Relentless expansion of free trade.: Economic and cultural countermeasures to trade liberalization in respect of TTIP debates. Case study: Mennonite community in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Author
Steinborn, Ina
Term
4. term
Publication year
2016
Submitted on
2016-05-31
Pages
72
Abstract
This thesis examines economic and cultural countermeasures to expanding market and trade liberalization through a case study of the Mennonite farming community in Chihuahua, Mexico, situated within debates on NAFTA and TTIP. The core research question is: How has NAFTA affected the Mennonite community in Chihuahua, and what can be learned from their economic and cultural practices regarding free trade agreements such as NAFTA and TTIP? The Mennonites are a pertinent case because they appear to have managed liberalization more successfully than many Mexican counterparts. The study uses a qualitative design with 11 expert interviews conducted in March 2016 with representatives from cultural, agricultural, industrial machinery, and retail sectors, as well as the local credit union; data are analyzed through coding and grounded theory within a constructionist approach, and framed by trade theory from Smith and Ricardo to Porter. Limitations include the small sample and the absence of interviews with Mexican farmers and entrepreneurs, so findings reflect one group’s perspective. The analysis indicates that Mennonites align with contemporary competitiveness strategies—strong work ethic, innovation, scaling firms, unionization, diversification, and mutual aid—yet still face bankruptcies, setbacks, and emigration; this raises doubts about who benefits from liberalization, which appears to advantage economic elites and multinational corporations.
Specialet undersøger de økonomiske og kulturelle modforholdsregler over for voksende markeds- og handelsliberalisering med udgangspunkt i mennonitternes landbrugssamfund i Chihuahua, Mexico, set i lyset af debatterne om NAFTA og TTIP. Det centrale forskningsspørgsmål er: Hvordan har NAFTA påvirket mennonitterne i Chihuahua, og hvad kan vi lære af deres økonomiske og kulturelle praksisser i forhold til frihandelsaftaler som NAFTA og TTIP? Som case er mennonitterne interessante, fordi de tilsyneladende har håndteret liberalisering bedre end mange mexicanske modparter. Studiet anvender et kvalitativt design med 11 ekspertinterview gennemført i marts 2016 med repræsentanter fra kultur-, landbrugs-, industrimaskin- og detailsektoren samt den lokale kreditforening; data analyseres via kodning og grounded theory inden for en konstruktionistisk tilgang, suppleret af teori om international handel fra Smith og Ricardo til Porter. Begrænsningerne omfatter et lille sample og fravær af interview med mexicanske landmænd og iværksættere, hvorfor fundene afspejler én gruppes perspektiv. Analysen peger på, at mennonitterne følger samtidige konkurrenceteorier gennem arbejdsomhed, innovation, skalafordele, organisering, diversificering og gensidig hjælp, men at der trods dette forekommer konkurser, tilbageslag og emigration; dette rejser tvivl om, hvem der reelt drager fordel af liberaliseringen, som i høj grad synes at begunstige økonomiske eliter og multinationale virksomheder.
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Keywords
Trade ; NAFTA ; TTIP ; Mexico ; Inequality