What is the relation between politics and globalization? - Jeong jiyoon

1) Summary

  Today's globalization is driven by many international policies and agreements. While globalization historically manifested as military expansion and conquest through war, today it centers on international cooperation through diplomacy, treaties, and the activities of global organizations. Given this shift, the influence of international organizations is expected to grow even further. Therefore, we must identify the limitations these bodies face and critically examine whether they can operate democratically for the benefit of all nations. International organizations certainly offer positive aspects, such as boosting world trade, supporting economic development, and helping reduce poverty. However, they also face criticism for democratic deficits like the lack of direct citizen participation or control, and for being primarily run by powerful nations.

2) What I learned

   First, I realized that even the most representative international organization, the United Nations (UN), is not perfect. The veto power held by its permanent members is a major factor preventing the UN from making effective decisions on crucial issues like war or human rights violations. Furthermore, the structure where decisions are made solely by national representatives, without input from ordinary citizens, struck me as somewhat undemocratic. While it remains unclear whether continuous, meaningful reform will be actively pursued, I confirmed that there are numerous areas needing improvement.

   Second, I became newly aware of the sheer variety of international organizations. Since I hadn't paid much attention to global issues before, I wasn't aware of just how many such bodies operate to aid in the governance of both South Korea and the world. What I found particularly interesting was the heavy concentration of these organizations in Europe, especially in Geneva, Switzerland. Research revealed that Switzerland has maintained its neutral status for over 200 years and remained relatively safe during major conflicts like World War I and World War II, making it a preferred location for international cooperation. I am particularly interested in the establishment of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva, which helped Switzerland build its global reputation as a symbol of humanitarianism and peace, thereby contributing to the current accumulation of international organizations there.

3) Concerns and Questions for Discussion

While exploring possible improvements to the UN, a fundamental question arose: Is equality truly upheld within international organizations? I question whether the interests of all member states are fairly reflected in the policy-making processes of institutions like the IMF, the World Bank, and the WTO. Although these organizations claim to be open to all members, I doubt whether the voices of developing countries are sufficiently represented or if the voting power of developed nations is disproportionately stronger. I'd like to hear from others what they think about this.

Comments

  1. LEEKIHOON 이기훈December 13, 2025 at 11:05 AM

    It was interesting that you gave me the details of the history of the Red Cross and Geneva, and the last question about equality and the developing world seemed like a good place to start the discussion at the heart of this article. Thank you

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