Globalization and Nation-State
● The concepts of ‘nation’, ‘state’ and ‘nation-states’ are different and should not be used
interchangeably.
● The nation-state is a distinctive ‘Western story’ which was transposed to the rest of the
world's Westphalian system.
● The core concept of sovereign nation-states is increasingly being challenged by
globalization.
● Some scholars state that there is a transformation, not a decline, of the nation-state.
● Transnationalization of the state: more diffuse and less territorial: growth of regulatory,
multi-level governance.
● Decoupling of nation and state: state transnationalized, while nation is more populist. The
nation does not exercise sovereignty over the state, and the state has lost much of its
sovereignty.
Nation-State and Sovereignty as Westphalian System
Nation-State and Sovereignty as Westphalian System
● Treaty of Westphalian (1648) established modern world order
● Made the State the Center of World Politics by acknowledging the following three
aspects
1. Territoriality – people are organized into exclusive territorial communities with
fixed border
2. Sovereignty – within its borders the state as an entitlement to supreme, and
exclusive political and legal authority
3. Autonomy – Self-determination constructs as autonomous spheres within a
country's borders
Defining Nation-States
Sorensen (2008) argues that modern states are based on:
1. National economy: Removal of local barriers to trade and the building of a nation-wide
infrastructure
, 2. National government: A centralized system of democratic rules and strong
political-administrative capacities within a precisely defined territory
3. Nation: People who build a community of sentiment and a community of citizens
4. Sovereignty: No final political authority outside or above the state.
Globalization Challenges to the Nation-State
Globalization changes the Westphalian System (Nation-State)
● The politics of global social relations in which the pursuit of power, interest, order, and
justice transcends regions and continents
1. Territoriality – borders becoming blurred
2. Sovereignty – transformed to incorporate global governance and treaties
3. Autonomy – interdependence forces countries to engage in global politics to
satisfy domestic needs
● Global Policy Networks – complexes witch bring together the representatives of
governments, international organizations, NGOs, and the corporate sector for the
formulation and implementation of global public policy
● Global Polity – The processes by which interest are articulated and aggregated, decision
are made, values allocated and policies conducted through international or transnational
political processes
● Global Governance – The evolving system of international “government” that
incorporates various states and NGOs, designed to solve pressing global issues
● Transnational civil society – Citizens and private interest collaborate across borders to
advance their mutual goals, or to hold governments (local or global) accountable for their
actions
● Disaggregated State – Various departments of a state interacting with their foreign
counterpart in dealing with global issues relating to their department
● Distorted Global Politics – those states and groups with greater power resources and
access to key sites of global decision making tend to have the greatest control or
influence over the agenda and outcome of global politics
● The concepts of ‘nation’, ‘state’ and ‘nation-states’ are different and should not be used
interchangeably.
● The nation-state is a distinctive ‘Western story’ which was transposed to the rest of the
world's Westphalian system.
● The core concept of sovereign nation-states is increasingly being challenged by
globalization.
● Some scholars state that there is a transformation, not a decline, of the nation-state.
● Transnationalization of the state: more diffuse and less territorial: growth of regulatory,
multi-level governance.
● Decoupling of nation and state: state transnationalized, while nation is more populist. The
nation does not exercise sovereignty over the state, and the state has lost much of its
sovereignty.
Nation-State and Sovereignty as Westphalian System
Nation-State and Sovereignty as Westphalian System
● Treaty of Westphalian (1648) established modern world order
● Made the State the Center of World Politics by acknowledging the following three
aspects
1. Territoriality – people are organized into exclusive territorial communities with
fixed border
2. Sovereignty – within its borders the state as an entitlement to supreme, and
exclusive political and legal authority
3. Autonomy – Self-determination constructs as autonomous spheres within a
country's borders
Defining Nation-States
Sorensen (2008) argues that modern states are based on:
1. National economy: Removal of local barriers to trade and the building of a nation-wide
infrastructure
, 2. National government: A centralized system of democratic rules and strong
political-administrative capacities within a precisely defined territory
3. Nation: People who build a community of sentiment and a community of citizens
4. Sovereignty: No final political authority outside or above the state.
Globalization Challenges to the Nation-State
Globalization changes the Westphalian System (Nation-State)
● The politics of global social relations in which the pursuit of power, interest, order, and
justice transcends regions and continents
1. Territoriality – borders becoming blurred
2. Sovereignty – transformed to incorporate global governance and treaties
3. Autonomy – interdependence forces countries to engage in global politics to
satisfy domestic needs
● Global Policy Networks – complexes witch bring together the representatives of
governments, international organizations, NGOs, and the corporate sector for the
formulation and implementation of global public policy
● Global Polity – The processes by which interest are articulated and aggregated, decision
are made, values allocated and policies conducted through international or transnational
political processes
● Global Governance – The evolving system of international “government” that
incorporates various states and NGOs, designed to solve pressing global issues
● Transnational civil society – Citizens and private interest collaborate across borders to
advance their mutual goals, or to hold governments (local or global) accountable for their
actions
● Disaggregated State – Various departments of a state interacting with their foreign
counterpart in dealing with global issues relating to their department
● Distorted Global Politics – those states and groups with greater power resources and
access to key sites of global decision making tend to have the greatest control or
influence over the agenda and outcome of global politics
