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ФИЛОСОФСКИЕ НАУКИ
EQUALITY OF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CURRENT INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATION IN VIETNAM Le Thi Vinh1, Phan Thanh Nham2 Email: [email protected]
'Le Thi Vinh - PhD in Philosophy, Lecturer, UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY; 2Phan Thanh Nham - PhD in Philosophy, Lecturer, HANOI ARCHITECTURAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI, HANOI, SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Abstract: international integration is an important development strategy of Vietnam. The integration process has profoundly affected all life and socio-economic aspects. In this article, the authors focus on studying the impacts of international integration on distribution of development opportunities in Vietnam today. The article includes two main contents: Firstly, an overview of the current situation of distribution of development opportunities in Vietnam; Secondly, an analysis on the opportunities and challenges that international integration poses for ensuring equality of development opportunities. The authors assert that equality in access to opportunities is a premise for true social equality. In the current context, being aware and responding well to the impacts of international integration on distribution of development opportunities is an important factor to ensure the sustainable development.
Keywords: international integration, equality, development opportunities, social economic development, Vietnam.
РАВЕНСТВО ВОЗМОЖНОСТЕЙ РАЗВИТИЯ ВО ВЬЕТНАМЕ В КОНТЕКСТЕ СОВРЕМЕННОЙ МЕЖДУНАРОДНОЙ ИНТЕГРАЦИИ Ле Тхи Винь1, Фан Тхань Нхам2
'Ле Тхи Винь - кандидат философских наук, преподаватель, Университет социальных и гуманитарных наук Ханойский государственный университет;
2Фан Тхань Нхам - кандидат философских наук, преподаватель, Ханойский архитектурный университет, Ханой, г. Ханой, Социалистическая Республика Вьетнам
Аннотация: международная интеграция является важной стратегией развития Вьетнама. Процесс интеграции глубоко затронул все жизненные и социально-экономические аспекты. В этой статье авторы фокусируются на изучении влияния международной интеграции на распределение возможностей развития во Вьетнаме сегодня. Статья включает в себя два основных содержания: во-первых, обзор текущей ситуации распределения возможностей развития во Вьетнаме; во-вторых, анализ возможностей и проблем, которые ставит международная интеграция для обеспечения равенства возможностей развития. Авторы утверждают, что равенство в доступе к возможностям является предпосылкой для подлинного социального равенства. В нынешних условиях понимание и хорошая реакция на влияние международной интеграции на распределение возможностей развития является важным фактором обеспечения устойчивого развития.
Ключевые слова: международная интеграция, равенство, возможности развития, социально-экономическое развитие, Вьетнам.
УДК 323.38
DOI'0.244''/2304-2338-2020-10403
1. Introduction
International integration is an inevitable trend nowadays. Since the renovation, especially since the late 90s of the twentieth century, Vietnam has advocated to promote the integration, not only in the field of economy but also in other fields. The international integration process has a strong impact on all aspects of socio-economic life. In this article, by analyzing and synthesizing related documents and data, from the perspective of philosophical approach, we focus on analyzing the issue of equality of
development opportunities in Vietnam in the integration context. The equality of development opportunities is considered a premise to ensure the true social equality, so the study clarifies opportunities, especially the challenges that international integration poses to the implementation of equality of development opportunities in Vietnam today.
2. Some general issues
First of all, it is necessary to determine the inner meaning of "equality of development opportunities". Equality refers to the equal relationship among people. "The concept of equality of opportunity usually also includes a reference to ability and effort. Equal opportunity exists when people of similar ability (broadly understood) have equal chances of success regardless of their family's social and economic circumstances" [10, p. 368-369]. Accordingly, the concept of "equality of development opportunities" used in this article is understood in the meaning of: All subjects are equal in access to development opportunities. The subjects may be an individual, organization, industry or region of Vietnam in an integrated economy. "Development opportunities" cover many aspects, but this study only addresses opportunities to access economic resources and opportunities to enjoy development results and opportunities to contribute.
Secondly, it is about international integration. At present, there are many different definitions of the concept of "integration" in the world. In Vietnam, the term "integration" is commonly understood as "international economic integration." In this study, international integration is the link between countries and territories in the world, not only in the field of economics but also in all fields of social life.
