Maleha Bokhari (25090039)

Response Paper 1
Academics have gone to great lengths to understand labour, in an attempt the change the
system for the better, or to improve it keep maintaining a bourgeoisie status quo.
Nevertheless, this attempt usually begins with the fundamental question of what makes
labour valuable. If one can answer this, one knows the key to world order. Some factors
which determine labour value include skills, educational backgrounds, gender, unionization,
and supply and demand. These factors interplay in determining the value of labour on a small
national scale, which ultimately develops into global trends shaping the global economy.
However, this value, and hence its interaction effect on the global economy is susceptible to
change and replacement due to a constant evolution of the market. For example, the recent
development of artificial technology has caused an upheaval amongst certain skilled workers
due to the impending fear of losing their jobs. Therefore, a much more long-term factor
determining labour’s value which is more flexible and adaptable to the changing world is
class consciousness, discussed in William E. Forbath’s ‘Shaping of the American Labor
Movement’, which in my opinion, is the awareness of one’s value. Recognition of this value
on an individual level leads to recognition on a group level which leads to recognition on a
national level and ultimately on a global level.
How can I envisage a fairer global system of labour management? This is only possible
through class consciousness at a very large scale, and that requires class consciousness on a
small. Change in the current societal structure that ensures a lack of consciousness is required
on every level. Legislation and accountability mechanisms on their own are simply not
enough when the demand for improvement is lacking from the oppressed themselves. It is
this lack of unionization on a personal level, this lack of consciousness, that has led the lower
working class to accept the bare minimum. The institutions are structured in a way which
promotes this, a working labourer cannot afford to have group meetings and debates about
their oppression, the cost is too high, its their kids going to bed hungry that day. This is unlike
other classes; the middle class is driven by their commitment to get an education and climb
the ladder, the upper class is committed to maintaining their status as the top players, and the
working class is simply making ends meet on a day-to-day basis. A fairer system would only
exist at a global level when a fairer system exists on a personal national and local level. This
requires awareness and consciousness which gives the labourers more bargaining power and
demand change.
Since, foundationally labor value is weak, globalization of its market has led to a large-scale
inequality which is increasing as the economy becomes more global. A fairer system can
therefore be ensured on a state and global level through better policy implementation which
helps the labor class adjust to the rapidly changing world and provides them with security. As
economic growth is global, so is economic inequality, hence, ensuring a fairer system will
also require a global balance – a commitment to the protection of the working class through
treaties and international law. Policy and trade initiatives as well as barriers for both
developing and developed countries should be adopted.
In conclusion, labour value and its impact within the global context is significant. Once the
foundational cause of widespread low value associated with certain labour is identified
(societal structure, oppression, inequality), widespread and global causes are identified too,
which helps in ensuring a different and fairer system for the future.
 Works Cited:
Forbath, William E. “The Shaping of the American Labor Movement.” Harvard Law Review,
vol. 102, no. 6, 1989, pp. 1109–256. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1341293. Accessed 28
Feb. 2024.