Critically discuss the claim that globalisation is undermining the role of the nation state.

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Politics Non-assessed Essay

2.A. – Critically discuss the claim that globalisation is undermining the role of the nation state.

Globalisation is used to describe international politics after the Cold War, in some ways as a replacement for the bipolar model of world politics. It has been termed “the buzzword of the 1990s by some. This illustrates that globalisation has grown in importance for academics, policy-makers, civil society and the public as a whole during the last twenty years. In this essay I will investigate the three major theories of globalisation and use them to discuss the idea of undermining the nation state. As globalisation is a contested idea, the theories must be explored to be able to answer questions about the effects of globalisation (if there are any). I will demonstrate the weaknesses of each theoretical approach by contrasting its position with arguments from the other perspectives examined. I will argue that the realist theory is the best representation of globalisation. I do not believe that the other two theories are wrong but they each have flaws that I believe make them impossible to be correct ideas on globalisation

Globalisation’s existence is a contested idea but there seems to be greater support behind the idea that globalisation does if fact exist. Throughout this essay I will prove the existence using visible examples and effects of globalisation but this still leaves the question, if it exists what actually is globalisation? For example some say globalisation is a “historical process, the result of human innovation and technological progress. It refers to the increasing integration of economies around the world, particularly through trade and financial flows.” These definitions do not ignore the other forms of globalisation such as the movement of people and technology but they put less emphasis on these areas. Many theorists contend that these processes are not taking place evenly in the whole globe but only partially in the areas of advanced countries and thus it cannot truly be globalisation. Another definition states that “by globalisation we simply mean the process of increasing interconnectedness between societies such that events in one part of the world more and more have effects on people and societies far away.”  I do not believe that any of these definitions are adequate so I will evaluate the theories, first by their own definition of globalisation, then by what the other theories have to say about the adequacy of the definition and way of conceptualising globalisation.

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Before the discussion of whether globalisation is undermining the role of the nation state can take place we must first discuss what is meant by a nation state. It might appear a problem free task but in fact it is more difficult than first seems. It can be said to be a territory with well-defined boundaries, a population to be governed, a government to make binding decisions, and sovereignty. For others the state is just the organisation that creates a structure with the “agencies and institutions of governance. Ultimately a state must have “monopoly of the legitimate use of ...

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