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Anthropologists conduct their research, providing details about people through extensive
fieldwork. They give an understanding of human nature without getting too involved to prevent
tainting gathered data and material. Some used mixed approaches to convey their findings,
which Allan Barnard describes as structural, interactive and interpretive (Barnard 174). Carolyn
Nordstrom can be characterized by postmodernism in that her work depicts the social constructs
of crime, money and power highlighting the role of everyday consumers in local economies. She
examined specific aspects of the contemporary world providing contrast of determinants of
values, economics, and identity. In this paper I will examine the global trend in trade showing
how the local economies help shape worldwide markets through smuggling, profiteering and
globalization.
With reference to the text, History and Theory in Anthropology, Barnard describes the
concepts of orientalism and globalization. He declared that an important component of
postmodern anthropology is the interest in power, dominance and colonialism. The global
borders of the world seek definition through forms of exploitation which resulted in unequal
relationships between the East and the West. Today, globalization is the stronghold that
represents the movement of commerce across the globe (Barnard 167-168). It is a phenomenon
that acts as the cohesive force regulating trade, smuggling, and profiteering. Nordstrom provided
a detailed outline of interpretations and implications involved in the contested trend, cause and
effect factors that impact the world economy on a local, national, international and global level.
Globalization is a process intended to integrate and unify the world’s economy. This
international relation involves trade, migration, and investment which break down barriers
between national borders. International trade promotes fewer expenses in import/export fees and
tariffs and increases the socio-economic status of international relations. Through the flow of
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people, goods and services, there is a positive impact on the market economy and political
forces. The market economy experience a spin off in elevating improvished countries through
development and economic growth.
In a place such as Angola that is so poverty stricken and broken by the aftermath of war,
globalization should translate to increased opportunities instead of the high levels of degradation
both on individuals and an environmental level. According to Nordstrom, “from the Gov’nor’s
tomatoes to the flood of illegal weapons, from little Okidi’s Marlboros to the shiny Sony’s in
bombed-out villages, each commodity that moves outside formal channels represents profit for
an industry and the country that hosts it (109).” This simply means that Another example would
be in her interview with Augusto Alfredo, the economic correspondent for the national Angolan
newspaper, the Journal de Angola, they discuss the cultural effects of globalization (111-113).
Nordstrom stated that “if this were simply a matter of skim offs and kickbacks –personalized
corruption –legal and developmental solutions would be straightforward. Alfredo also noted that
“the means by which the displaced war refugee can -in the broadest sense –find the place to
survive, and perhaps even flourish (113).”
Now it is evident that the more globalized a country become more power is in the buyer’s
hand and competition and capitalism will take center stage, neglecting the breakdown between
people and meeting their individual needs. This is evident in Angola because its people
experience and endure harsh living conditions in a war torn land that is enveloped around
negative economic conditions of corruption, violence and unequal distribution of wealth. Global
economic crimes flourish while the people perish by being unable to afford necessities as simple
as food and medications. Meanwhile, there is a flow “dollars” going around for everyone living
in the undergrounds of the clandestine of globalization.
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The positives and benefits in such an environment where global means of production and
exchange are on the rise, one might ask what can possibly go wrong? On the other hand, there
are people such as the amputee ladies who must develop their own informal economic network
to survive and provide for themselves. Nordstrom explained that “what they do may be deemed
informal and even illegal. It is here that the very notion of “extra-state” becomes most
interesting: it would seem that real profits, and real development, are to be found in the place
economic analysts are not looking. Perhaps we don’t look because we would have to reassess
our most fundamental –and cherished –ideas about power, and about the morality and the
legality of economics and development (54-55).” The effects of globalization can be a positive in
generating profits or it can lead to informal operations of smuggling.
Who would imagine that a food item such as fish would be among the smuggled
commodities in illegal trade? Moreover, Nordstrom stated that “fish don’t tend to travel alone.
It isn’t uncommon to hear of drugs, diamonds, or even priceless art objects being shipped with
fish (107).” Smuggling entails the illegal transportation of people and goods beyond prohibited
international borders. Nordstrom talks about smuggling of illegal goods and services to increase
profits and supply a demand. Interestingly she also described the “human cargo” as having
grades of service in travel and accommodation ranging from the improvished to the elite class
despite that they are all illegal migrants (186-187).
In addition, smuggling is encouraged and accommodated due to unrestricted entry in
these ports. As the crew aboard the Henry Braithwaite that Carolyn Nordstrom travelled on
across the Atlantic from the USA, put it “we don’t have any ability, any authorization, to inspect
or control anyway. We move cargo. A container is just a thing. A one-time thing. Shipping,
movement, is where it’s at (186).” How can a cargo that could be transporting billions of dollars
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of merchandize be just considered a thing? However, not being total dismay, at the beginning of
the chapter Nordstrom stated that “From the first day, it became obvious that security does not
exist, in fact it cannot exist, in the world today (181).”
