Handling The Irreconcilable By Deborah Spoff

Improved Essays
In the Article "Reconciling the Irreconcilable: The Global Economy and the Environment," Deborah Poff argues that third world countries and the environment are not being treated justly due to the fact of the interaction between business and government and how they interact in the global system. Poff introduces two different strategies but states they both are wrong and she responds with her own solution as a better way to think about how a business and the government can interact without hurting the environment.

In order to understand Poff's view, it is important to recognize the background. The International System which is comprised of different separate countries was developed in the early 20th century. The government plays an important
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Corporations have allegiances to the State but in return get services and protection from the government. Much like corporations, citizens pay allegiance to the government and in return the government agrees to protect its citizens. Over the 20th century, the "International System" changed to "A Global System." It is important to note that over the 20th century multinational corporations became huge and powerful. Daly and Cobb on page 225 describe the global system where the corporation can call all the shots and no longer needs the government to survive. A corporation can move to where the government can give them what they need if they are not satisfied. Poff argues that the environment suffers from this because multinational corporations are big enough that if there are regulations that are put into effect, they can pick up and move to a place that does not enforce regulations on the environment.

In the final paragraph on page 231, Poff begins by saying although democracy is a good thing, it has been eroded and should be considered more carefully in order to help the environment. Poff illustrates that there are two false alternatives; the first alternative essentially says nations are irrelevant and the second

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