With the motto "wanting to be friends with all countries in the world community and striving for peace, independence and development" [1, p. 516], Vietnam has actively participated in the integration process through many bilateral and multilateral cooperation with countries and territories around the world; acceded to and signed many free trade agreements (FTAs). In particular, joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) on January 11, 2007 was a big milestone that created many profound socio-economic changes. On February 4, 2016, Vietnam officially signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement. Joining TPP was considered to be the biggest event for Vietnam since Vietnam and the US normalized relations in 1995, etc. It can be said that every step in the process of deeper and deeper international integration has created many opportunities and challenges for the country's development. This study only addresses international integration as a factor that affects equality of development opportunities in Vietnam, so the terms of specific agreements or events will not be analyzed in detail.
3. Issue of equality of development opportunities in Vietnam in the context of international integration today
3.1. Equal opportunity to access economic development resources
Up to now, researchers in Vietnam have a relatively uniform understanding of resources for economic development. Economic development resources are the aggregate of natural resources, national assets, human resources and intangible and exploitable factors in order to accelerate the process of socio-economic development [12, p. 10; 8, p.9]. Thus, resources for economic development are plentiful, originating from both inside and outside the country, including: labor resources, capital resources, science and technology resources, natural resources, etc. Regarding the research topic, this article only addresses the opportunity to access some resources affected by the international integration process.
The relationship of distribution of opportunities to access economic development resources in Vietnam has made many positive changes since the Renovation until now thanks to the participation of the State and the market. Before the Renovation, because the State was the sole entity to allocate production resources, the opportunity to equal access for non-State entities was limited. Since 1986, with the policy of developing a multi-sector commodity economy, a variety of economic entities have been formed and actively contributed to the socio-economic development.
The international integration process has created favorable conditions and opportunities for entities to have access to economic development resources. Firstly, when joining WTO and free trade agreements, Vietnam has better conditions to access foreign capital, through forms such as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Indirect Investment (FII) and Official Development Assistance (ODA), commercial loans from foreign banks or from international financial markets, non-refundable aid from non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Secondly, the international integration creates conditions for Vietnam to absorb modern scientific and technological achievements. Although there has not been a scientific and technological revolution in Vietnam and there is no knowledge economy yet, Vietnam is not outside the common movement trajectory of the world in this current age. Thanks to the international integration process, Vietnam has the opportunity to cooperate, exchange and transfer technologies with developed countries in the world. Thirdly, through the international
cooperation, Vietnam attracts a large number of foreign workers with high skills and good management skills. Since then, Vietnamese workers have conditions to learn, absorb and improve their qualifications and skills. At the same time, a large number of Vietnamese laborers who go to work abroad also have the opportunity to be trained in developed labor markets around the world.
In addition, the integration process also poses challenges to the issue of equality of opportunities to access resources in Vietnam today. If only based on the principle of economic efficiency, places with favorable conditions to help generate profitability quickly will have great investment attraction. Accordingly, resources will be concentrated in regions with good development opportunities. The data on foreign investment attraction in Vietnam in recent years show a clear division between domestic regions: from one side as key economic regions (such as Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh economic growth triangle, Ho Chi Minh City - Binh Duong - Dong Nai - Ba Ria - Vung Tau economic quadrangle) with one side as the underdeveloped economic regions such as the Northern Mountains and Central Highlands. If the differentiation is greater, it will lead to imbalance, even polarization among regions, potentially leading to economic - political - social instability. This requires the regulation and distribution of resources of the State.
Since 1986, the Party and State of Vietnam have made great efforts in distributing development resources. To create fairness and stability, the State shall regulate and distribute resources in the direction of limiting the vast disparities in development level among industries, occupations, fields and regions nationwide. In particular, to create equality of opportunities to access capital resources, the State has introduced policies to encourage investment, regulate budget allocation for disadvantaged regions, and spend ODA capital for investment in developing transport infrastructure in artery regions. Thanks to the developed infrastructure, localities will be able to attract more outside development resources.