Examining the economics of smuggling shed some light on its workings. There are
incentives involved that benefits the private sector and local producer in that they are relieved of
heavy tax levies. On the other hand, this level of alternative importing leads to increased
competition that can drive down prices. This substituted economic activity does not maximize
profit but the diversion from governmental tax levy is a feasible advantage.
War profiteering is the most common form of corrupted economic activity in places such
as Angola. A recollection of the Ambassador’s story with Carolyn Nordstrom showed the
dynamics of identity and ethos involved. It also appears that unreasonable and unethical means
of making profit extends beyond social constructs of gender and lean more towards patterns of
social relationships and extra-state activities. Surprisingly, the Ambassador is a female and she
explained that “in all conflicts, someone is making money.”
She believes that there is peace in profiteering. Despite the fact that it is an illegal act
encouraging political corruption, the Ambassador explained that “it brings more people, more
stakeholders, into government and business.” In this case “legitimacy now begins to outweigh
the gains of war.” Carolyn further stated that she and the Ambassador was in agreement on the
issue that the proceedings of a war could result in an unstable economic structure over time but it
can also establish economic gains through “stable bases of politics, trade, and
internationalization (66-67.”
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Frequently we see the vulnerability of business ethics in that people believe that they do
not have to conform to the rules of society when it comes to making money. But how can
everyone comply when some are exempt and can exercise freedoms in the market place? Larger
corporations usually receive cuts from government tax levies and tariffs with an obligation to
enforce certain rules and regulation. An example of this is seen with British Airways and DHL.
These two giant companies are under goodwill in their records and compliance in exchange of
sovereignty from customs. Another issue lies in the shareholding business where there is no
governmental regulation and they operate on an unethical basis conducting business across
borders, sharing profits with government (164).
Another industry that is involved in profiteering is the pharmaceutical industry because
they are involved in pricing that is above competitive market price and it is legal. They drive
away the competition thus gaining sole control of the market but its individuals who suffer such
as the people of Angola in that due to needed expensive drugs that they cannot afford, they are
forced to control supply and demand with illegal, substandard pharmaceuticals (136). Despite
the illegality or unethical issues of profiteering, one thing is for certain that it is in these local
economies that all forms of trade seem to regulate extending beyond the borders of the world in
the powerful transnational networking of globalization.
Global Outlaws: Crime, Money, and Power in the Contemporary World is a book set out
to expose the dynamic contrasts of illegal trade in commodities ranging from staples, arms,
pharmaceuticals etc. Anything the “dollar” can buy is of great importance because emphasis is
placed on a material culture, valuables and one’s socio-economic status. Despite the ambiguity
of these phenomena, there is structure, skepticism and acceptance that work simultaneously to
isolate the values and biases. Besides the theoretical views of this book, Nordstrom have
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managed to produce a wealth of information that is fascinating and informative. Her style
depicts a skilled ethnographer who is more interested in having her readers develop their own
paradigms and sense of the issues involved in the division between what is legal or illegal. As
the definition of theory in the syllabus states, “theory, in the sense I am employing the word,
involves the sustained attempt to pose critical questions to research in terms that address its basic
assumptions and presuppositions as well as the uses to which it has been and may plausibly be
put (Dominick La Capra, History and Memory after Auschwitz),” stands as the perfect
description of what Nordstrom has done.
Her strength lies in her ability to gather data on such sensitive and confidential matters.
It evokes questions of trust, respect and networking. It is a recommended read for everyone who
wishes to come face to face with formalized realities of corruption, violence and bureaucracy.
There is a chance to personally address them and dismantle the underlying forces that seems to
be in perfect sync. Carolyn Nordstrom did not form her own opinions or presented the material
in a secondary form but she provided a firsthand approach that does not downplay the underlying
issues involved. In other words, she tried not to distort the picture as it is known that the
personal factor interferes with research and may not promote accuracy and greater awareness.
On the other hand, she placed too much emphasis on being repetitive which resulted in a
weakness. Making mention of topics in previous chapters almost made it a lengthy read and
onset some levels of boredom. This kind of composition makes the reader grow disinterested in
knowing valuable facts and important details. There was also no sense of chronological timing.
She does provide a geographic timeline but absence of the chronological timeline did not give a
sense of a smooth flow of events.
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Finally, we see the benefits and disadvantages of extra-state networks that regulate the
constant flow of cultural, political, and economical forces. Smugglers do not refer to themselves
as criminals and neither is the act of profiteering seen as illegal or unethical. It is certain that we
are transitioning into a new global trend where the state is visible, shaping identities through the
confines of supreme reign. Globalization is set out create a central body which equals one
“power” trying to define the fluidity of legality. We can also develop new paradigms of the
contemporary world when it comes to crime, money and power.
Today, we see poverty on the rise and a spiral downward turn of economies that makes
one conceive the importance of anthropological fieldwork alongside economic regulatory bodies
in uncovering the heightened corruption and injustices that plague the world economies stripping
people of their human rights. Now we also see that matters of formality and ethics are within
social constructs of politics with underlying agendas, justifying the acts of the governmental
body and establishing due obligations of individuals in society. The law is not limited to being
black and white but there is always a grey area crossing the lines of legality and ethics.