Sunday, November 4, 2007

embedded, disembedded, and the veil of ignorance.

Friday's simulation reiterated the question: which is better, embedded or disembedded liberalism?
There is no set answer to this question, it is dependent on how rich or poor your country is to start off. In the first portion of the simulation it seemed easier for a poorer country to gain riches, mainly because richer countries were more willing to trade with them to procure what they needed themselves. That being said, embedded liberalism would benefit poorer countries. In the second half of the situation it was more difficult for the poorer nations to get ahead because the rich were less likely to trade with them. Unless poorer countries had something that a rich country really wanted it was near impossible for them to get ahead. So in the grand scheme of things which system is better?
Let's look at this situation under a veil of ignorance. Under this veil you do not know whether you are male or female, black or white, rich or poor, Catholic or Muslim, you only know that you exist as a human being. Now lets say that under this condition you are required to make a choice on economics, human rights, freedom of religion. You will always choose the option that is better for everyone because you do not know who you are. It is my belief that under this veil everyone would choose disembedded liberalism simply because they would benefit more if they happened to end up a citizen of a poorer nation, and it is for this reason that I believe disembedded liberalism to be the overall better system.

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