The perspectives of Sklair, Wilson, and Kraul with respect to maquila employment and how it is changing Mexico stand pretty much in contrast to each other. Sklair points out how little has changed since the late 1980s for the maquila industry, but she points out “the economic, political, and ideological conditions under which it operates are undergoing dramatic changes” (384). Capitalism’s success around the globe has shifted ideologies with respect to liberalized trade, conflict, and economic and cultural barriers. Sklair is a champion of NAFTA and supports the contention that Mexico has the potential to become a “Korea but with an even wider industrial base” (385). Low wages and a low peso against the dollar make Mexico ideal for foreign investors. However, increasing free trade agreements and congealing ideologies between the Mexico and the U.S. will not have any significant impact on the maquila industry according to Sklair (385) because “the operation of the maquila industry under present conditions is more of less functionally equivalent to a free trade agreement for the U.S.-Mexico border region.” In her evaluation of six criteria of impact on the maquila industry, Sklair takes a rosy view of the future and seldom critiques living or working conditions in overrun border cities plagued by massive immigration from push factors that drive many Mexicans to the borders in search of work, “There is agreement that most workers are glad to have the jobs even though the jobs themselves are far from ideal” (386).
One wonders if Sklair and Kraul are studying the same maquila industry after reading the two. Kraul sees the massive immigration to Mexico’s border cities as increasing already overburdened resources and dilapidated infrastructure. While unemployment is almost non-existent in these cities, Kraul contends that working and living conditions are as deplorable if not worse than those faced by many Ameri...