Even so, just as Klein and Bita Hadjimichael wrote in a World Bank's study, The Private Sector in Development: "productivity growth and, hence, the way out of poverty is not simply a matter of throwing resources at the problem. More important, it is a matter of using resources well." [6, p. 18]. Therefore, in order for each economic entity in the market economy to attract, especially be able to use resources effectively, each entity must improve its competitiveness and operational efficiency. In addition to factors related to institutional environment and luck, the effort of the subject itself is the decisive factor. In the context of strong international integration today, especially in the trend of moving to the knowledge economy, those who hold many knowledges will have many opportunities for development. This raises the need to ensure equality of opportunity for good education, which we will discuss shortly hereunder.
3.2. Equality of opportunity to enjoy development results
In this section, we address the issue of ensuring equality for all in access to education, health, and public services (such as electricity, clean water, public transport, information and telecommunications, etc.) and creative achievements of the mankind. This is a field that clearly demonstrates the role of the State in ensuring equality of development opportunities. Since 1986 up to now, thanks to the achievements in the economic development, the State has been able to better perform the distribution of opportunities to enjoy development results, especially for vulnerable groups in the society.
The international integration also brings favorable conditions to better meet the needs of the people. Firstly, through the international cooperation, Vietnam attracts a lot of foreign capital to invest in infrastructure development, support the budget to implement community development projects, such as bringing electricity to mountainous villages, national clean water program, etc. Secondly, investment in education and health care in remote and disadvantaged regions is more concerned because in addition to the State programs, many non-governmental organizations have joined hands in many practical support programs. Thirdly, through the international cooperation and integration, Vietnamese people have opportunity to access advanced education and high-quality health care and entertainment services with the international school system, international hospitals, shopping centers, luxury resorts, etc.
However, the current problem is that there is a strong differentiation between population groups in the opportunity to enjoy the development results. The urgent requirement is that the State should have support policies, as well as the care of the community, so that all people, especially the disadvantaged groups in the society, are given equal opportunities to access the development results.
In fact, there are newborns who are in difficult conditions, such as in remote regions, poor families, or have disabilities. They find it difficult to get adequate education, regular medical care, and limited access to other public services. In the context of international integration and market mechanisms, access to quality services is increasingly dependent on the affordability. This is the reason leading to the widening gap among the population groups in the society. Inequality in opportunity to enjoy education and health will lead to inequality in outcomes, in other words, income
and consumption inequality. As a result, to ensure the equality of development opportunities for all, the State needs to perform a stronger and more effective regulating role.
In parallel with the expansion of links and cooperation, the process of international economic integration has increased the fierce competition in relations between nations, peoples and individuals. Each economic entity must compete in the global labor market. Therefore, in the trend towards the knowledge economy, the nation's development strategy needs to focus on developing "the right educational system to get more of your people innovating and collaborating on the flat-world platform" [3, p. 408]. The requirement to create opportunities for all to benefit from a good education is now more urgent than ever.
One point to be noted is "Creating equal opportunities for all, however, may lose track of the fact that people often lack capabilities to take advantage of opportunities." [11, p. 4]. In Vietnam, in recent years, there has been investment in expanding the network of schools and health clinics to remote communes. However, many children cannot go to class often due to unfavorable transportation or labor to support their families. The majority of ethnic minorities do not come to health facilities for medical examination and treatment, partly due to habit, but mostly due to their inability to cover expenses. Clearly, result equality and opportunity equality are closely related. It can be said that the requirement to improve people's living standards is a prerequisite for realizing equality of opportunity to enjoy the fruits of development.
Moreover, from 1986 up to now, the State of Vietnam has made great efforts in creating institutions to ensure equal opportunities for individuals in society, such as the prioritized plus points policy in education for State-favored people as children of ethnic minorities, remote areas or families with meritorious services to the revolution, etc. Nonetheless, the policies are sometimes not really effective, for example, the policy of training bachelors in recruitment system to develop the ethnic minority team. These are students who are sent to study by localities, do not have to take entrance exams, be supported with tuition fees and guaranteed with local jobs without having to take civil servant recruitment test. However, in fact, the admission and recruitment to the job positions are the output of the recruitment policy that has not been well addressed. From 2011-2016, there were 4,517 students who graduated, but only 1,633 were accepted and arranged by localities [5, p. 8-9]. It is clear that social incentive policies need to be more strictly implemented, otherwise they will backfire and cause negative effects.
