trainer's manual that can be found on our website: http://www.faireconomy.org/training_guides
"Attached is the PEL outline. The case example begins on page 3. Note that the outline begins with some basic concepts about the importance of regulating the economy, and history of non-market institutions. I then discuss trade policy and then run the Detroit Bicycle Inc. simulation. Afterward, I bring actual data from a company ABC, and go on to bring in macro data to reinforce the concepts. The power point has some of this material.
I taught PEL 12 years ago, and would certainly change the script to match the current environment."
Videos and slide presentations
The TransPacific Partnership: Taking NAFTA Global
by Judy Ancel and Katherie Sciacchitano
Power point presentation and associated resources list showing how FTAs hurt workers and small producers in both developed and developing countries. Also suggests principles for better agreements and steps to oppose TPP. "A work in progress" This presetnation was given at the 2013 UALE conference.
TPP PowerPoint (3.85 MB)
TPP Resources (19 KB)
Also see the following handouts:
North American Unity Statement re TPP (21 KB)
Public Citizen Article re TPP (36 KB)
Articles and papers
From Racism To International Solidarity: The Journey Of UAW Local 879, 1980 – 1995
by Peter Rachleff
"Historians of the U.S. working class and the labor movement are paying more attention to the ways that workers have understood themselves and acted – and acted and understood themselves—within a transnational framework....
"I want to explore these processes and dynamics through an exploration of the journey of a workforce and a local union that I was privileged to know personally – about 2,000 men and women who built Ford trucks, at the St. Paul, Minnesota, Assembly Plant.."
COMMENT ON TPP: Four American labor activists and educators in Vietnam look at the Vietnam Labor Side Agreement
By Helena Worthen, Joe Berry, Leanna Noble and Hollis Stewart (All currently teaching in the Faculty of Labor Relations and Trade Unions, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
The TPP is a trade deal that some people in the US describe as “building a trade wall around China” to contain China’s power in the global market. It will link 12 nations to “sew up” 40% of world trade in one agreement. It is part of a trade strategy that includes two other vast agreements, the TTIP (Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) and TISA, (Trade in Services Agreement).