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Globalization undermines democracy and the role of the nation state.

The purpose of this proposal is to examine the impact of globalization on democracy and the role of the nation-state. The proposal aims to determine whether globalization has a negative or positive impact on China, a country in East Asia and a location widely affected by in intensified globalization. The objectives of the study are: – First, to determine the impact of globalization on China’s democracy and China’s role as a state. Second; the study will examine the specific nation-state factors that measure against the impact of globalization. Third, the study will evaluate the benefits and costs of globalization in relevance to democracy and whether globalization should be ceased in favor of national democracy.

Globalization is a current worldwide trend that occurs in various political debates and hence warrants to be addressed as a problem (Brysk, 2002). Proponents perceive globalization as an answer to cosmopolitan problems. On the other hand, opponents assert that globalization aggravates democracy at the state level. The political debates center of the following themes; that globalization integrates and intensifies political, economic, social, and cultural relations across the national boundaries (Guilhot, 2005). Moreover, globalization creates a global economy in which there are advances in technology in international communication and information (Hardt & Negri, 2004). Additionally, globalization creates regional economies, develops supra-national institutions that cater for universal rights, global norms, and ensures a global commitment to common values such as human rights and democracy (Brysk, 2002). China is one country in which globalization activities have intensified recently and this has led the country to be regarded as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. On the other hand, globalization affects the solitude of the nation in ways such as undermining the autonomy and power of the nation-state, and consequently undermining the national citizenship. Next, globalization diminishes the ideological or cultural homogeneity of a national territory. For example, China, an East Asian country has a very different culture from a country like the U.S. yet globalization requires that these cultures mingle. With time, the cultures get eroded as a result of continual interaction. Additionally, globalization, has promoted mass international and transnational migrations which affects the unity of culture in relevance to the national model. The problem of globalization and whether it really undermines democracy and the role of the nation-state is an aspect that needs to be researched. This study will use the case of China to determine the potential benefits and costs of globalization on democracy and the role of the nation state.

The study will focus on the main research question-Does globalization undermine democracy and the role of the nation state? The following research sub-questions will be addressed: – first, how does globalization impact the level of China’s democracy and its role as a nation-state? Second, what are the specific nation state factors that are being undermined or enhanced as a result of globalization? Third, overall, are these factors beneficial or costly to the country? That is, should globalization be sustained or eliminated in favor of national democracy?

The study is formulated under the hypothesis that globalization undermines the democracy and the role of the nation-state. However, globalization is important for the survival of a country’s economic and political ideals in the current global economy. Nevertheless, there need to be measures that will also ensure that the country‘s role as a nation-state and its democracy are maintained.

This study is justifies in that it addressees a current issue in the political debate. Globalization occurs in all angles in the society today, economic relations, cultural relations, social relations and political relations (Sakoda (2008). However, as much as globalization symbolizes growth and keeping at par with the latest 21st century requirements, there needs to be a consideration on the impact it has on the nation-state boundaries. Should people overcome the boundaries that define their culture in favor of cross-cultural relations? This study will add to the increasing knowledge of globalization and impact on democracy and nation-state roles. The study will be of benefit to the academicians responsible for researching on political matters and especially on the current globalization trends. The study will also serve an interest to activists in the political, ethical, social, economic and cultural disciplines. The importance of the study is in highlighting another side of the much embraced globalization and provides a cautious outlook on the globalization approach in relevance to the democracy of a state.

Substantial studies discuss on a general perspective of globalization and its impact on democracy on the role of the nation-state. Some studies dwell on the cosmopolitan perspective by highlighting that globalization neither undermines neither the level of democracy nor the role of the nation-state if the wider perspectives of benefits are considered. On the other hand, some studies dwell on the fact that intensified globalization came to undermine the role of the state. Moreover, other studies try to provide a balance between the two perspectives. No matter the case, it is evident that there is still a balance to be met on whether globalization really undermines democracy and this is what the study intends to answer by using China as the country of focus.

