the state and globalisation

characteristics of a nation state

defined borders

population defined by citizenship and nationality

government with authority over territory and population

ability to form relationships with other states

how would a realist see national sovereignty

vital to the maintenance of peace and stability

how would a liberal see national sovereignty

less important, more willing to sacrifice some for the sake of shared global interests

IGOs

intergovernmental organisations created to bring states together to solve collective challenges

-the UN

-the WTO

regional organisations

the EU, the African Union, ASEAN

multi national corporations

Amazon, Apple, Microsoft

possess significant economic power and influence

can be drivers of cultural homogenisation

NGOs

institutions independent of state or international governance

can be charities, foundations, or pressure groups

-Save The Children

-Oxfam

-The Gates Foundation

political globalisation

shift away from purely national politics to global politics

international institutions and laws

economic globalisation

international trade and technology advances have led to states becoming more linked economically and more dependent on each other

trade agreements and free trade areas

cultural globalisation

as states have become more interconnected cultures have become less distinct

global spread of American brands

populist nationalist parties attempting to reassert traditional values

ways in which state sovereignty is challenged by globalisation

state borders are becoming more porous due to international travel and migration

states are increasingly affected by cross border issues e.g. covid

international trade agreements encourage the freer movement of goods

UN Responsibility to Protect established that national sovereignty is conditional on states not abusing the human rights of their citizens

ways in which state sovereignty is not being challenged by globalisation

migration is becoming less easy as states seek to limit it

during covid states closed their borders

nation states can decide to restrict access to their markets

the power of MNCs - Glencore

swiss based mining company

found to have $29 million in bribes in five different African countries

demonstrates the influence MNCs can have over smaller states

cultural globalisation has been good

southern Korean k-pop is a global sensation - in 2020 South Korean film Parasite won best picture at the oscars

Bollywood has global appeal

challenges global prejudices by encouraging a global debate on issues such as women’s rights, the first gay pride event were held in New York and LA in 1970, today they happen globally

negatives of cultural globalisation

USA still dominates - top five brands in the world in 2023 were all american

in 2022 the highest grossing films globally were all made in US film studios

nation states can retreat into their own cultural identity rather than embrace a more liberal global culture e.g. Russia’s cultural isolation from the west since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022

factors driving globalisation

global capitalism

technology

migration

shared political challenges

examples of political globalisation

the ICJ

UN tribunals e.g. Rwanda

the ECHR

the ICC

examples of humanitarian intervention

East Timor - following its pro independence referendum from Indonesia, the survival of East Timor was threatened by criminal gangs and pro Indonesian forces, Australian led UN intervention successfully reestablished law and order, East Timor gained independence in 2002

Kosovo - 1999 NATOs 78 day air campaign of strikes forced Serbia to withdraw its forces where they had been accused of ethnic cleansing, NATO led nation rebuilding

globalisation sceptics

globalisation is not new

extent of globalisation is limited

much of politics remains national rather than global

states retain significant control over decisions in global politics

transformationalists

globalisation is a reality, but the state remains a very important actor in global politics

states must adapt to globalisation and can even increase the power of nation states

positive impact of economic globalisation

increase in global trade

36% of the world’s population lived in extreme poverty in 1990, by 2021 this had reduced to 9.2%

how has economic globalisation helped poverty

in 2021 global trade reached a peak of $28.5 trillion

South Korea has experienced rapid economic development due to its participation in the global economy, in 2022 had the 10th biggest GDP in the world of $1.63 trillion

since the 1970s china has lifted 800 million people out of poverty

how has economic globalisation not helped poverty

traps developing states in a state of dependency

World Bank and IMF have been accused of requiring states to introduce free market reforms they may be unsuited to in return for financial support

how has globalisation helped human rights

created international human rights law e.g. UDHR in 1948

international courts set up to hold abusers of human rights accountable e.g. ICC and ECHR

how has globalisation hindered human rights

state sovereignty still enables states to abuse human rights without being punished

humanitarian intervention is inconsistently applied

jurisdiction of ICC is challenged as only 123 states are party to the Rome Statute

how has globalisation helped the environment

the Paris Agreement

the EU has pledged a 55% net reduction of emissions by 2030 and to be carbon neutral by 2050

India and China have made emissions reductions under the Paris Treaty

how has globalisation hindered the environment

economic interests have come at the cost to the depletion of the earth’s resources

the 2015 Paris Treaty allowed states to choose their own emissions targets

nation states are too focused on their own economic wellbeing rather than the good of the environment

the Washington consensus

ten free market economic policies which became the standard reform package for developing countries in crisis from the 1980s onwards

neoliberal ideology

Kantian peace theory

world peace needs democracy, economic interdependence and international organisations

mearsheimer’s theory of offensive realism

states are power maximisers

states can never be certain about the intentions of other states

continual search for more power at the expense of other states

mearsheimer’s view of globalisation

eastward expansion of nato increases possibility of war between Russia and USA

states are power maximisers

ultimate safe position is to be the political hegemon

morgenthau’s view of globalisation

3 patterns in struggle for power among states: to keep power, to increase power, to demonstrate power

waltz’s view of globalisation

establishment of structural or neo realism

International politics is a struggle for power due to its structure

classical realism

power is important in ensuring security

structural realism

structure of the international system is the real concern

cultural globalisation evidence

McDonalds is in over 100 countries

70% of people speak English

spread of music and media globally e.g. Kpop

evidence of political globalisation

almost all countries are part of the UN

regional political organisations e.g. UN and ASEAN

global forums e.g. G7 and G20

decrease in political globalisation

increasing number of trade wars under protectionist policies

global governance organisations are dominated by the USA in terms of voting power, funding, and influence e.g. IMF has 190 members and USA has 13% of the vote

structural adjustment

Mexico and globalisation

the maquiladoras have seen job creation and relative wage growth

over 80% of exports go to the US

US agricultural goods have devastated small scale farming

overall economic growth but has failed to deliver broad, high quality development for its entire population

South Korea and globalisation

member of the WTO to promote trade

heavily relies on exports e.g. electronics - grew from 55 million in 1962 to over 600 billion in 2024

k-pop has been globally popular, massive cultural exports

member of the UN, G20, and OECD

china is its largest trading partner with 25% of its total trade in 2023

china and globalisation

1978-2012 china’s GDP grew approximately 9.8% annually

lifted 800 million people out of poverty between 1981 and 2019

china’s urban population rose from 19% to 65% between 1980 and 2023

Belt and Road initiative