SKSU6253- INTERNATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES

LECTURER: Assoc. Prof . Dr. Zarina Othman

Article Review
Child Labor in the World Polity: Decline and Persistence, 1980-2000

reviewed by: Norakidah bt. Zakaria (P67565)

AUTHORS BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Rob Clark
Assistant professor, Department of Sociology, University of
Oklahoma
2007-Doctor of Philosophy, Sociology, Indiana University
2001-Master of Arts, Sociology, Indiana university
1997-Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, George Mason University
Research and teaching interest - International Development
- Globalization
- Democracy and human rights
- Quantitative methods
- etc.

Table 1 : child labor means by region, 1980-2000

Region

19801985

19851990

19901995

19952000

Change
%

All states (N=142)

17.22

14.45

13.80

12.37

-28.16

Europe & the west

(N=29)

.86

.19

.16

.09

-89.53

Latin America & the

Carribean(N=26)

9.63

7.76

7.19

5.93

-38.42

Central & Sub-Saharian

Africa(N=43)

34.89

31.47

30.46

28.25

-19.03

North Africa & the

Middle east (N=20)

9.47

5.60

5.00

3.69

-61.03

East Asia & the Pacific

(N=24)

20.03

15.82

14.93

12.98

-35.20

Child labor
Child labor- work that deprives children of their
childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that
is harmful to physical and mental development.
(international labour Organization, ILO)
One of the main issue regarding human security
across the world.

FACTORS OF REDUCTION
Demographic transition
-the rise of primary and secondary school enrollment,
economic growth in emerging states, the spread of
industrialization,declining fertility rates, urban expansion.

Globalization
-trade and investment flow- international organization( major arguments)

HYPOTHESES
Demographic transition (previous study)
- primary school enrollment, secondary school enrollment
negatively affect child labor.
-agricultural production, rural population and fertility rates
positively affect child labor
Globalization
-trade openness negatively affects child labor (improves
labor right)
-foreign direct investment inflows positively affect child
labor.
-international organization memberships negatively affect
child labor.

MAJOR ARGUMENTS
International organizations have confronted child
labor practice, diffusing a labor-to-schooling model
of child development-ILO, UNICEF
Foreign investment exerts a small, positive effect on
child labor, while international organization exert a
larger and more significant negative effect.

CRITIQUES
Clear
Easy to understand

very helpful for us in understanding the importance of IOs in

reducing the rates of child labor
Author used quantitative approach-statistical data. Therefore,
provide general understanding in comparison of factor
affecting child labor reduction

 At the end of discussion,

interestingly mention that successful attempts to reduce or
eliminate child labor maybe harmful when economies and
impoverished families particularly in the third world countries
remain dependent on this practice and there are no viable
alternatives.

 Outdated
considering the timeline used ( 1980-2000)

General overview rather than looking on particular issues of

child labor in particular regions or countries- quantitative
approach

CONCLUSION:
Since child labor is only the main concern of certain regions or
countries nowadays, it is more important to look at it more
deeply and critically in those regions or coutries so that the
human security in those regions specifically in terms of
childrens right is secured.
In other words-children across the world will be given the
same right to get proper education

QUESTIONS:
What are the biggest implications of child
labor in terms of human security?
In general, how do you think globalization
affect child labor across the world?