Travels of a T-Shirt Part 1 University of Alabama PSC 204
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PSC 204 International Relations
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PSC 204 International Relations
Part I: KING COTTON
Chapter 1: How America has Dominated the Global Cotton Industry for 200 Years
In the United States, 1,000 acres is capable of providing enough cotton lint to produce how many tshirts per year?
1,000 acres is predicted to produce around 1.3 million tshirts.
To what do...
travels of a t shirt part 1 university of alabama psc 204
part i king cotton chapter 1 how america has dominated the global cotton industry for 200 years in the united states
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Part I: KING COTTON
Chapter 1: How America has Dominated the Global Cotton Industry for 200 Years
In the United States, 1,000 acres is capable of providing enough cotton lint to produce how many tshirts per year?
1,000 acres is predicted to produce around 1.3 million tshirts.
To what does Oxfam, the British NGO, attribute the dominance of American cotton growers? Does the author agree
with Oxfam? Explain.
Oxfam primarily attributes America’s dominance in the cotton producing industry to the ability of
American farmers to receive large subsidies from the government in order to produce that particular crop.
The author disagrees with Oxfam and cites that while subsidies play a role in America’s dominance, other
factors that predated such provisions are the main reasons for the U.S’s power in the cotton industry.
Chapter 2: Winning by Ducking the Labor Markets
Which country was the largest consumer of cotton in the 19th century?
The largest consumer of cotton in the 19th century was Great Britain.
How did the institution of slavery affect the risks faced by US cotton plantation owners? (What were the challenges
associated with relying on a traditional labor market in producing cotton?)
The process required to pick cotton was a very difficult one in that the demand for labor constantly
fluctuated. This is mainly attributed to how cotton is very much affected by different weather patterns and
is thus continually changing and vulnerable. Through the use of plantation slavery, plantation owners had a
continual supply of labor at their disposal and therefore did not carry the risk of not having workers when
they needed them.
Chapter 3: Back at the Reinsch Farm
Rivoli notes that Lubbock benefits from a highly symbiotic and virtuous circle relationship. Who are the players in
this virtuous cycle?
There are four major countries in this “virtuous” cycle, including the farmers that produce cotton, the U.S
government, private companies, and universities. Each play a role and interact with one another in order to
make sure that the cotton producing industry is successful in the U.S.
What actions and programs did the U.S. government take and institute in the 1940s to address the labor shortages
facing cotton growers in the South?
One of the first actions taken in response to depleting labor due to WWII was the introduction of more
women and children into the cotton industry. The action taken by the U.S government, however, was an act
(Bracero program),which allowed for Mexican citizens to come into the U.S for short periods of time in
order to supply a labor force for the cotton industry.
Chapter 4: All God’s Danger Ain’t the Subsidies
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, Besides the white lint used for tshirt production, what byproducts are produced in cotton farming? What uses do
these byproducts have?
The two main byproducts of cotton production besides lint are the “garbage” of cotton (burs, stick, trash)
and the cottonseeds. The “garbage” can be used for multiple purposes, such as cattle feed, building
materials, and fuel. Likewise, cottonseeds may serve multiple functions as well, including meal for cattle
and oil.
What advantages are there for the Texas cotton farmer in joining an organization such as the Plains Cotton
Cooperative Association (PCCA)?
The primary advantage for farmers engaging in PCCA is that they do not have to worry about selling their
cotton. A division of PCCA, called TELCOT, provided an electronic market for farmers through which
PCCA would sell cotton produced in a market pool. This market under the PCCA provided a channel
through which farmers could sell their cotton.
PART 2: MADE IN CHINA
Chapter 5: Cotton Comes to China
Explain the “race to the bottom” argument employed by the antiglobalization movement.
The “race to the bottom” argument deals with how globalization is leading to a world where consumers
seek the cheapest product available. This mainly focuses on how China has the labor needed to provide
cheap conditions/labor, leading to a cheaper price that the world market has to pay for their products. This
argument shows how this trend may lead to a negative impact on the economy in the end since it may lead
to exploitation of labor and complications for others.
In 2007, what was China’s share of world apparel exports? In 2007, how many cotton knit shirts did China ship to
the US?
China accounts for around 30% of apparel exports worldwide and shipped around 365 million tshirts to the
United States in 2007.
Chapter 6: The Long Race to the Bottom
Rivoli writes (page 93) that “a choking bottleneck in the production of cotton cloth launched the modern world.”
Explain this statement.
By “choking bottleneck” Rivoli is discussing how when industries run into a situation that prevents them
from producing and hinders the amount of production they can put out, innovation is sparked and a leap
forward within the field of technology is usually made.
How did the technology necessary to competitively produce cotton textiles transfer from Britain to the US?
The main way by which cotton textile technology made its way to the U.S was through espionage carried
out by U.S businessmen to secure the blueprints and plans that created the efficient British technology. One
This study source was downloaded by 100000850872992 from CourseHero.com on 04-10-2023 10:48:11 GMT -05:00
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