Impact of Globalization on State Sovereignty
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It is a rather difficult to provide an absolute definition of globalization. However, this worldwide trend can be described as an original, multifaceted, vibrant, multidimensional, and global phenomenon that has various meanings for diverse people and communities. Globalization has brought significant changes and has impacted almost every aspect of life including health and medicine, sciences, IT, etc. It has also provided innumerable opportunities for the improvement of production, output and efficiency (Eberstadt 2010).
As far as state sovereignty is concerned, the phenomenon of globalization has impacted it as well. However, there are two viewpoints concerning it. A number of people support the idea that sovereignty of states has been eroded by globalization. On the other hand, a lot of people oppose this notion and assert that state has been strengthened by globalization. As far as my view is concerned, I think that the international relations have suffered a lot due to globalization as sovereignty of the states is now threatened by an international civic society that is continually challenging the state authority (Holsti 1998). National governments are losing their sovereignty and control in the current globalized economy. This is because there is a trend of shared powers in the contemporary times whereby sovereignty is compromised in order to secure the politics, society and security of the world at large. This compromise is considered inevitable as a majority of “states feel they need more capable international organizations to deal with a lengthening list of transnational challenges, but at the same time fear competitors” (Matthews 1997). For this reason, states tend to stop thinking about the first principle of sovereignty i.e. nonintervention of outside forces in the state’s domestic affairs. As a consequence, globalization is causing innovative forms of global intervention in the affairs of others. The international organizations are willingly handed over the power to sweep new opportunities and responsibilities. As a result, prospects are harnessed by restricted consents and/or poor financial support. States that are hesitant about involvement of outside powers find themselves dealing with a multitude of other issues that need attention (Mathews 1997).
Thus, the interconnectedness of states due to globalization has impacted the state sovereignty deeply. It won’t be incorrect to state that the sovereign state concept has been undermined by globalization on an international level. States today are not able to shield themselves from the outside influences as global policies have obstructed the development of dominion and control of a state on a national level. If seen from the societal perspective, globalization has improved communication between people who share similar ideas. The technological improvements haves allowed people to share knowledge and amalgamate culturally. Such awareness makes people question the authority of the government thus undermining its sovereign status. The feeling of unity and cohesion gives people the self-belief and courage to fight against the central powers for the attainment of their absolute rights.
References
Eberstadt, N. "The Demographic Future."Foreign Affairs 89, no. 06 (2010): 54-64. Print.
Holsti, K. J. "The Problem of Change in International Relations Theory." Liu Institute for Global Issues. http://www.ligi.ubc.ca/sites/liu/files/Publications/webwp26.pdf (accessed February 7, 2014).
Mathews, J. T. "Power Shift." Foreign Affairs 76, no. 01 (1997): 50-66. Print.
