Position Paper Academic Debate

-Neoliberal Capitalism should not be abolished. -

Name: Heidrun Kerl
ID: 6054136
Faculty: University College Maastricht
Course: Academic Debate
Course code: PRO Missing
Tutor: Kai Heidemann
Date: Missing
Academic year: 2013/2014
Place: Maastricht
Number of words: Missing

Introduction:

In the last 30 years, neoliberal capitalism has been the dominant economic system in
most part of the world. Several important political figures like Margaret Thatcher,
Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush have been associated with policies of
deregulation, liberalization and privatization, which are at the core of neoliberal
capitalism (STEGERANDROY). One central belief of neoliberal across the globe is a
strong focus on self-regulating free markets in order to create a better world. But how
can we create a better world with the market? With competition! Competition leads to
many benefits such as decreased prices, increased quality of products and improved
services. However, competition does not only lead to economic benefits but it highly
contributes to human wellbeing (Barrios, 2014) . I will show in this paper how
competition as an essential part of neo-liberal capitalism has positives impacts on the
individual and on the society and thus increases global human wellbeing.
My argument will be twofold. First I will show that competition enables self-
realization, which makes people happy. Second, I will show how competition is
essential to stimulate innovations and consequently improve human wellbeing. In the
end, I will propose one counterargument and show how this does not outweigh the
arguments for the benefits of competition.

Self-realization
Competition is good for the individual because it enables self-realization and that
makes people happy. Competition is a contest between two or more parties that can be
found in almost any field of the daily life. People compete for the best job, the most
attractive appearance, for recognition, their desires and dreams. So, when people are
competing, they strive to become better in what they are doing, better than the other
and better then their own expectation. Consequently, one aims to achieve ones full
potential as an independent, fulfilled and free-thinking human being, which is defined
as self-realization (Dictionary of Human Resource Management, 2008). Additionally
to that, self-realization entails the human need for challenge, responsibility and
creativity at work (Dictionary for Business and Management). And it is neoliberal
capitalism that enables people to compete, challenges them and consequently enables
people to achieve their full potential. And this is what makes people happy.
HAPPINESS.
However, how can neo-liberal capitalism do so? Neoliberal capitalism sets a
strong focus on property rights that enable me to keep the fruits of my success. Thus,
if I works hard and put in a lot of effort to earn my own success if will also get
rewarded. According to the Prager University (2014), earning success is the
satisfaction and happiness people derive from having dreams and working hard to
achieve them. Neoliberal capitalism is a system where rewards are based on earning
them rather then pleasing people by bribing them or having the right connection to
affluent people. Research has shown that people are happier if they earn what they
desire rather than if it is just given to them without any effort put in. Consequently
happiness is nothing that can be given to a person but only something we can earn
(Prager University, 2014). This is also in line with the findings by the Mark W.
Martin (2007), professor of philosophy at the Chapman University, who states that
happiness is nothing people simply get but it will come as a by-product in pursuing
meaningful activities and relationships. By competing and thus comparing ourselves
with others, we are constantly asked to evaluate our lives if we meet our expectations,
values and aspiration in order to achieve the desired success. However Martin
challenges the paradox of success that achieving a certain thing will automatically
make us happy. He clarifies that it is not the goals us such that makes us truly happy,
but it is the journey in seeking the goal. As the well-known philosopher Nozick
(1989) states, Anticipation is better than realization, we derive happiness from the
process of making process towards a meaningful goal rather than achieving them.
Therefore, even if competition can lead to frustration because of setbacks or
temporary depression, experiencing progress is what promotes happiness.
Consequently, competition enables people to fulfill themselves, it challenges people
to go beyond their known abilities and it is this process of progressing that enables
makes people happy and stimulates self-realization.

Innovation


History has shown that people have innate desire to progress and advance (Buchholz,
2011)


References:

Prager University: The promise of Free Enterprise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSMd4BuuXB8