What is the relation between politics and globalization?

 Summary

The relationship between politics and globalization is best understood as a process of continuous negotiation between national governments, international institutions, and transnational actors. While globalization accelerates flows of capital, technology, information, and people across borders, states still remain the primary entities that define the legal, economic, and social frameworks in which global interactions take place. Globalization does not eliminate political power; it transforms and redistributes it. In areas such as digital governance, environmental regulation, and global supply chains, states increasingly rely on multilateral cooperation to address challenges beyond their individual capacity. At the same time, global interdependence introduces new vulnerabilities: economic crises, pandemics, and geopolitical conflicts all reveal how political decisions continue to shape the direction and risks of globalization. Rather than moving toward a single unified global order, the world is evolving into a fragmented landscape where national interests, regional blocs, and international institutions interact in simultaneously cooperative and competitive ways.

What is particularly interesting today is that globalization is no longer synonymous with uniform openness. Instead, states are selectively integrating into the global system while also building new forms of political and economic boundaries. The digital era has made data a strategic resource, pushing countries to establish digital borders even as they embrace global connectivity. Environmental challenges highlight that economic interdependence alone cannot ensure sustainability without strong political will. Regionalism — seen in formations like the EU, ASEAN, and USMCA — demonstrates that globalization often advances through regional groupings rather than a universal structure. These developments show that states are not losing power; they are renegotiating the terms of their participation in the global order based on strategic priorities.

This evolving dynamic raises several important questions about the future. How should states balance the benefits of openness with the risks of overdependence on global supply chains? Who has the legitimacy and capacity to set the rules for the digital global economy, when existing institutions like the WTO were created for an earlier era of trade? Can global governance remain effective when major powers diverge sharply on political values, leading to competing standards in areas such as cybersecurity, human rights, and environmental commitments? And as more decisions are shaped by international organizations or transnational corporations, how can democratic accountability be maintained for citizens who are increasingly affected by institutions they cannot directly influence?

These questions show that globalization is fundamentally a political process, shaped not only by economic forces but by the choices states and societies make in responding to changing global realities. The future of globalization will depend on how effectively global rules, national interests, and societal expectations can be aligned — a challenge both complex and essential for the coming decades.

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