Political Globalization

The Nation-State
• “Sovereign authority in a specified territory,
with the right to use force both to maintain
internal order and defendits territory
against aggression. Sovreignty, in turn
implies that the state is the ultimate
authority in its territory, exercising legal
jurisdiction over its citizens and the groups
and organizations they form in the conduct
of daily life.” (Lechner & Boli, p. 219)
 Political Globalization?
• Almost all of the world is organized by a
single type of unit: the nation-state.
• Decolonization in the 20th century: 130
colonies became independent nation-
states.
• State sovereignty a central part of global
society (and the sovereign state is the
most desirable way to structure political
life.
• Similarities in the goals, structures,
programs and internal operations.
• For example…what do most nation-
states have in common in terms of
structuring and organizing societies…?
 What do NS have in Common?
1. Education, Heath Care, Economy & Finance,
Welfare, Retirement, Environment, Poverty,
Unemployment, Foreign Policy, Military &
Defense.
(Others? Arts & Culture? Language?)
2. Bureaucracy to take care of all of these things.
3. Formalized structures (legal and
governmental) to ensure democratic
participation.
• So, the basic model is in place, and global
in nature. But, exactly how this model is
implemented can differ quite broadly from
country to country.
• Examples…?
 More Aspects of Political
Globalization
• The emergence of intergovernmental
organizations (IGOs).
• E.g. UN (UNESCO, WHO), World Trade
Organization (WTO), International
Monetary Fund (IMF), International
Telecommunications Union (ITU)
 Decline of the Nation-State
• The rise of the Transnational Corporation (TNC)
• Corporate power over state power
• Where do national interests end and state
interests begin. (In whose interests was/is the
Occupation of Iraq? Who benefits?)
• Religious & ethnic divisions within nation-states
(Kurds in Turkey; Chechens in Russia; Uighurs
in China; French-Canadians in Canada/Quebec)
Death of the NS: Exaggerated?
• States are larger than ever, and more
organized and efficient
• Tax revenues are up
• Effective in national health care,
transportation, welfare, education, postal
services.
• Other areas where the nation-state
continues to hold great power?
• Military power
• Police
• Prisons
• Legal system/Legislation (trade,
international agreements, taxation,
immigration, border control)
• Others?
• Media….
 Media & The Nation-State
• How do nation-states continue to exercise power in
relation to issues of media?
• Public Service Broadcasting
• Content regulation (sex, violence, origin, language)
• Market Regulation (e.g. ownership)
• Advertising (e.g. amount per hour)
• Infrastructure (“universal service” rules)
• Free speech laws, libel
 How are Nation-States “losing”
control over media?
• Privatization of media
• Profit motive more power than political or
social factors
• Media companies are themselves
becoming political actors, thus influencing
policy and politics (from the obvious like
Berlusconi, to the less obvious)
• Infrastructure responsibility of the private
sector (service not always “universal”)
• Cost of Research & Development means
that states “need” large corporations in
order to keep ahead, which gives these
corporations a great deal of power.
• Many media no longer bound to nation-
state in production and distribution (like
national newspapers or TV), so national
laws no longer apply (e.g. internet, satellite
television), or become extremely difficult to
enforce/control…
• If a German newspaper runs an article on
the internet that violates a law in Peru,
where should the case be heard?
• If a user from Japan illegally uploads
episodes of “Lost” on to YouTube, who is
responsible (YouTube? The User? The
internet host in Japan?)
• If copyright laws in Russia allow for file-
sharing, can I download songs for free
from a Russian site if I am in Sweden?