State + Globalisation

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Which key Liberal thinker was a key proponent of globalisation?

Francis Fukuyama

How did Fukuyama define populism?

A demogogic backlash to globalisation [rise in nationalism and xenophobia]

McWorld - Definition + Detail

Cultural globalisation

Often leads to materialism [Naomi Klein = ‘Commodity Fetishism’] superseding national culture

McWorld - Sociologist + Evidence

Benjamin Barber

Everyone wants to participate in the same global monoculture

2020 = McDonalds had 200k employees; Subway = Over 43k outlets

Key arguments FOR globalisation being Americanisation

US economy is most dominant [25% global GDP] and Washington Consensus and IGOs/NGOs [WB, IMF, WTO] spread values

US has biggest cultural outreach [9/10 popular restaurants 2020]

US LibDemocracy has spread globally [fall of USSR, End of History, etc.]

Key arguments AGAINST globalisation being Americanisation

Positive image of US has declined [Iraq War, Gunatanamo, Trump, 2000-2020 German perceptions of US = 78% → 26% positive]

Cultural globalisation comes from many countries [K-Pop + K-Dramas, Japanese influence, British TV, RT and Al Jazeera for news, etc.]

Chinese BRI threatens US econ hegemony [alongside CETA (Canada + EU)]

Two main criticisms of Materialism

Marcuse - Materialism diminishes humanity and culture and facilitates greed and hatred

Benn - Feelings of alienation can increase tribalism

3 Examples of Identity Politics [as a backlash to globalisation]

UK = Brexit + BoJo 2019

Turkey = Erdogan appealing to Islam in campaign, turning museum into mosque in 2020

US = Trump + MAGA

Evidence FOR Huntington’s Clash of Civilisations

Islamic leader criticising Western values [Erdogan criticising feminism + LGBTQ rights 2020]

Militant Islamic groups gaining power [Al-Qaeda + Boko Haram]

Evidence AGAINST Huntington’s Clash of Civilisations

Many Muslim states with LibDemocracies exist [Indonesia, Senegal, etc.]

Social conservatism has spread across cultures [USA - Roe v Wade]

Edward Said = Islam is not a monolith, cannot generalise 2bn beliefs/values

Hyperglobalisers

Globalisation is a radical shift in global power - diminishing the nation-state [cannot function w/o global econ. framework]

Friedman’s criticism of Hyperglobalisers

Golden Straitjacket

Neo-liberal mould is created that countries must fit into [deregulation, privatisation, less taxes, etc.]

Globalisation Sceptics

Globalisation is just a form of internationalism - organs of the UN are designed to help nations achieve individual aims [Martell 2007]

Anti-globalism is widespread [failure in WTO Doha Round negotiations due to DVing states not giving resources to Global North, Brexit, etc.]

Transformationalists

Sovereign authority of states has been challenged - but overall impact of globalisation has been exaggerated

Globalisation is good, culture can be spread two-ways

The state is not declining overall, adapting instead [joining regional IGOs, economic orgs]

State authority may be enhanced [China’s power increasing, Russina nationalism on RT, COVID leading to more authoritarian and centralised states]

Ways in which the nation state has not been limited via globalisation?

States decide extent of involvement in Liberal orgs. [P5, Paris Agreement, ICJ/ICC]

Liberal human rights have not fully spread [1993 Bangkok Declaration, Russian Orthodoxy, etc.]

States increasingly acting unilaterally [Iraq war, Russia Crimea annexation 2014, South China Sea]

Examples of POLITICAL Globalisation and Americanisation

US global influence has declined since Iraq War, Guantanamo Bay, and Trump

US has most troops deployed in world [130k]

Examples of CULTURAL Globalisation and Americanisation

The internet has promoted spread of ideas and culture internationally on the same level of USA

20% of the world’s population buys a Coca-Cola product every day

Examples of ECONOMIC Globalisation and Americanisation

China is biggest global investor - Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

US is world’s most dominant economy - 25% share of GDP, Washington Consensus spreads US neo-lib principles

Three ways in which globalisation has aided poverty

Poverty has decreased [36% of population to 9.2% (1980-2019)]

DVing nations can break into global markets now [China = $2.5trn exports in 2019; EU/Vietnam trade agreement 2020]

Reduced price in goods [Freedom 251 smartphone = $3.40]

Three ways in which globalisation has entrenched poverty

Wallerstein + World Systems Theory [Neo-colonialism + Ha-Joon Chnag: DVing nations should only do globalisation when DVed]

Wealth may increase, but inequality is rampant [USA Gini coefficient 0.43 → 0.48 from 1990 to 2020; India in 2019 = 1% of nation owning 21% of wealth]

Democratic Deficit [2010 = IMF austerity in Greece] and social cohesion declining [Beng-Huat Chua]

Three succinct arguments FOR globalisation solving poverty

DVing nations train their workforce to attract foreign investment

North/South convergence leads to reduced cost of imports

Overall decrease in poverty stats

Three succinct arguments for globalisation NOT solving poverty

Job security has decreased, corporations go for cheapest labour/cost

Dumping of cheap manufactured products on DVing nations leads to trapping in low levels of development

Investment only occurs by limiting workers rights

Examples of globalisation protecting human rights

2020 = ECtHR demanded Turkey release rival to Erdogan from prison

2020 = Beizaras + Levickas v Lithuania, ECtHR protected gays via freedom from discrimination

2016 = ICC convicting Ahmad al-Mahdi

Examples of globalisation NOT protecting human rights

2016 + 2019 = Russia + Philippines withdraw from ICC

Russia, China, USA, do not accept jurisdiction of ICC

2020 = UK derogated from ECtHR regarding killings in NI

Three succinct arguments FOR globalisation protecting human rights

More connectivity = More transparency and accountability

ICC = More robust protection

NGOs like Amnesty = Global records kept

Three succinct arguments AGAINST globalisation protecting human rights

Economic globalisation can lead to exploitation of workers

Nations states often act unilaterally and invoke national legislation

Multipolar world can disregard primarily Western HR protection

Example of North/South Convergence

Ghana having 8.3% growth due to investment

Xi Jinping and the UK

Visit in 2015 generating $40bn in trade

African nations and their resources

Botswana + Diamonds

Ethiopia + Coffee

Ghana + Gold

Examples of global wealth inequality

Half of all global wealth is in 1% of population in 2015

Example of tax issues due to globalisation

Tax havens like Cayman islands used to avoid regulations

Infrastructure can be weakened in DVing nations due to low taxation [often imposed by Washington Consensus]

Rana Plaza

2013 - Unsafe working practices led to building collapse in Bangladesh, killing over 1k

What percentage of states were liberal democracies in 2003?

63%