Blog 3_Political Globalization: What is the relation between politics and globalization?

 

Political globalization refers to an approach to the social world that emphasizes processes transcending the state, along with an awareness of the compressed nature of space and time. While the process of political globalization may, in some respects, open up new possibilities for liberation, in other respects, it is thought to lead to a loss of autonomy and fragmentation of the social world. This essay approaches the concept of political globalization by emphasizing its multifaceted nature, viewing globalization not as a new form of reality but as relational dynamics. Political globalization is linked to the relationships among global geopolitics, global normative culture, and polycentric networks.

One of the most widespread forms of political globalization is parliamentary democracy. Democratic governments exist in most regions in some form, and in those where they do not, there is a significant demand driven by democratic movements. This form is territorial in nature, being confined to the state model. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of European communist regimes, democracy has become a globally acceptable (and perhaps expected) form of governance. In this process, globalization has played a role in reinforcing democracy as an acceptable form of government. As a result, in many regions, democratic state models have generated very diverse political cultures.

The first dimension that explains political globalization is the geopolitics of global power. This does not mean a Western-centric world order, as even the United States cannot be seen as establishing global hegemony due to challenges from multiple powers.

The second dimension is the formation of a global normative culture. This is independent of geopolitics and has a legal character, spreading through global political communication. The key agenda here is human rights, but it also includes environmental concerns such as sustainable development. This is not a dimension confined solely to the West. The global normative culture generates tension between the rights of individuals and the sovereignty of nations, existing beyond the state and providing norms and direction to political actors.

The third dimension relates to polycentric networks. These are non-territorial forms of politics that cannot be reduced to a single center, manifesting in various places. It relates to networks, flows, new mobility, and the emergence of communication, representing new relationships between individuals, states, and societies. This dimension is also associated with new forms of global governance. While the United Nations represents a state-based global political order, there is another type of political order related to global civil society. Global civil society, formed by INGOs and social movements, operates with a polycentric structure that holds multiple spaces and is organized globally through loosely structured alliances and networks.

In this way, political forms based on the world, surpassing the concept of the state, are becoming increasingly diverse. With the development of network technology, it is expected that these forms will become even more varied. In the past, communication systems were built through national media, television, and popular culture, forming national identity and narratives, but now these are not the only forms of communication that exist. The development of the internet and social media has led to the collapse of these older systems of communication. Modern people not only discuss the politics of their own nation but also engage with global issues such as the Israel-Palestine conflict and the U.S. presidential election. Such public discourse is not confined to a single space but must be understood in a transnational context. Therefore, as globalization progresses, it can be said that political forms are becoming increasingly diverse.