What is the relation between politics and globalization?--진사우 CHEN SIYU

 Summary: An Arena of Power and Flow

Globalization has reshaped the rules of the political game—the nation-state is no longer the sole actor on the international stage. Transnational capital, international organizations, and NGOs together form a new network of power. Political power attempts to steer the tide of globalization but often finds itself both the helmsman and the one being pushed by the waves. This relationship is, in essence, a continuous game of balance: between the surrender and assertion of sovereignty, and the trade-offs between national interests and the global common good.


Interesting Point: The Unexpected "Counter-Movement"

The most dialectically fascinating aspect is that while globalization dissolves some political boundaries, it simultaneously triggers strong political backlash. As capital, people, and information flow freely across the globe, crises of local identity have ironically fueled a resurgence of nationalism. Phenomena like Brexit and the rise of trade protectionism in various countries are precisely the "political immune responses" to the overreach of globalization. This paradox reveals that the more globalized we become, the more urgent the search for political identity becomes—the world is not flattening, but rather reconstructing new fault lines.


Discussion: The Predicament and Transformation of Democracy

Globalization is reshaping the very meaning of democratic politics. Traditional democracy operates within relatively closed political communities, yet issues like global supply chains, climate change, and cross-border data flows have long transcended national borders. This has created a "democratic deficit": decision-making power shifts to non-elected international organizations, while the people affected by these decisions lack channels for oversight and participation. Simultaneously, digital technology has enabled the emergence of a global civil society, giving rise to new forms of political participation like transnational advocacy networks. Democracy is evolving from "ballot-box politics" towards a more complex model of "monitory democracy."

Comments

  1. YU JIEDecember 8, 2025 at 1:58 AM

    Democracy today is challenged by the mismatch between nationally based institutions and increasingly transnational issues. This mismatch concentrates decision-making in distant authorities and limits meaningful public influence, weakening democratic accountability. At the same time, digital connectivity is fostering new participatory practices that push democracy toward more continuous, networked forms of oversight.

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