What is the relation between politics and globalization?-QIU WEIQI

  1. Summary 

Political globalization isn’t simply the world becoming one big happy family as many imagine. It is more like a complex power struggle involving three distinct forces: geopolitics between nations, shared global values (normative culture), and various transnational networks.

In this process, the nation-state hasn’t disappeared; it is transforming. The state remains the core of politics, especially when it comes to maintaining democratic systems and legitimacy—it is irreplaceable. However, state sovereignty is indeed being "squeezed" from three sides:

  1. The old game of power struggles between major powers continues (Geopolitics);

  2. The whole world is emphasizing human rights and environmental protection, meaning states can no longer just do whatever they want (Global Norms);

  3. Non-state actors, such as NGOs and multinational organizations, are becoming increasingly assertive (Polycentric Networks).

Therefore, political globalization isn't leading us toward a single "World Government." Instead, it is forming a decentralized, multi-layered web of governance. Within this web, there is both cooperation and conflict, connection and fragmentation.

  1. Interesting Discoveries 

Politics is moving from the halls of power to the streets (Civil Socialization): Politics is no longer confined to government buildings; it is increasingly happening in the "civil society" space between the state and the market. Whether it’s anti-sweatshop movements or global forums, political identity is shifting from simply "I am a citizen of X country" to "I am a world citizen."

The State and the Nation are "breaking up" (Decoupling): We used to think of the "Nation" and the "State" as a single unit. But under globalization, state functions are going international (like joining the EU), while the people's sense of national identity is actually turning inward—often becoming defensive or exclusionary due to insecurity. It’s a case of "the state reaching out, while the nation pulls back."

Borders haven’t vanished; they’ve shapeshifted (Reconfiguration): Globalization didn’t create a borderless world. Borders still exist, but their form has changed. They are no longer just lines on a map; they now exist in digital networks, within identities, and across social classes. They have become new tools of control rather than simply disappearing.

  1. Question/Discussion Angle 

The "Double-Edged Sword" of Global Civil Society: We pin our hopes on global civil society to promote democracy, but who supervises these transnational groups? Who do they represent? Furthermore, terrorists and criminal rings utilize these exact same global networks to cause harm. This is the "dark side" of civil society.

Will world culture become monotonous? When we promote "global norms" like human rights and environmentalism, are we truly pushing universal values, or just imposing Western ones? It is a valid question. Perhaps different cultures will adapt these rules to evolve their own versions of modernity, rather than everyone becoming the same.

Do we have more autonomy, or less? On the surface, globalization gives us the right to cross borders and connect. But in reality, significant political power has shifted to international organizations or multinational corporations that don't require votes. This leads to an awkward paradox: individuals seem freer, yet their influence on major decisions has actually shrunk. This tension between "autonomy" and "powerlessness" is the central dilemma of our time.

Political globalization is not a one-way street toward unity. It is a continuous tug-of-war between geopolitics, universal rules, and networked society. It offers us new opportunities to participate in the world, but it also plunges our sovereignty, identity, and sense of boundaries into crisis. To understand it, we cannot simply pit "the State" against "the Globe"; we must look closely at the complex interactions happening between them.

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