Based on a case study of an export-oriented Bangladeshi garment company, this article shows how hierarchies of vulnerability have developed in the process of global integration of Bangladesh’s garment industry. Situating the problem of economic dependency in a globalised context within a broader political economy discussion of local Bangladeshi scenarios, the study illustrates how such patterns of development are shaped by internal as well as external social and political forces that create conditions of vulnerability.
AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organization) (2003) ‘Justice for All: A Guide to Worker Rights in the Global Economy’, URL (consulted 10 March 2008) from www.solidaritycenter.org/content.asp?contentid=481
2.
Ahmad, N. (1976) A New Economic Geography of Bangladesh. New Delhi: Vikas .
3.
Alavi, H. (1972) ‘ The State in Post-Colonial Societies: Pakistan and Bangladesh ’, New Left Review, I(74): 59–81 .
4.
Amin, S. (2001) ‘ Imperialism and Globalisation ’, Monthly Review, 53(2): 6–24 .
5.
Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (2003) ‘Reducing the Cost of Doing Business in Bangladesh’, URL (consulted 22 March 2008) from bei-bd.org/docs/redcost1.pdf
6.
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (National News Agency of Bangladesh) (2004) ‘ Much-Talked About EPZ TU Bill Introduced in Bangladesh Parliament ’, URL (consulted 7 July 2007) from www.bssnews.net/index.php?genID=BSS-03-2004-07-05&id=7
7.
BEPZA (Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority) (2006) Home Page, URL (consulted 5 May 2006) from www.epzbangladesh.org.bd
Cardoso, F.H. and E. Faletto (1979) Dependency and Development in Latin America. Berkeley: University of California Press .
10.
The Daily Star (1994) 27 February: 1 .
11.
The Daily Star (2004) 5 July: 1 .
12.
The Daily Star (2005) 21 December: 1 .
13.
The Daily Star (2006a) ‘ Loan Default in Banks Rises 18pc in 3 Months ’, 6 June 2006: 1 .
14.
The Daily Star (2006b) ‘ Pak-SL Role at WTO Comes Under Fire ’, 6 January 2006: 1 .
15.
Emmanuel, A. (1972) Unequal Exchange: A Study of the Imperialism of Trade. New York: Monthly Review Press .
16.
Frank, Andre Gunder (1969) Capitalism and Underdevelopment in Latin America: Historical Studies of Chile and Brazil. New York: Monthly Review Press .
17.
Furtado, C. (1973) ‘The Concept of External Dependence in the Study of Underdevelopment’. In C.K. Wilber (ed.), The Political Economy of Development and Underdevelopment (pp. 118–23). New York: Random House .
18.
Gereffi, G. , D. Spencer and J. Bair (2002) ‘Introduction: The Apparel Industry and North American Economic Integration’. In G. Gereffi , D. Spencer and J. Bair (eds), Free Trade and Uneven Development: The North American Apparel Industry After NAFTA (pp. 3–22). Philadelphia: Temple University Press .
19.
Humphrey, C.E. (1990) Privatization in Bangladesh: Economic Transition in a Poor Country. Boulder: Westview Press .
20.
Hodson, R. (1999) ‘ Organizational Anomie and Worker Consent ’. Work and Occupations, 26(3): 292–323 .
21.
The Independent(2005) ‘ Open Bilateral Talks with US on Duty-Free Market Access: BGMEA Asks Government, Laments Pak and Lankan Opposition to Dhaka’s Case ’, 22 December 2005: 1 .
22.
Islam, Nurul (1979) Development Planning in Bangladesh. Dacca: University Press .
23.
Islam, M. Aminul (1995) Environment, Land Use and Natural Hazards in Bangladesh. Dhaka: University of Dhaka .
24.
ITGLWF (2004) ‘ITGLWF Submission to the Korean NCP on Youngone’, URL (consulted 15 January 2007) from www.zoominfo.com/people/Sung_Kihak_509216683.aspx
25.
Jahan, Rounaq (ed) (2000) Bangladesh. Promise and Performance. London, New York and Dhaka: Zed Books and University Press .
26.
Kabeer, Naila (2000) The Power to Choose. Bangladeshi Women and Labour Market Decisions in London and Dhaka. London: Verso .
