Globalisation

Question 1

What is globalisation?

Answer 1

Deepening interconnectivity + dependence between nations

Question 2

Is globalisation new?

Answer 2

Isn’t new, but scale + scope has increased dramatically in last 50 years

Question 3

Name 3 key factors in globalisation

Answer 3

• Freedom of trade
• Improved communication
• Improvements in transportation

Question 4

How has freedom of trade been promoted by international organisations and agreements?

Answer 4

• Organisations like WTO help promote trade between countries by removing trade barriers
• eg. tariffs between countries
• Regional trade agreements e.g. EU’s Single Market, NAFTA also promote free trade

Question 5

How has improved communication aided globalisation?

Answer 5

Growth of internet + mobile technology facilitates business and broader sharing of ideas + culture

Question 6

How has improved transportation aided globalisation?

Answer 6

Speed of moving goods has increased whilst cost has decreased.
Containerisation is key.

Question 7

What is economic globalisation?

Answer 7

• Deep integration
• All national economies have, to some extent, been absorbed into an interlocking global economy
• Production is internationalised
• Financial capital flows freely and instantly between countries

Question 8

What is political globalisation?

Answer 8

• Shift of decision-making from states to IOs

- Which may have regional jurisdiction (EU) or global jurisdiction (UN)

Question 9

What are most international organisations founded on?

Answer 9

• The principle of intergovernmentalism
• Rather than supranationalism
• As states take collective action without sacrificing national sovereignty

Question 10

What is the impact of political globalisation?

Answer 10

• Regulation of economic globalisation
• Global spread of political ideas (human rights)
• Or political structures (liberal democracy)

Question 11

What is cultural globalisation?

Answer 11

Information, commodities + images produced in one part of the world enter into a global flow that tends to flatten out cultural differences between nations, regions + individuals

Question 12

Is cultural globalisation a form of cultural imperialism?

Answer 12

Brings about process of global homogenisation -> weakens indigenous cultures and values

Question 13

Who does cultural globalisation benefit?

Answer 13

• Serves the interest of economic globalisation

- Advancing interests of TNCs

Question 14

What is cultural globalisation associated with?

Answer 14

Associated with political extremism as perceived Western domination has stimulated growth of religious fundamentalism + ethnic nationalism

Question 15

According to liberals, has globalisation had a dramatic impact on global politics?

Answer 15

• Globalisation has had a dramatic + far-reaching impact on global politics
• Profound shift that has intensified since 1980s
• Impact of globalisation greatest on state + state sovereignty

Question 16

Liberalism: Traditionally, what did the global system look like?

Answer 16

A system of sovereign and autonomous states

Question 17

Liberalism: In a globalised world, what does the global system look like?

Answer 17

• Increased interconnectedness means more porous state borders
• States are penetrated by external influences to a much greater extent

Question 18

Liberalism: How has a borderless world been created?

Answer 18

The impact of global capital markets + the creation of an interlocking capitalist economy has created a borderless world

Question 19

Liberalism: How is the decline of the state reflected?

Answer 19

• More porous borders

- Greater importance of non-state actors (TNCs)

Question 20

Liberalism: How has growing interdependence changed relations between states?

Answer 20

• Growing interdependence has changed relations between + amongst states
• Creating strong pressure towards cooperation + integration

Question 21

Liberalism: How has globalisation shifted the focus of global politics?

Answer 21

• Also shifted focus of global politics away from war + peace
• Forced other issues onto foreign policy agenda eg. environment, poverty, human rights

Question 22

Liberalism: How has globalisation shifted policy-making responsibility?

Answer 22

• Led to shift in policy-making responsibility from states to IOs or IVOs
• Clear trend towards regional integration + strengthening of global governance

Question 23

Realism: Has the international system changed as a result of globalisation?

Answer 23

Realists claim international system remains substantially unchanged

eg. War on Terror, Brexit

Question 24

Realism: Where does the majority of economic activity take place?

Are states still the principal actors?

Answer 24

Overwhelming majority of economic activity still takes place within, not across, national boundaries

States therefore remain the principal actors. Only a tiny proportion (weak or failed states) unable to control what happens within their borders

Question 25

Realism: What is the impact of IOs and IVOs?

Answer 25

- IOs and IVOs may have grown in number, but they remain weak and ineffective - Control continues to reside with individual states

Question 26

Realism: Does the growth of regional + international organisations imply a decline in state power?

Answer 26

- Growth of regional + international organisations doesn't imply decline of state power - As these tend to be instruments through which (powerful) states achieve their interests

Question 27

Nation states NOT relevant: What has neoliberalism meant for the global political economy?

Answer 27

- Neoliberalism is the latest phase of globalisation | - It has resulted in the GPE resting on deregulated financial markets + free trade

Question 28

Nation states NOT relevant: Why are TNCs now more important?

Answer 28

- TNCs free to roam world + organise production activities where there are most conducive conditions - TNCs political power far exceeds that of many governments - States wanting to attract investment + trade are bound by preferences of TNCs - Policy autonomy has been eroded by TNCs

Question 29

Nation states NOT relevant: What is the impact of markets + global capital?

Answer 29

- Markets + global capital undermine states power + authority - Deregulation of finance + liberalisation of trade have eroded power that states previously had over economies processes + actors

Question 30

Nation states still relevant: Do states have ultimate control over their territories?

Answer 30

- TNCs are not sovereign | - States have ultimate control over their territories

Question 31

Nation states still relevant: Do states seize TNC assets?

Answer 31

- States can and do seize TNC assets, expel TNC personnel, impose draconian fines for alleged violations of law... - Ultimately state is still sovereign

Question 32

Nation states still relevant: Why might a state be reluctant to take extreme steps against a TNC?

Answer 32

May be reluctant to take extreme steps for fear of causing a flight of overseas investment or withdrawal of other TNCs from the country

Question 33

Nation states still relevant: Have states themselves been responsible for their reduced role in economic governance?

Answer 33

- States themselves have been responsible for their reduced role in economic governance - They continually act to maintain conditions for deregulation + liberalisation

Question 34

Nation states still relevant: In what way are states instrumental?

Answer 34

States are instrumental in managing economic crisis + dealing with the consequences of economic instability