Globalization has a major political and socio-economic impact in the whole world and including China where activities of globalization are many. Globalization is evident in increased multicultural personal contact and flows of information, and trade in many countries across the globe (Gould, 2006). Other than the flow of ideologies, regionalism is also taking place at a first rate as countries integrate the regional economies and political ideologies. According to Sakoda (2008) globalization leads to modernization of developing countries which is characterized by a GDP of mainly the industrial sector and a high growth rate as evident in countries like China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. On the other hand, globalization leads to post-modernization in developed countries which is characterized by a GDP of mainly the service sector and a low growth rate as evident in Japan and example. The post-modern world however is characterized by a high level of democracy undermining and role decrease of role of the nation-state. The features of a post modern world include the breakdown of the distinction between foreign and domestic affairs. This can be interpreted as a mutual interference of a country’s domestic issues and mutual interference (Chua, 2004). Additionally, borders are becoming irrelevant as a result of globalization. Technology advancement makes it possible to travel to other countries in virtual and so it is meaningless to restrict movements with physical boundaries (Karl-Heinz, 2004). Next, globalization in the post-modern world also results to security issues in relevance to mutual openness, transparency and interdependence. Consequently, this predisposes a nation-state to mutual vulnerability (Hobsbawm, 2007).

Democracy on its part refers to the state of governance in which the government rules and places its consent in favor of the majority (Crocker, 2007). Democracy within the nation-state level involves aspects such as free and fair elections, and protection of minorities as well as respect of the basic rights of humans (Naim, 2005). Notably, globalization reinforces these aspects at a global level as opposed to the nation-state level and this leads to the questioning of the national boundaries. Crocker (2007) argues that countries should nevertheless stick to democracy because globalization is faced with a lot of unpredictability. For instance, in the comparison of the modernizing world and the post-modern world, it is seen that globalization has favorable impacts on democracy and role of nation-state in the developing world, but the impact is almost costly for the modernized world. Democracy, as argued by Gould (2006) is important because of its flexibility when it comes to dealing with new political problems in this era of increasing unpredictability.

The methodology recommended for this study is a qualitative approach to investigate the influence of globalization on democracy and the role of the nation state. A qualitative approach is considered as opposed to a quantitative approach because globalization is an occurring phenomenon in the political climate, and requires that theories and rationales are built around it as it occurs. A quantitative approach, on the other hand, would be suitable for an already established phenomenon that requires that hypotheses are proved against theories surrounding it.

The study is limited by the need to study globalization impact on one country-China-and therefore the findings may not be applicable to all the global situations. Further areas of study should try to use the model on other countries.

The dissertation will be organized in three chapters-the introduction, literature review and methodology. The introduction section will include the purpose statement, problem statement, objectives of the study, hypotheses and research questions. The literature review section will contain an analysis and critique of scholarly works that were done and are relevant to the problem. This will be for the purpose of filling gaps in research. The methodology section will describe the study design, methods of data collection and analysis and sampling procedures. The discussion and findings of the study will also be displayed. The rationale will show how this study fills the research gaps in comparison to other studies.

References

Brysk,A. (2002). Globalization and Human Rights. CA: University of California Press,

Chua, A. (2004). World on fire: How exporting free market democracy breeds ethnic hatred and global instability. NY: Anchor Books

Crocker, D. (2007). Development ethics, globalization and democracy. Retrieved October 25, 2010 from HYPERLINK “http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTDECINEQ/Resources/DevelopEthics.pdf” http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTDECINEQ/Resources/DevelopEthics.pdf.

Gould, B. (2006). The democracy sham: How globalization devalues your vote. AU: Craig Potton Publishing.

Guilhot, N. (2005). The democracy makers: Human rights & international order. NY: Columbia University Press

Hardt, M. & Negri,A. (2004). Multitude: War and democracy in the age of empire. UK: Cambridge

Hobsbawm, E. (2007). Globalisation, democracy and terrorism. London: Little Brown

Karl-Heinz L. (2004). Globalization and the conversion of democracy to polycentric networks: can democracy survive the end of the nation state? GE: Gunther

Naim, A. (2005). Illicit: How smugglers, traffickers and copycats are hijacking the

global economy. NY: Doubleday.

Sakoda, K. (2008). Does the globalization have a positive or negative impact on democracy? The case of East Asia. Retrieved October 25, 2010 from HYPERLINK “http://www.wasedagiari.jp/sysimg/imgs/200808_ss_report_Sakoda_Keita.pdf” http://www.wasedagiari.jp/sysimg/imgs/200808_ss_report_Sakoda_Keita.pdf.