27.
Karim, A. (1996) ‘An Analysis of Privatisation Initiative in Bangladesh’. In A.N.M. Wahid and C.E. Weis (eds), The Economy of Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects (pp. 1–16). Westport and London: Praeger .
28.
Khundker, N. (2002) ‘Globalisation, Competitiveness and Job Quality in the Garment Industry in Bangladesh’. In M. Muqtada , A.M. Singh and M.A. Rashid (eds), Bangladesh: Economic and Social Challenges of Globalisation (pp. 61–82). Dhaka: The University Press Limited .
29.
Larrain, J. (1989) Theories of Development: Capitalism, Colonialism, and Dependency. Cambridge: Polity Press .
30.
Majumder, R.C. (ed) (1943) History of Bengal. Vol. 1. Dacca: University of Dacca .
31.
Mueller, C.W. , S.D. Coster and S.B. Ester (2001) ‘ Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Unanticipated Consequences of Modern Social Control in Organizations ’, Work and Occupations, 28(4): 411–46 .
32.
Muqtada, M. , A.M. Singh and M.A. Rashid (eds) (2002) Bangladesh: Economic and Social Challenges of Globalisation (pp. 61–82). Dhaka: The University Press Limited .
33.
Murshid, K.A.S. , S.C. Zohir , A. Milford and A. Wiig (2003) Experience from Bangladesh with Ethical Trading Initiatives. No. R2003:7. Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute .
34.
Oxfam (2004) ‘Trading Away Our Rights: Women Working in Global Supply Chains’, URL (consulted 15 February 2007) from www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/issues/trade/trading_rights.htm
35.
Palmer, G.F. (1994) The EIU Global Privatisation Model: A Practical Guide to the Process and Practitioners. London: The Economist Intelligence Unit .
36.
Peet, R. and E. Hartwick (1999) Theories of Development. New York: Guilford Press .
37.
Pinto, A. (1959) Chile. Un Caso de Desarrollo Frustrado. Santiago de Chile: Editorial Universitaria, S.A .
38.
Prebisch, R. (1950) The Economic Development of Latin America and its Principal Problems. New York: United Nations .
39.
Preston, P.W. (1997) Development Theory: An Introduction. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers .
40.
Prothom Alo (2006a) ‘ Malikder vogbilash jibon, sromik thaken jhuprighore ’ (‘Employers Live in Wealth While Labourers Live in Slums’), 1 March 2006: 1 .
41.
Prothom Alo (2006b) ‘ Nunnotomo mojuri abong poshakshilper bobhishot ’ (‘Minimum Wage and Future of Garments Industry’), 11 September 2006: 6 .
42.
Quadir, F. (2000) ‘ The Political Economy of Pro-market Reforms in Bangladesh: Regime Consolidation Through Economic Liberalization? ’, Contemporary South Asia, 9(2): 197–212 .
43.
Santos, T.D. (1971) ‘ The Structure of Dependence ’, American Economic Review, 60(2), 231–36 .
44.
Siddiqui, A. (2001) ‘ Bangladesh: Human Rights in Export Processing Zones ’, Asian Labour Update, 38 (Jan-March), URL (consulted 7 July 2005) from www.amrc.org.hk/Arch/3803.html
45.
Singer, H. (1950) ‘ The Distribution of Gains Between Investing and Borrowing Countries ’. American Economic Review, 40(2): 473–85 .
46.
Sweezy, P.M. (1968) The Theory of Capitalist Development: Principles of Marxian Political Economy. New York: Modern Reader Paperbacks .
47.
Transparency International Bangladesh (2004) ‘ Widespread Corruption at Chittagong Port: Reforming Law, Checking Corruption and Swift Modernization Needed ’, TIB Newsletter8(3): 2–3 .
48.
Wallerstein, Immanuel Maurice (1987) World-System Analysis. Stanford: Stanford University Press .
49.
World Bank (2005) ‘Major Economic Indicators’, URL (consulted 10 June 2008) from www.bangladesh-bank.org/selectedecooind/selectedecoind15a.html
50.
Zafarullah, H. (2003) ‘ Globalisation, State and Politics in Bangladesh: Implications for Democratic Governance ’, South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 26(3): 283–96 .
