Globalisation and the State

• define the term 'Nation State'.

  a region with political sovereignty legally, a permanent population united by hared citizenship and heritage/history
• When was the treaty of Westphalia?

  what did it do?

  1648, at the end of the Thirty Years War in Europe

  defined the nation state as the main actor in global politics independent from outside interference
• how is the Westphalian Treaty influencing the world today?

  a state's borders should be respected and internal affairs carried out interruption-free
• when was the Montevideo Convention?

  1933
• What did the Montevideo Convention lay out as the criteria for a State?

  A Government able to use authority over both territory and population

  Population defined by citizenship and nationality

  Clearly defined external borders

  Ability to create diplomatic relations
• What is sovereignty?

  the unlimited authority of a state over its population and territory
• What is internal sovereignty?

  Authority within borders
• What is external sovereignty?


  All states must acknowledge each other's sovereignty
• elaborate on clearly defined external borders


  recognised through treaties and law (international)
• elaborate on a government with authority


  the creation and following of laws is accepted by populations
• elaborate on population defined by citizenship and nationality.

  A census carried out every number of years to understand the volume and makeup of the states population
• elaborate on the states ability to foster diplomatic relations with others

  they are recognised by other nation states as legitimate if they are able to make relationships with other states
• What is the Realist opinion of the importance of a state's sovereignty?

  must be respected for the maintenance of peace and staility
• What is the Liberal opinion of the importance of a state's sovereignty?

  not the most important; should be willingly sacrificed for for the sake of shared global decision making
• is state sovereignty an outdated concept? YES


  state's authority is challenged by violent non-state actors eg Taliban in Afghanistan

  Borders are becoming less of an issue in terms of trade and freedom of movement
• is state sovereignty an outdated concept? NO

  states choose to enter diplomatic relationships and can easily withdraw eg USA and Paris, UK and Brexit

  aggressive non-state actors rarely successfully take over and challenge,

  borders are still clearly defined and Govs have most authority
• define a non-state actor

  a player with influence in international politics

  they are not nation states

  eg IGO UN or NGO Amnesty
• what is the purpose of IGO

  to bring states together for general purpose or for a specific cause
• define a Regional Organisation

  they are an IGO but members from a specific region

  European countries in the EU
• define multinational corporations

  they are companies that operate within numerous companies

  they often have significant influence eg economically
• define NGO

  a non-governmental organisation

  can be charities eg Oxfam, Amnesty Int., save the children

  can be global foundations eg Clinton foundation, gates foundation
• what are the 4 main examples of non-state actors

  Intergovernmental Organisations (IGO)

  Regional Organisations

  Multinational Corps. (MNC)

  Non-governmental Organisations (NGO)
• How are IGO influential

  they bring together nation states and provide a platform for resolving dilemmas and maintain order/peace
• How are regional Organisations influential?

  they create a basis for local countries to link and create a platform to resolve dilemmas and collective challenge

  EU is more influential

  ASEAN and the AU are less influential and challenging to a state's authority
• How are MNC influential?


  they hold a presence in numerous counties and they have a significant economic presence. they also can drive cultural globalisation

  eg Apple, Samsung, Amazon, McDonalds, Chanel, Dior.
• How are NGO influential?

  They can have mass support and have a specific objective

  They can apple pressure to governments around the world and are independent of state influence and authority
• define globalisation

  The process through which states become more connected, economically, politically, and culturally
• define political globalisation

  shift from sole national to global politics

  IGO are born from this as they join to solve shared problems
• What drives political globalisation?

  shared dilemmas

  cooperation
• give an example of a drive for political globalisation

  climate change

  human rights protection

  preventing war
• define economic globalisation

  increased connectivity of economies in the world
• what causes economic globalisation?

  advances in technology and the ease of international trade
• what is the effect of economic globalisation


  states become dependent on each other

  weaker states depend on economically better of ones
• an example of economic globalisation

  EU and its single currency and single market

  ASEAN/USMCA an reduced trade barriers

  WTO, IMF
• define cultural globalisation

  greater interconnectedness between cultures and homogenisation of cultures, with barriers and distinctions reduced/removed
• what drives cultural globalisation?

  consumerism

  big brands such as Nike, Apple, McDonalds and Disney

  American culture is adopted

  internet - social media

  ease of migration
• state sovereignty IS being challenged by globalisation:

  migration and international travel is popular so borders are more porous

  IGO and NGO influence is increasing as shared dilemmas need cooperation

  UN Responsibility to protect said that state sovereignty is only viable as long as citizens are correctly protected
• state sovereignty IS NOT being challenged by globalisation:


  states are sovereign

  migration is more difficult as some are seeking to limit it

  nations can limit trade to a country eg China and US

  censorship eg Russia and China leads to nationalism and state support

  there is low regard for the UN Responsibility to protect and sovereignty remains
• discuss Glendora and its MNC power

  Swiss-based mining company

  corruption in DRC for example

  hefty fines of $1.6Billion

  shows how large companies can manipulate smaller weaker states

  afford the fines - $200 Billion annually (it makes)
• Discuss Huawei Technologies.

  a Chinese brand

  European countries and the USA

  privacy concerns so removed from UK by 2027

  shows influence states can have - more powerful ones