CHRISTINE JOY MIGUEL TABLADA

BS PSYCHOLOGY

COMMANDING HEIGHTS EPISODE TWO - THE AGONY OF REFORM

( A Reaction Paper)

The Agony of Reform of Commanding Heights tells about the economy of the different
part of the world starting in the year 1960's up to the 20th century. It talks on how economist
search for plans, strategies and different form of techniques on how to make build progress with
their country economic conditions worldwide. The Union of Soviet Social Republics or USSR,
whom comprises of countries such Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and
Uzbekistan, whom wanted to extend their influence globally in Eastern Europe, Africa, and
South America and in Asia. During 1945s when the cold war approach the United States and
USSR, where they had conflict over ideological differences carried by short methods of
sustained overt military action and usually without breaking their diplomatic relations, this
foster to build economic foundation.
They search and observe different countries that have unique form of technique in
creating functional economic foundation such in India, where they promoted self-sufficiency
and resulted to overprotected, over administered and over planned while USSR had used
central planning where it increases cost of living, also they encourage people to do red tape and
bureaucracies which is illegal and pushes people to commit bribery. Then Latin America
introduce dependency theory which by doing this the technology and innovation where unable
to reach. Also they introduce wages and price controls that result to dropping of economy.
While Chile come up with the idea of free markets this give chileans a title as the fastest
growing economy in Latin America but despite of this the inflation, high number of
unemployment, economic disparity between poor and rich and government budget are being
short, can considered the negative effects of free markets.
In the documentary, many famous personality have been contribute in economy, such
as Margaret Thatcher and Mikhai Gorbachev who was known as rivals. On the otherhand Lech
Walesa, introduce Marshall Law, where in encourage workers to build union. Also Jeffrey Sachs,
come up with the idea of Shock therapy that will end dependency theory this aim to destroy
inflation especially in Bolivia, during that time. It is also noticeable the reason why the episode
two entitled the "agony of reform", which indicate that in this chapter it will be shown on how
this economist come up with their different ideas regarding implementing new rules in society
and balancing and keeping good condition of their economy with the proposed rules. Those
ideas causes trouble with their mind whether it will work or not, also understanding if the ideas
will last long or not or maybe it will add further problem with their economy.
The documentary taught the people today on how our economy evolve from time to
time, also people may realize that it is truly difficult to manage a country with many people
who have great number of needs. But despite of creating well established economical
foundation the economist should always have concerns with the peoples, they should not
encourage work force to the point that their people are dying just to work. Also people who are
incharge in ruling a country should be responsible, wise and good in decision making because all
the laws and rules that they will implement by them will causes a huge impact to their
countrymen. It is also observable that even before many different countries are competing in
being the most industrialized, modern and fast growing country when it comes to economy. It
seems that it become a cycle of world history that even today many leaders still looking on how
to surpass well known country with good economic foundation.
The concept of the documentary is political philosophy based on belief in progress,
the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for
the protection of political and civil liberties also known as liberalism. Through this economist
and the political persons searching for progress in their economy. The documentary show to
opposing ideas in economics such as government with full control over economy known as
capitalism which may lead to progress, on the otherhand some economist believe that if the
goverment take control over the economy, people would lose freedom that may cause fall
down. The freemarket promote people of the country should have control over economy but
somehow this may lead to greater crisis because person who have much power and money will
take control over the economy and the government will disfunction as a ruling institution.
 Moreover the documentaries educate people on how the government and its
countrymen will help on another so that good economic foundation may appear. After watching
the documentary, some realization rises such us as a citizen, they should follow government
rules but citizen should be wise in following rules, they should understand the reason and
purpose of having that kind of rules. And the government should not take advantages on being
appointed in their position, they should understand that committing corruption, red tape,
bribery and other illegal doing will not make our economy grow and progress. The government
and its people should have mutualism and a good chemistry so that progress in economy will be
truly achieve.