What is the realation between politics and globalization? - Jin Youri (진유리)

1. Introduction

When people think about the relationship between politics and globalization, they often assume that globalization weakens the political power of the nation-state. However, this is not entirely true. Rather, globalization has expanded the scope of politics. Political activity is no longer confined to the stage of a single nation-state but has extended to the global level. International organizations, civil society, and global norms are examples of this transformation.

2. How Does Globalization Transform Political Power?

Traditionally, political power referred to the state’s exclusive authority to enforce laws and policies within its own territory. Within this limited space, it was relatively easy for the state to control people and exercise power. However, globalization has changed this situation. Politics no longer remains within national borders, and states must now pay attention to forces beyond their territory.

In particular, global media and the public opinion formed through it can no longer be ignored. In addition, the involvement of international organizations makes it difficult for states to maintain the same level of monopolized power as before. As a result, the nature of political power has changed. While political power in the past was based on commands, laws, and military force, political power in the era of globalization emphasizes negotiation, coordination, and influence within global networks. In other words, what matters is no longer how much one can control others, but how well one is connected to the world and able to persuade others.

3. Challenges of Political Globalization

At first glance, globalization may appear to promote political neutrality and democracy, but this is not entirely the case. Individuals within a single country cannot directly elect the leaders of international organizations, and their democratic influence over the formation of global norms is extremely limited. As the political sphere expands, individual influence can actually become weaker.

Furthermore, globalization tends to amplify power imbalances between states. Powerful countries exert greater influence, while weaker countries have relatively less say in global decision-making processes. This creates the risk of widening inequalities based on differences in national power. In addition, as the number of political actors increases, responsibility often becomes fragmented, making accountability more difficult to establish.

4. Future of Global Politics

To address these challenges, several tasks must be undertaken. Although not perfect, a realistic approach is to expand the voices of weaker countries and increase the participation of civil society and experts in global decision-making processes. At the same time, states should act as responsible representatives of their citizens in global governance and be held accountable for their decisions.

Another issue is that global problems often feel distant to ordinary citizens compared to domestic issues. Therefore, it is important to promote education and media coverage that address global issues from an early age, helping people better understand and engage with global political challenges.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, globalization has not weakened political power but has transformed the way it operates. Politics is no longer conducted solely within the boundaries of the nation-state but increasingly through interactions with global civil society and international actors. While this process has raised concerns about democracy and accountability, these are challenges that future citizens must work to resolve.


 *This article was written entirely by me, and GPT was used solely to improve the naturalness of the translation.

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