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Globalization

Fall 2011

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Political Dimension of Globalization

Definition – intensification and expansion of political interrelations across the globe

Historical division of societies into “us” and “them”

Allowed for formation of nation-states and provided psychological underpinnings of military development

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Political Dimension of Globalization

Hyperglobalizers argue contemporary period has seen significant deterritorialization of politics, rule, and government

Globalization skeptics argue the nation-state is still relevant and forms the basis for the new territorial political structure – the regional block

Examples: EU, AU, ECOWAS

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Political Dimension of Globalization

Three fundamental questions regarding political globalization:

Has the power of the nation-state been reduced by the flow of money, people, and technology across borders?

Is the primary cause for these flows political or economic?

Can we see the rise of global government?

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The Modern Nation-State System –

Peace of Westphalia In 1648 formed the basis for the modern nation-state

Formulated principles of sovereignty and territoriality

Resulted in model of self-contained, impersonal states

Different from medieval model of local rule subject to imperial authority

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The Modern Nation-State System –

Peace of Westphalia

New conception of international law under which all states had equal right to self-determination

One fundamental point significantly altered in the 1990s

Principle that cross-border wrongful acts were a “private matter” concerning only those affected

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The Modern Nation-State System

Ensuing centuries resulted in

Centralization of political power

Expansion of state administration

Development of professional diplomacy

Military means to expand commerce

• Resulted in spread of Westphalian model around the globe

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The Modern Nation-State System

1918 and Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” was an eloquent expression of the modern nation-state system

Led to the formation of the League of Nations and later the United Nations

Membership is based on the nation-state system

Actions and activities of the UN and other intergovernmental organizations actually undermine national sovereignty

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The Modern Nation-State System

1990 – a radical departure from a fundamental Westphalian principle

Cross-border violations were a “private matter” • George HW Bush announced the “new world

order”

• Punished Iraq for invading Kuwait.

Did this action mark the demise of the nation-state?

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The Demise of the Nation-state –

The Hypergloblizers say “Yes” Political globalization is secondary to economic and technological factors

In the future main role of government will be “superconductor for global capitalism”

Globalization inevitably involves the decline of the nation-state as a meaningful actor in political and social change

Replacement with global networks. • As an example, nation-states have lost their dominant

role in the global economy

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The Demise of the Nation-state –

The Globalization skeptics say “No”

Politics plays a central role in the development and implementation of globalization forces

As an example, economic globalization was fuelled by neoliberal political decisions

Political units still important, whether the traditional nation-state or some new form of global unit that may arise

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The Demise of the Nation-state –

says “Maybe” Political decisions create economic interdependencies

Political decisions are influenced by economic conditions

Yes, sovereignty of the nation-state has been reduced and ceded to both local and regional governments as well as to international organizations

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The Demise of the Nation-state –

says “Maybe”

At the same time, nation-states can still take actions that make their countries more or less globalization-friendly

Immigration controls

Increased security measures following 9/11

Summary – nation-state is not dying, but powers are being eroded

Political Globalization and Global

Governance

Most visible form of political globalization is the existence of supraterritorial institutions and associations

Bonded by common norms and interests

Operate at several levels

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Political Globalization and Global

Governance

Municipal/provincial level

Sister city programs

State of Illinois outreach to Cuba

World Association of Major Metropolises

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Political Globalization and Global

Governance

Regional level

EU which started out simply as a plan to regulate French and German coal and steel production

ECOWAS which seeks to create and economic free trade zone and allow travel without passports among member nations

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Political Globalization and Global

Governance

Global level

“Global civil society” populated by voluntary NGOs such as Amnesty International and Greenpeace, Doctors Without Borders

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Political Globalization and Global

Governance

Some feel this type of activity may result in the development of democratic transnational social forces

Also may result in democratic global governance structure

Others argue such goals are unreachable due to cultural infeasibility