Comments on: Globalization Institute http://www.yazadjal.com/2005/02/09/globalization-institute/ Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:58:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: Ck. http://www.yazadjal.com/2005/02/09/globalization-institute/#comment-2999 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.yazadjal.com/2005/02/09/globalization-institute/#comment-2999 Is there really a difference between Globalization and Americanization? I am reading a fascinating book on the subject (posted on my <a href="http://skywalkerck.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">blog</a> - not so much in terms of economics but in terms of military hegemony. The author draws some interesting parallels between the US and the Roman Empire and the British Raj. Interesting facts that I've gleaned from the first few chapters of the book: - The US maintains over 700 military bases around the world. These are not your tent and stockade kind of bases but sprawling complexes with thousands of soldiers, recreation facilities - the works - each costing several billion $'s a year to maintain and operate. Here's the interesting part - these bases are in most cases not wanted by the countries they are in. In many cases (Japan etc) the Americans have been asked to leave but insist on staying for the protection of the people. - The American personnel in these camps are allowed to roam their host countries at will but here's the rub - they cannot be prosecuted under the country's law becuase these countries have been forced to sign a SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) which exempts US personnel from any of the local laws. This came to light in Okinawa where 2 American GI's were accused of raping and killing a 13 yer old Japanese girl. THe Japanese could not prosecute them even though the crime was committed outside the US base. There are a lot more disturbing facts in the book. I hope to make some more posts on it on my blog after I finsih it. Is there really a difference between Globalization and Americanization?

I am reading a fascinating book on the subject (posted on my blog - not so much in terms of economics but in terms of military hegemony. The author draws some interesting parallels between the US and the Roman Empire and the British Raj.

Interesting facts that I’ve gleaned from the first few chapters of the book:

- The US maintains over 700 military bases around the world. These are not your tent and stockade kind of bases but sprawling complexes with thousands of soldiers, recreation facilities - the works - each costing several billion $’s a year to maintain and operate. Here’s the interesting part - these bases are in most cases not wanted by the countries they are in. In many cases (Japan etc) the Americans have been asked to leave but insist on staying for the protection of the people.

- The American personnel in these camps are allowed to roam their host countries at will but here’s the rub - they cannot be prosecuted under the country’s law becuase these countries have been forced to sign a SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) which exempts US personnel from any of the local laws. This came to light in Okinawa where 2 American GI’s were accused of raping and killing a 13 yer old Japanese girl. THe Japanese could not prosecute them even though the crime was committed outside the US base.

There are a lot more disturbing facts in the book. I hope to make some more posts on it on my blog after I finsih it.

]]> by: Yazad http://www.yazadjal.com/2005/02/09/globalization-institute/#comment-3000 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.yazadjal.com/2005/02/09/globalization-institute/#comment-3000 Ck, The book sounds interesting -- and so does the fact that you've started blogging. Cheers and welcome to the blogworld! Globalization is not a new phenomenon, it's just a rediscovered one. Before 1914, the world was largely globalized, with a by-and-large free movement of goods and services. Ck,

The book sounds interesting — and so does the fact that you’ve started blogging. Cheers and welcome to the blogworld!

Globalization is not a new phenomenon, it’s just a rediscovered one. Before 1914, the world was largely globalized, with a by-and-large free movement of goods and services.

]]> by: Nilu http://www.yazadjal.com/2005/02/09/globalization-institute/#comment-3001 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.yazadjal.com/2005/02/09/globalization-institute/#comment-3001 The cartel's defending skills may be put to quite a test <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/09/opinion/09wed4.html?" rel="nofollow">here</a> The cartel’s defending skills may be put to quite a test here

]]> by: Mark http://www.yazadjal.com/2005/02/09/globalization-institute/#comment-3002 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.yazadjal.com/2005/02/09/globalization-institute/#comment-3002 Globalization is an economic, not military phenomenon, referring to the global integration of goods and services, capital, and labor markets. Today, unskilled labor does not move as freely as it did during the great migrations of the late 19th century (as Yazad points out, trade and capital flows were relatively free before 1914), but skilled labor markets have probably never been as globalized. Slightly off topic, but in regard to the "facts" CK posts from the book he is reading, both are wrong. If each of the 700 overseas U.S. bases cost even $1 billion per year to operate, that would be larger than the entire U.S. defense budget (and that doesn't include domestic bases!). While many U.S. bases are no doubt resented by the citizens of the country hosting the base, the only base I know of that continues to operate despite explicit requests by the government for the U.S. military to leave is Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. And in the case of Timothy Woodland, a soldier based in Okinawa, Japan, he was tried and convicted by a Japanese court for rape under Japanese law. There are a variety of legal arrangements regarding U.S. soldiers abroad, but it is simply untrue that local law does not apply to them. Globalization is an economic, not military phenomenon, referring to the global integration of goods and services, capital, and labor markets. Today, unskilled labor does not move as freely as it did during the great migrations of the late 19th century (as Yazad points out, trade and capital flows were relatively free before 1914), but skilled labor markets have probably never been as globalized.
Slightly off topic, but in regard to the “facts” CK posts from the book he is reading, both are wrong. If each of the 700 overseas U.S. bases cost even $1 billion per year to operate, that would be larger than the entire U.S. defense budget (and that doesn’t include domestic bases!). While many U.S. bases are no doubt resented by the citizens of the country hosting the base, the only base I know of that continues to operate despite explicit requests by the government for the U.S. military to leave is Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. And in the case of Timothy Woodland, a soldier based in Okinawa, Japan, he was tried and convicted by a Japanese court for rape under Japanese law. There are a variety of legal arrangements regarding U.S. soldiers abroad, but it is simply untrue that local law does not apply to them.

