Global institutions are seen to be the better solution to help prevent world poverty in developing nations. Indeed, two philosophers, Thomas Pogge and Andrew Kuper, agree with this view that global institutions are more suited to prevent world poverty than NGOs. The reason for this is that global institutions have better defined institutional structures. A global institution “is an organization with hierarchical structures, having departments and agencies assigned with specific tasks” (WTO). They generally generate internal resources for their operations. A non-governmental organization (NGO), on the other hand, is “a non-profit making organization, usually staffed by volunteers, that depends largely on donations and grants for its operations” (United Nations). In this essay, I will argue that Thomas Pogge and Andrew Kuper make a sound argument in favor of global institutions but are quite naïve in their view by not taking into consideration the fact that global institutions may indeed not be the best solution overall due to their inherent weaknesses. In fact, Lisa Fuller overturns their argument by pointing out that reformed non-governmental institutions can resolve world poverty with the right means.
Firstly, I will illustrate Pogge and Kuper’s argument in favor of global institutions and against non-governmental organizations, then I will show Fuller’s argument in favor of non-governmental organizations as she overturns Pogge and Kuper’s argument for global institutions, next I will illustrate which position will be more effective in poverty reduction.
One of the many consequences of globalization, global poverty, could be eradicated with the possible reform of global institutions, as they are better equipped in the long...
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...er countries, especially richer ones. If they continue to project their nationalistic aims, how would they move forward in morally solving world poverty in another country that has a different national aim from theirs? Non-governmental organizations are devoid of this nationalist view. Their aim is to help those in need and not what political or economic gains they can derive for themselves because member countries do not govern it.
Works Cited
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Smith, Stephen C. Ending Global Poverty: A Guide to What Works. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005. Print.
Theories of global distributive justice address the following sorts of questions. Should we feel morally concerned about the large gap between the developing countries and the developed countries? What duty do us citizens have to provide assistance to the global poor? And what scale should we take the duties to?
Poverty and social exclusion have continued to pose major challenges to governments all over the world. Poverty is a global phenomenon which affects all states at different levels and is not limited to the developing countries only. Both poverty and social exclusion are conditions relating to the denial of or absence of opportunities and resources, this affects participation in society on equal terms with others. The affected individuals are often in situations where ordinary basic needs for survival are denied or cannot be acquired. (Vienna declaration 1993)
The World Bank Group. "Understanding and Responding to Poverty." PovertyNet. 16 March 2001. Online: http://www.worldbank.org/poverty/mission/up3.htm.
Market-based solutions to solving global poverty are inspired by the interrelated concepts of capitalism and neoliberalism. Such solutions are the dominant discourse in approaching global poverty, being endorsed by significant international actors including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Theoretically, market-based solutions could potentially solve global poverty through their core aim of boosting a State’s productivity and overall wealth. However in practice, market-based solutions are not plausible solutions to global poverty because such solutions are inherently flawed for three reasons. Firstly, neoliberalism in particular is more of a political ploy aimed to assert the dominance of the West and the wealthy, rather
United Nations Development Programme. Poverty Reduction and UNDP. New York: United Nations Development Programme, Jan. 2013. PDF.
In this essay I will discuss both Peter Unger’s ideas on the poverty problem from his book “Living High and Letting Die” and Martha Nussbaum’s critique of it in her article “If Oxfam Ran the World”, as well as my own view on their arguments. After I go over both of their basic ideas, I shall discuss Unger’s response to the review and his defence of his philosophies. Finally, I argue as to why I find Nussbaum’s reasoning more logical and persuasive.
Poverty is a pertinent global issue that affects a surprisingly large percentage of the world’s population. This issue will continue to spread unless there is serious action taken against it by developed nations and the world government.
This paper will discuss poverty, the different types of poverty and their definitions and who is affected by each type of poverty. It will look at the some of the major reasons why poverty exists and what causes poverty, like such things as inequality, stratification and international debt. Some of the impacts of poverty will also be analyzed from a national and global perspective; things like education, literacy rate, and crime. This paper will demonstrate that poverty affects almost everyone in some form or another and exists because those with power and wealth want and need poverty to exist to force a dependence on the wealthy. A few of the main approaches that this is achieved is through economic systems, influencing government policies, and global stratification. Defining poverty is not a simple task and this is what this paper will tackle first.
In the face of media campaigns and political sanctions, the question about whether we owe the global poor assistance and rectification is an appropriate one. Despite television advertisements displaying the condition of the poor and news articles explaining it, the reality is the majority of us, especially in the Western world, are far removed from the poverty that still affects a lot of lives. The debate between Thomas Pogge and Mathias Risse regarding our obligation to the poor questions the very institution we live in. Pogge created a new framework in which the debate developed. He introduced a focus on the design of the institutional global order, and the role it plays in inflicting or at least continuing the severe poverty people are exposed to. Whilst both Mathias Risse and Thomas Pogge believe that the “global order is imperfectly developed. It needs reform rather than revolutionary overthrow”, they differ on whether or not it is just and entitles the global poor to assistance. Pogge believes that the global order is unjust as it “helps to perpetuate extreme poverty, violating our negative duty not to harm others unduly”. Risse believes that the institution is only incompletely just and can be credited to improving lives of the global poor. According to him, these improvements contribute to its justifiability and negate any further obligation we have to the poor. Through assessing their debate, it seems that one’s obligation to the poor depends on one’s conception of duty, their unit of analysis, and whether improvement rectifies injustice. On balance, it seems that we do indeed owe the poor, only we may lack the means to settle it.
Many societies have put measures in place to help their impoverished citizens. Many feel that in the United States the programs meant to help the poor also lock them into perpetual poverty. Every society, great and small, has dealt with poverty and to date none have come up with an adequate solution to the issue. The solutions to fix poverty vary widely. Some feel the poor should receive few benefits but have programs in place to pull themselves out of poverty. Others feel that too much of the world’s wealth is in the hands of a few individuals and this wealth needs to have a more equal distribution. As with many issues, the truth undoubtedly falls somewhere in the middle if common groun...
...esh”. Working Paper No 143. Research Program on: Good Governance and Poverty Alleviation by OECD Development Center.
The Globalization of Poverty: Impacts of IMF and World Bank Reforms, Michel Chossudovsky, (Penang: Third World Network, 1997)
One prominent NGO states that its mission is to the poor people to eradicate poverty by overcoming the injustice and inequity that cause it....