Shalers And Addiction
“Addiction in Free In Free Markets” is an academic essay written by Bruce K, Alexander and Stefa Shaler. The University of Toronto Press published their essay in 1990 for an audience of researchers and academics interested in why addictions exist. The purpose of this essay was to raise connections between free markets and addiction. Alexander and Shaler make their case with compelling historic examples, but could use more detail to strengthen their argument.
The central idea of “Addiction in Free markets” is how addictions grow in free markets. When the system of a free market is born, faces a downturn, or evolves; people from all class’s sometimes lost jobs, change ideologies, and loss stability. When this vast change occurs in their life …show more content…
This essay uses historical events such as the industrial revolution and looks what it caused to the society at the time and its effect on the rate of addiction. The authors explain, “England moved to a full-blown free market society between the late 16th and 19th century”(6), and “alcoholism gradually spread with the beginnings of the free markets after 1500 and eventually became a raging epidemic with… free market society”(8) to draw a connection between addiction and free markets. Another example the Authors use is the destruction of Aboriginal cultures and their implications for addiction. In regards to problem and solution organization style, the Authors state the solution towards decreasing addiction is to establish healthier societies where all members will benefit and to address the problems free markets create. In their conclusions, they illustrate this,” [all] participants in a sacred trust to nature, protect and promote delicate bonds with every aspect of the biosphere and the invisible forces of spirit and humanitarianism”(16). Further, analyzing the context and the writer’s credibility help explain how the Authors made this connection. Bruce K. Alexander is a professor of psychology and is also a research associate at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. It is also noted that Alexander has studied globalization and addiction, main ideas in the essay. The second author is Stefa Shaler, who provides context for their argument. It is noted that has worked in Brazil Slums and in Social Services in British Columbia, proving she has experience working with people with addictions. Also, the essay was published in 1990 giving context to what the state the world was at. During the 1990 many world economies took a downturn creating a difficult time for many members of free markets. Focusing on Brazil, the economy
The central idea of “Addiction in Free markets” is how addictions grow in free markets. When the system of a free market is born, faces a downturn, or evolves; people from all class’s sometimes lost jobs, change ideologies, and loss stability. When this vast change occurs in their life …show more content…
This essay uses historical events such as the industrial revolution and looks what it caused to the society at the time and its effect on the rate of addiction. The authors explain, “England moved to a full-blown free market society between the late 16th and 19th century”(6), and “alcoholism gradually spread with the beginnings of the free markets after 1500 and eventually became a raging epidemic with… free market society”(8) to draw a connection between addiction and free markets. Another example the Authors use is the destruction of Aboriginal cultures and their implications for addiction. In regards to problem and solution organization style, the Authors state the solution towards decreasing addiction is to establish healthier societies where all members will benefit and to address the problems free markets create. In their conclusions, they illustrate this,” [all] participants in a sacred trust to nature, protect and promote delicate bonds with every aspect of the biosphere and the invisible forces of spirit and humanitarianism”(16). Further, analyzing the context and the writer’s credibility help explain how the Authors made this connection. Bruce K. Alexander is a professor of psychology and is also a research associate at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. It is also noted that Alexander has studied globalization and addiction, main ideas in the essay. The second author is Stefa Shaler, who provides context for their argument. It is noted that has worked in Brazil Slums and in Social Services in British Columbia, proving she has experience working with people with addictions. Also, the essay was published in 1990 giving context to what the state the world was at. During the 1990 many world economies took a downturn creating a difficult time for many members of free markets. Focusing on Brazil, the economy