Political Globalization: Characteristics, Consequences, Advantages and Disadvantages

The political globalization It is one of the facets that the globalization phenomenon is offering in recent years. The transfer of competences from national governments to supranational organizations, the attempts to create international justice and the increase of migrations are some of the characteristics of this phenomenon.

Although globalization has an eminently economic nature, it can not be forgotten that politics is behind many decisions. The liberalization of the market or the elimination of tariffs are determined from the areas of political power, although with a great influence of large companies.

The consequences of this process are very different. Faced with the alleged blurring of borders to put an end to nationalisms, numerous movements are appearing that, precisely, seek to return to more national structures.

There is no doubt that political globalization has advantages and disadvantages. Being a phenomenon that is still developing, it is difficult to venture that it will weigh more at the end of the road.

characteristics

Decentralization of power

The first characteristic of political globalization is the creation of supranational organisms that assume part of the power traditionally exercised by national governments. This amounts to a loss of sovereignty on the part of States.

Greater international cooperation

This facet of globalization seeks to increase international cooperation to address issues that a single country would find difficult to solve. A great example is the fight against global warming; any action to develop policies to stop it requires the participation of as many countries as possible.

Likewise, this cooperation is translated into agreements to alleviate hunger in parts of the planet or to try to stop war conflicts.

Search for universal justice

In recent years, several international tribunals have been created to judge particularly serious crimes, such as genocide or the actions of certain dictators. Among these judicial instances are the Criminal Court of The Hague or the one dedicated to the war crimes of the former Yugoslavia.

The fundamental element for this system to work is for states to recognize their authority, and some of these (especially the great powers) are not willing to lose sovereignty.

Avoid conflicts

The organisms that emerged from this globalizing aspect have tried to avoid war conflicts around the world. From the European Union to several UN agencies have that mission, although its success has been quite limited to date.

Free trade

Although this characteristic enters fully into the economic field, it was governments that began to implement it worldwide. In this way, trade agreements between several countries have been constant in recent times.

The fundamental point is to eliminate any tariff barriers (import and export taxes) so that trade flows freely.

Consequences

The advance of political globalization has meant some consequences that are still developing, so it is difficult to point them out one hundred percent. In any case, yes you can point out some that are quite important.

Increase of ultranationalist groups

Although, supposedly, globalization should suppose the disappearance of borders, in many parts of the planet the consequence is being just the opposite.

On the one hand, various sectors of the population seem to consider that the new centers of power, which are supranational, are far removed from the real problems of society.

The loss of sovereignty of national governments and discontent with some of the effects of economic globalization are causing the emergence of strong ultranationalist movements.

These groups, which have even reached power in certain European countries, advocate a return to strong states, recovering powers assigned to international organizations. Likewise, they defend a return to the traditions of each country.

Migration

Emigration from less developed countries has grown a lot in recent years. Some authors blame this for the failure of globalization that, in theory, should favor the economic growth of these countries.

Leaving aside the economic plane, some advocates of globalization pointed out that it was going to bring democracy to certain areas of the planet, pacifying and stabilizing them. The reality is that this has not happened and that, even, some of those attempts have ended up being counterproductive.

Loss of power of democratically elected bodies

As noted above, national governments have ceded part of their powers to international organizations; but also the power of multinationals or pressure groups has grown, which today has a great capacity for decision.

Citizenship better formed and more cosmopolitan

Among the positive aspects, it should be noted that access to education has grown throughout the world. Currently, literacy levels have increased as never before in history.

New technologies have also greatly influenced that information is available to everyone. The Internet has meant that knowledge is also globalized.

Finally, despite the ultra-nationalist growth, there is a majority of the population (at least in the West) with a more cosmopolitan conception of the world.

Expansion of human rights

Political globalization has achieved that human rights have reached a good part of the planet. Tolerance towards different sexual, political or social options has been imposed on a large part of societies.

Advantage

- One of the main advantages of political globalization is that it has promoted a change of legislation, both national and international, to encourage aspects such as cooperation, the fight against climate change and trade.

- The great technological development has caused that the human relations have been strengthened. Access to information is greater than ever.

- This constant exchange of experiences and ways of life has made tolerance increase. Moral values ​​have become globalized, leaving behind some prejudices; In this way, ethics has become universal

Disadvantages

- There is a more or less visible confrontation between the conception of politics as something belonging to the States and those demanded by supranational organizations. This causes tensions that affect the population, which does not feel represented by those distant organs.

- Part of the population also fears that their national identity and culture will be erased. This does not only happen in developing countries, but in some areas of Europe where a renaissance of nationalist options is taking place.

- The most pessimistic authors warn of the risk that political globalization, together with economic globalization, will provoke the emergence of neo-colonialism or neo-imperialism. Instead of being dominated by weapons, there would be cultural or economic control on the part of the great powers.

References

1. García, Jambell, Pulgar, Nora. Globalization: political, economic and social aspects. Retrieved from scielo.org.ve
2. Botero Montoya, Rodrigo. Globalization and politics. Retrieved from larepublica.co
3. Schpeir Carrera, María Elisa. Advantages and disadvantages of globalization. Retrieved from lanacion.com.ar
4. Global Policy Forum. Globalization of Politics. Retrieved from globalpolicy.org
5. Mandelson, Peter. The Politics of Globalization. Retrieved from yaleglobal.yale.edu
6. Hilton Root, Hong Zhang. Globalization's Broken Promise. Retrieved from usnews.com
7. Luard, Evan. The Globalization Of Politics: The Changed Focus Of Political Action In The Modern World. Retrieved from foreignaffairs.com
8. Guptara, Prabhu. Globalization: Pros & Cons. Retrieved from luarasi-univ.edu.al