Question 1: Brazil vs. the United States
In 2002 Brazil filed a lawsuit in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement System challenging the United States farmers for violating most of the trade agreements. The case was touching different farmers including fruits, vegetables and cotton farmers. Brazil looked unhappy by the actions the United States was taking to give its farmers some advantages such as providing grants, subsidiaries which according to the WTO was to be prohibited (Mercier, p.31). Therefore, due to the unfair competition, the US farmers were provided; Brazil decided to seek a resolution from the WTO.
The WTO ruled against the United States. According to the findings of the panel, Brazil was right to claim that the United States production flexibility contract payments (PFCPs) and direct payments (DPs) were not eligible to be classified in the non-trade-distorting Green Box category due to planting restrictions on fruits and vegetables (Mercier, p.31). The panel, therefore, ruled in favor of Brazil meaning that the United States had gone beyond the subsidy limits that were set up in 1992.
Upon the outcome of the ruling, the United States took various steps to avoid the same scenario next time. The US offered the Brazilian farmers with the same subsidies. The main aim of the United States, however, was to avoid the possibility of the removal of tariffs and patents on their goods. Even after the expiry of the 2008 US Farm Bill, the Brazilian farmers are still enjoying the subsidies. One of the biggest pros of the case is that the US farmers remained in the business with the support from their government. However, on the other hand, the US has spent a lot of money on subsidies. In total, the US has spent around $150million on Brazil subsidies (Mercier, p.36).
Question 2: Immigration and the Economy
Against the belief of most of the people of the United States, not all immigrants are illegal; there are those who got into the country through the rightful means. The question in this matter, however, is not whether the immigrants are illegal are legal, but rather, their impacts on the economy. The course work provides plenty of the impacts. On the positive side, immigrants offer cheap labor in the industries and hence boost the economy. Also, not all immigrants are poorly educated. There those immigrants who have high skills in computer programming, economics, and business. Their skills have led to the emergence of new businesses, boosting the economy. On the bottom side, the immigrants have brought what others call a disruption in the US political and religious structure. Additionally, the children of the immigrants rely heavily on the taxpayers to support their education. The list is long, but I can add some of the benefits. Immigrants have made the United States to realize that the world depends heavily on them. Also, immigrants make people understand the importance of appreciating diversity in culture and religion.
Question 3: Democratic Peace Theory
“A democracy will not go to war with another democracy” (Aghajanyan, p.183). This is the simplest way to define to explain what Democratic Peace Theory mean. Most political scientists do not agree with the theory and in that citing that it is filled with weaknesses. However, it is clear that nothing can ever have weaknesses without a single strength. Democratic Peace Theory works in a society where democracy is held up high. People are given the opportunity to contribute to the decisions of the states such as the right to elect a leader through free and fair elections. Apart from the giving people the opportunity to be free, DPT seals peace within two communities, states or nations. People believe that there are a better means to solving a dispute than going into war and dispute. In the end, the two parties will come up with a solution to their feuds without putting the lives of their citizens in danger. To cut the long story short, the biggest strength of DPT is that it provides a better means to solving disputes.
On the weaknesses side, DPT needs a setup where the both feuding sides understand the meaning of democracy. The biggest challenge the world is facing today is the lack of respect people have given to democracy. Not many people understand the meaning of democracy and hence it will be very challenging to say that the world is living in a democratic society. Therefore, “a democracy will not go to war with another democracy” is meaningless where that ‘democracy’ does not exist. The other shortcoming is that the theory does not provide a solution to common challenges that is facing the society today.
Work cited
Abrego, Leisy J., and Cecilia Menjívar. "Immigration in the United States."The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Family Studies (2016).
Aghajanyan, Grisha. "The Democratic Peace Theory." European Union Foreign Affairs Journal: 183.
Mercier, S. (2004). The WTO and U.S. agricultural policy: Intersections and consequences. Choices,19(4), 31-36.
