Date of Award
5-2018
Degree Type
Research Paper
Degree Name
Master of Arts in International Development and Social Change (IDSC)
Department
International Development, Community and Environment
Chief Instructor
Anita Fabos
Second Reader
Ora Szekely
Keywords
Migrant Labor, Migrant Domestic Labor, Garment Sector, Jordan, Neoliberalism, Globalization, Middle East
Abstract
Neoliberal globalization, which has guided the economic system of the world for the last forty years, claims to offer opportunities for equality and wealth for all citizens. However, I argue that the structural violence inherent in the neoliberal system and its drive for maximizing profits leads to cycles of abuse and discrimination, as well as a transfer of wealth and power toward elites and away from average citizens. I discuss how Jordan, like other developing countries, has been a locus for this violence. Through the lens of migrant workers within Jordan, this research paper traces the effects of these policies on migrant laborers and looks at how some seek to oppose these forces and advocate for increased rights. The paper shows that these workers have reacted to these dispossessions by creating networks of resistance and support, both informally and through the auspices of NGOs, labor organizations, and religious institutions.
Recommended Citation
Walleser, Matthew, "Commodification and Resistance: Migrant Labor in Jordan" (2018). International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE). 211.
https://commons.clarku.edu/idce_masters_papers/211