]]> by: Ck http://www.yazadjal.com/2005/02/09/globalization-institute/#comment-3003 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.yazadjal.com/2005/02/09/globalization-institute/#comment-3003 May I quote Rachel Cornwell and Andrew Wells "Most SOFAs are written so that national courts cannot exercise legal jurisdiction over US military personnel wo commit crimes againts local people, except in special cases where the US military authorities agree to transfer jurisdiction" Also "...in September 2001, the US pubilcy acknowledged SOFAs with 93 countries, though some SOFAs are so embarassing to the host nation that they are kept secret especially in the Islamic World." - William Arkin, US Airbases, LA TIMES Jan 6 2002. The book is remarkable well documented with footnotes and referecences to every fact indexed at the back. Now of course I am reading under the assumption that the autor is not an otright lawyer but given that he has spen a good part of his life in the US armed forces leaving active duty in 1955 and then has continued to serve as an advisor to the DOD. I will withhold further comment till I have finished the book. May I quote Rachel Cornwell and Andrew Wells
“Most SOFAs are written so that national courts cannot exercise legal jurisdiction over US military personnel wo commit crimes againts local people, except in special cases where the US military authorities agree to transfer jurisdiction”

Also
“…in September 2001, the US pubilcy acknowledged SOFAs with 93 countries, though some SOFAs are so embarassing to the host nation that they are kept secret especially in the Islamic World.”

- William Arkin, US Airbases, LA TIMES Jan 6 2002.

The book is remarkable well documented with footnotes and referecences to every fact indexed at the back. Now of course I am reading under the assumption that the autor is not an otright lawyer but given that he has spen a good part of his life in the US armed forces leaving active duty in 1955 and then has continued to serve as an advisor to the DOD.

I will withhold further comment till I have finished the book.

]]> by: aregon23 http://www.yazadjal.com/2005/02/09/globalization-institute/#comment-3004 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.yazadjal.com/2005/02/09/globalization-institute/#comment-3004 In response to Mark, I agree 700 seems a mite large. I am not sure if the US has strategic interests in as many places. But in several countries the host nation ends up footing some of the bill in exchange for defense agreements signed with the US. And as far as Guantanamo Bay is concerned Cuba has never formally asked the American's to vacate. Recently when the lease for the land came up for renewal, Cuba and Castro quitely extended it without much noise. In response to Mark, I agree 700 seems a mite large. I am not sure if the US has strategic interests in as many places. But in several countries the host nation ends up footing some of the bill in exchange for defense agreements signed with the US.

And as far as Guantanamo Bay is concerned Cuba has never formally asked the American’s to vacate. Recently when the lease for the land came up for renewal, Cuba and Castro quitely extended it without much noise.

]]> by: alina http://www.yazadjal.com/2005/02/09/globalization-institute/#comment-3005 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.yazadjal.com/2005/02/09/globalization-institute/#comment-3005 While local law may technically apply to US soliders living abroad, the question is whether these soldiers are in fact held responsible and punished under this law. Why do people get upset when foreigners come and break their laws before scooting off to the embassy for protection (Matt Shepard anyone)? I think it is because laws sometimes add sticks to previously existing norms. On the same token, laws aren't that great at changing human behavior (think US drug war). I'll be quiet-- I'm a little too digressive today. While local law may technically apply to US soliders living abroad, the question is whether these soldiers are in fact held responsible and punished under this law.

Why do people get upset when foreigners come and break their laws before scooting off to the embassy for protection (Matt Shepard anyone)? I think it is because laws sometimes add sticks to previously existing norms. On the same token, laws aren’t that great at changing human behavior (think US drug war). I’ll be quiet– I’m a little too digressive today.

]]>