Donnelly Landolt Conference Paper
Globalization and Structural Violence:
An Examination of the Causal Effect of Globalization on Structural Violence
Danica Donnelly-Landolt ddonnelly-landolt611@g.rwu.edu Roger Williams University
This research project was supported by a grant from the Roger Williams University Provost’s Fund for Student Research.
“The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world.”
-Dr. Paul Farmer
Globalization has had an overwhelming affect on the world we live in today, including both positive and negative outcomes for society. It increased economic growth in numerous countries, spread technology and ideas, and allowed for a greater integration of societies. At the same time, though, globalization caused many cultures to lose their traditional ways and blend with others, increase the spread of disease, and aided in the abuse of certain cultures for the sole reason of economic prosperity. Possibly one of the most devastating affects of globalization is structural violence. Structural violence is the idea that structures in society (governments, military, police, etc.) create a violent system meant to keep the members of that society down; it is a perpetual cycle. Countries throughout Central America and Africa all experience structural violence and will be examined to determine the correlation between globalization and structural violence. Specifically, the quality of health care and overall public health will be researched in countries that are known to have experienced structural violence. This paper will examine different views of globalization and conclude whether the lure of economic prosperity for developed countries has contributed greatly to structural violence, as well as argue that although globalization has many benefits to society, it causes structural violence by unequally expanding economies, aiding in the abuse of those in minority race, gender and socioeconomic status, and creating gaps between the
An Examination of the Causal Effect of Globalization on Structural Violence
Danica Donnelly-Landolt ddonnelly-landolt611@g.rwu.edu Roger Williams University
This research project was supported by a grant from the Roger Williams University Provost’s Fund for Student Research.
“The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world.”
-Dr. Paul Farmer
Globalization has had an overwhelming affect on the world we live in today, including both positive and negative outcomes for society. It increased economic growth in numerous countries, spread technology and ideas, and allowed for a greater integration of societies. At the same time, though, globalization caused many cultures to lose their traditional ways and blend with others, increase the spread of disease, and aided in the abuse of certain cultures for the sole reason of economic prosperity. Possibly one of the most devastating affects of globalization is structural violence. Structural violence is the idea that structures in society (governments, military, police, etc.) create a violent system meant to keep the members of that society down; it is a perpetual cycle. Countries throughout Central America and Africa all experience structural violence and will be examined to determine the correlation between globalization and structural violence. Specifically, the quality of health care and overall public health will be researched in countries that are known to have experienced structural violence. This paper will examine different views of globalization and conclude whether the lure of economic prosperity for developed countries has contributed greatly to structural violence, as well as argue that although globalization has many benefits to society, it causes structural violence by unequally expanding economies, aiding in the abuse of those in minority race, gender and socioeconomic status, and creating gaps between the
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