The nature of social and labor issues that domestic manufacturers will likely face with their international suppliers

by | Jan 3, 2025 | Essays

 

Discuss the nature of social and labor issues that domestic manufacturers will likely face with their international suppliers. Why is it important to understand the cultural background of a foreign supplier?

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Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Domestic manufacturers working with international suppliers can face a range of social and labor issues, including:

  • Labor Exploitation: This can include issues like:

    • Low Wages: Wages may not meet living standards or comply with local labor laws.
    • Unsafe Working Conditions: Factories may have poor safety standards, leading to accidents and injuries.
    • Forced Labor: Workers may be subjected to coercion, debt bondage, or human trafficking.  
    • Child Labor: Children may be employed in hazardous or exploitative conditions.  

  • Social and Environmental Impacts:

    • Environmental Degradation: Production processes may have negative impacts on the environment, such as pollution and resource depletion.
    • Community Impact: Operations may negatively impact local communities, such as displacement or disruption of social structures.

  • Ethical Concerns:

    • Lack of Transparency: Limited information may be available regarding supplier practices, making it difficult to assess and address potential issues.  
    • Ethical Violations: Suppliers may engage in unethical practices, such as bribery or corruption.  

Understanding the cultural background of a foreign supplier is crucial for several reasons:

  • Effective Communication: Cultural differences can impact communication styles, negotiation tactics, and the interpretation of agreements.

Domestic manufacturers working with international suppliers can face a range of social and labor issues, including:

  • Labor Exploitation: This can include issues like:

    • Low Wages: Wages may not meet living standards or comply with local labor laws.
    • Unsafe Working Conditions: Factories may have poor safety standards, leading to accidents and injuries.
    • Forced Labor: Workers may be subjected to coercion, debt bondage, or human trafficking.  
    • Child Labor: Children may be employed in hazardous or exploitative conditions.  

  • Social and Environmental Impacts:

    • Environmental Degradation: Production processes may have negative impacts on the environment, such as pollution and resource depletion.
    • Community Impact: Operations may negatively impact local communities, such as displacement or disruption of social structures.

  • Ethical Concerns:

    • Lack of Transparency: Limited information may be available regarding supplier practices, making it difficult to assess and address potential issues.  
    • Ethical Violations: Suppliers may engage in unethical practices, such as bribery or corruption.  

Understanding the cultural background of a foreign supplier is crucial for several reasons:

  • Effective Communication: Cultural differences can impact communication styles, negotiation tactics, and the interpretation of agreements.
  • Building Trust and Relationships: Understanding cultural norms and values can help build trust and rapport with suppliers, which is essential for successful long-term partnerships.  
  • Identifying and Mitigating Risks: Cultural awareness can help identify potential risks and challenges related to social and labor issues, allowing for proactive measures to address them.  
  • Ensuring Ethical and Sustainable Practices: Understanding the cultural context can help ensure that business practices are aligned with local values and expectations, promoting ethical and sustainable sourcing.  

By understanding the cultural background of their foreign suppliers, domestic manufacturers can navigate these challenges more effectively, ensure ethical and responsible sourcing practices, and build strong, mutually beneficial relationships.

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