A fascinating and complex topic." "Life is more fantastic than even some visionaries care to believe." "In reality 1992 will not herald a set of dramatic overnight changes."
Abstract. This article provides a synthesis of the three articles on boundary shifting brought about by the European Economic Community and the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement. It is pointed out that, due to the rapid and dramatic societal changes around the world, much of the discussion in the issue is and must be speculative. The changes being effected through the Common Market and Free Trade Agreements were anticipated and planned, while more recent changes such as the crumbling of the Berlin Wall and political shifts in Eastern and Central Europe were more abrupt and unplanned.
The article discusses perceived commonalities and differences in the changes which are occurring in these Western countries, advantages and disadvantages of the shifting boundaries for individuals and societies, and problems and progress in implementing the proposed changes. The author provides a summary of the implications for counseling and guidance and particularly for educational-vocational guidance and the role of the counselor in the new configurations. Among issues highlighted are effects on educational-occupational mobility, coordinated policies for worker recruitment, need for new data-gathering and delivery systems for educational-occupational information, recognition of professional standards, language problems, and improved counseling and guidance services. Finally, questions and gaps related to the new economic arrangements and to guidance and counseling are noted, including attention to the effects of the changes on 1) the role and status of women, 2) effects on racial and ethnic minorities within each culture, and 3) the pace and scope of change.