Mexico and Globalisation assignment
The theme of this assignment is linked to the topic of HDR 1999, though the global HDRs have also looked in more specific contexts (e.g. in its impact on poverty, in its impact on global consumption patterns etc). Discussing a framework to look at globalisation on the basis of the global HDRs could represent a useful starting point for the planning process of your team work. Indeed deciding on whether to focus on one particular aspect (e.g. inequality, in relation to which globalisation is often discussed) or adopting a comprehensive framework – and the consequences of that choice in terms of “whose report this is?” and “to whom is this report directed” is a central element of this assignment.
Another important feature of this assignment is that taking a particular country perspective on an issue like globalisation could lead your team to different conclusions than the ones taken by the global HDRS. Your reflection on this issue could be an interesting item to include in your final presentation.
To organise your team work you might find that making a schedule of what you would like to prepare and when might help you in your planning as well as coordinating it with your individual assignments.
The materials provided should enable you to gather information on the general situation of the country, as well as on the more specific effects of globalisation with which the assignment is concerned and the possibilities for action in this realm. The selection of materials covered does not aim however at being exhaustive, rather at providing you with pointers on the kind of issues discussed, the kind of actors involved, the processes taking place in the country.
You might use any other source of information from global reports and materials available in the reference unit to web resources (e.g. for general country-info you can try http://www.un.org.mx) to enrich your understanding of the different issues you chose to tackle.
You might also want to visit QEH library. Remember also that you can do a search on ELDIS at http://www.eldis.org/ if you need more inspiration!
Please remember however to time your efforts appropriately. It is more important to deliver all the output you are required, even if based on a narrow informational basis whose shortfalls you might want to point to, than to collect vast amounts of new materials which you will not have the time to process.
