In class on Wednesday, 12/1, we're going to have a debate on the following question:

Does globalization promote homogenization or heterogenization?

Our debate will consist of four teams representing four different perspectives:

Team 1 - Miskito Indians, as described in article by Nietschmann. You depend on turtle hunting and appreciate the income that it has brought you in the past, but now face both low world market prices and depleted supplies of turtles. Moreover, you find that you can't purchase the commodities upon which you depend. You worry about the loss of your cultural integrity and your growing economic weakness in the world system.

Team 2 - The Board of Directors of McDonald's. You feel that selling your products around the world brings people together, but that ultimately people use McDonald's in culturally specific ways. You've been intrigued by James Watson's work in Hong Kong and feel that this justifies the heterogenization argument. For more information about McDonald's global operations, see their website.

Team 3 - Chris Steiner. Your work on the West African art trade makes you ambivalent about globalization. On the one hand, the interest of North American art dealers has allowed carving and other art forms to flourish in ways which do benefit local producers and traditions. On the other hand, the North Americans completely control the demand for these objects, so you worry that the type of African art which they desire has indeed become homogenized.

Team 4 - Richard Wilk. Your work on beauty contests in Belize leads you to believe that globalization promotes structures of common difference: people display themselves as unique, but in ways that fit into rather narrow conceptions of difference.

The debate will consist of opening statements of 2 minutes from each of the four groups, followed by questions from the moderator (Prof. Leshkowich), followed by the teams asking each other questions.

To prepare for the debate, you will be assigned to one of the four teams. On your own before class, take some time to consider your team's response to the question. Jot down some points which your team would be likely to cite in support of your position. Anticipate the counter-arguments posed by the other teams. How would you respond?

At the beginning of class on Wednesday, 12/1, we will take 5 minutes or so for the teams to meet to determine debate strategies. You will select one person to give the opening statements and then determine the types of questions which you would be prepared to pose to the other sides. Each person should be prepared to contribute to the debate in some fashion.