Especially, the modern economy and the process of globalization are posing many problems for equal distribution of opportunities to benefit from development results. One of them is the conflict resolution issue related to intellectual property protection requirements. It is a conflict between the need to use the intellectual product effectively, it must be disseminated quickly and widely at a cheap price (even zero), and on the one side, it must create conditions for the people who have created knowledge to offset research costs and be profitable to motivate them to stay creative. In other words, this is a contradiction between the goal of the whole society to approach and use the new knowledge achievement with the issue of ensuring benefits for creators with the exclusive protection mechanism [7, p. 144-146; 9, p. 30]. Nowadays, under the pressure of international integration, Vietnam has to step up and strictly comply with the provisions on the protection of intellectual property rights under the terms of the International Agreements and Conventions. The exclusive protection provided by the law on intellectual property requires that people who wish to enjoy the fruits of knowledge pay for it, which means that many people will not have the opportunity to access or use because they are unable to perform an economic obligation. However, we cannot deny that the long-term benefits of intellectual property is to increase labor productivity based on creative incentives [9, p. 21]. Therefore, enforcement of intellectual property rights protection is extremely crucial. As a result, it is required that the State needs to perform well the function of ensuring social equality so as to both protect the intellectual property rights of the owners and create a support mechanism so that everyone, especially the disadvantaged people in society, has an opportunity to enjoy the fruits of development.
3.3. Equality of opportunity for dedication
Equitable distribution of opportunities to enjoy developmental achievements can be seen as a necessary and essential premise for people to have equal access to development resources, especially to seize the opportunity for dedication. In terms of equality of opportunity to contribute, we want to mention creating a healthy competitive environment for everyone. In this respect, the distribution of development opportunities is not only directed to the disadvantaged in society but also to opportunities for talented people to be dedicated, recognized and encouraged. In order to do so, it requires the participation of the State with transparent institutions, and also requires the market competition mechanism with the principle of labor efficiency.
In an integrated economy, everyone needs to be provided equal conditions to work, create and devote based on their own capabilities. "Participation in economic growth, for the vast majority of people, means securing work (...). Employment opportunities need to be available for all members of the population" [11, p.16]. Since the Renovation, especially in recent years, with the strategy of developing high-quality human resources, the State has focused on the policy of attracting talents. However, the current recruitment mechanism in Vietnam still faces many negative issues, especially in the administrative and non-business sector. To ensure the equality of opportunity for dedication, the current issue is the need to make transparency in the recruitment of personnel in compliance with the principle of fair competition by capacity.
The international integration process has been creating many job opportunities for Vietnamese people. According to the data reported by enterprises, the total number of Vietnamese employees going to work abroad in January 2020 was 9,414 employees, equaling 100.33% compared to the same period in 2019 [2]. In addition to the large number of workers who go to work abroad every year, the foreign invested sector also attracts a large number of local workers. In 2018, the foreign-invested economic sector employed 5.6% of workers aged 15 and above in Vietnam [4, p. 11].
The international integration contributes to creating favorable conditions for ensuring job opportunities for everyone, but also poses a great challenge of equal opportunity for each individual in the global labor market. In an age of globalization, with the development of technology, the work will be moved to places that can be done most effectively around the world. Therefore, untrained or unskilled laborers will not be competitive and be inevitably excluded from the high-quality labor market and fall into unemployment or poverty due to living only on simple jobs that bring low income. Consequently, creating equal opportunities to access education and training for everyone is an important prerequisite for improving productivity and promoting career opportunities for all citizens to participate in the integrated economy. This is an urgent requirement for Vietnam in the international integration context today. 4. Conclusion
The international integration process has created a lot of advantages, as well as challenges to equality of development opportunities in Vietnam. The equality of opportunity to access economic development resources, equality of opportunity to benefit from development results and equality of opportunity for dedication are aspects of the same issue. Therefore, to ensure equality of development opportunities, there must be comprehensive efforts from the State, the community and each individual. Especially, to be equal in terms of opportunities for truly meaningful development, in addition to the support of the State and the community, each individual must constantly strive to adapt to rapid changes in today's volatile world.
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