Evaluate the view that globalisation erodes state sovereignty

Question 1

Factors that suggest globalisation erodes state sovereignty:

Intergovernmentalism

Answer 1

• Nation-states are bound together with IGOs - must accept these bodies’ authorities even if it’s against their national interests.
• For example, as lenders of last resort, both the IMF and World Bank impose conditions on recipient states that they have little choice but to accept.
• UN war crimes tribunals and the establishment of the ICC was instrumental in developing universal standards to abide in relation to their citizens.
• Increasingly it is IGOS, rather than sovereign states, that take the lead in addressing collective dilemmas such as climate change, global crime and nuclear proliferation (WHO over COVID-19).

Question 2

Factors that suggest globalisation erodes state sovereignty:

Economic globalisation

Answer 2

• Economic interconnectivity means states cannot insulate themselves from global financial crises such as 2008.
• Huge financial influence of TNCS (Apple, Google and Microsoft) means states need to shape policy to attract investment, significantly reducing its freedom of manoevure.
• A global consensus in favour of economic liberal principles restricts govt action - to attract trade and investment, govts must adopt policies of low corporate tax and free-market reforms at the expense of worker rights.

Question 3

Factors that suggest globalisation erodes state sovereignty:

The rise of regional organisations

Answer 3

• In the EU, decisions are made by a qualified majority voting on the Council of ministers, are legally binding to all member states.
• The ECB sets a common interest rate for Eurozone members.
• Treaty of Lisbon provides the EU with a legal identity to negotiate with sovereign states.
• Most EU members still adhere to the Schengen Agreement - allows passport-free travel.
• Other RGOS (Mercosur, NAFTA and ASEAN) have imposed certain free-trade rules on their members, limiting state sovereignty.

Question 4

Factors that suggest globalisation erodes state sovereignty:

The internet

Answer 4

• Increasing reach of the internet compromises states’ physical borders.
• Access to anti-government websites and the organising power of social media contributed to the Arab Uprisings.
• Create new supranational allegiances through, for example, radicalisation, which challenges national identity.
• Cyber terrorism challenges how states can protect its citizens - computer hackers can now penetrate right to the heart of govt, making the protection of territorial state borders irrelevant to a state’s survival.

Question 5

Factors that suggest globalisation erodes state sovereignty:

NGOS

Answer 5

• Myriad of NGOs challenge the influence of the nation-state on its population as their transnational influence, which the internet facilitates, reaches borders.
• NGOs include global pressure groups (Greenpeace) which inform political debate across the world and celebrities, like Angelina Jolie, a UN Special Envoy for Refugee.
• Global foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Clinton Foundation plays a role in fighting poverty in the developing world, while the near total eradication of guinea-worm disease because of the Carter Centre.

Question 6

Factors that suggest globalisation erodes state sovereignty:

Challenges from below

Answer 6

• Instead of nationalism declining in importance, it is noteworthy how people still wish to define themselves according to ethnic and nationalist identities - even if these ideals threaten existing state allegiances.
• Kosovo and East Timor’s recent independence has been justified on the grounds of self-determination.
• Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 is based on the nationalist principle that Crimeans see themselves as Russian, not Ukrainain.
• In 2014, Scotland only narrowly voted not to secede from the UK, and in 2015, Scottish Nationalism peaked when the SNP won 56/59 parliamentary seats.

Question 7

Factors that suggest globalisation does not erode state sovereignty:

Limits of liberalism

Answer 7

• N.S remains the key decision-maker when negotiating with other states, gaining more opportunities via IGOS but they choose the extent of collaboration.
• UN is based on ‘sovereign equality’ principle of its members = the permanent five members of UNSC can exercise their national vetos over whether to engage in conflict resolution and war.
• G7/8 conclude with communiques of intentions, but member states retain the right to fulfil them or not. Likewise, the Paris climate change agreement is dependent on if states are prepared to follow so.
• Even EU member states retain the right of veto on key issues that define a sovereign state (foreign policy, defence, tax) and Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon provides a mechanism by which N.S can reclaim their sovereignty

Question 8

Factors that suggest globalisation does not erode state sovereignty

Policy and the state

Answer 8

• States retains power of most issues.
• Can police the internet = effective Chinese ‘firewall’ and the Chinese Ministry of Culture has warned to punish video-streaming site for not removing ‘violent and erotic’ Japanese media.
• Govt leaders’ decisions are important - UK Govt organised the successful state visit of China’s President Xi Jinping (£30B of negotiated contracts). PM Theresa May’s speed to reaffirm the UK’s ‘special relationship’ with the USA following the inauguration of Trump further demonstrates the importance of bilateral relations between N.S..

Question 9

Factors that suggest globalisation does not erode state sovereignty

National borders and security

Answer 9

• Opposite of realism as terrorist atrocities since 9/11 has made states more determined to protect their borders.
• Established the US Department for Homeland Security in 2002 to better police US borders.
• Syrian refugee crisis has also threatened passport-free travel within the Schengen Agreement Zone.
• In 2015, Russia tightened its visa requirements by demanding fingerprints from foreign visitors in certain countries, for example the UK.

Question 10

Factors that suggest globalisation does not erode state sovereignty

Human rights and civil liberties

Answer 10

• Liberal’s hopes for universalisation of a HR culture since the end of the Cold War hasn’t been realised.
• States continue to determine the extent of civil liberties they grant, dependent on religious / cultural traditions.
• ‘Asian values’ focus more on community rights while most Muslim countries the moral code of the Qu’ran.
• States continue to be the main arbiters of HR:
  + Death penalty is legal in the USA but not in the EU.
  + Liberal western attitudes to homosexuality yet criminalised in 1/3 of the world.

Question 11

Factors that suggest globalisation does not erode state sovereignty

International Law

Answer 11

• Despite HR gaining international coverage, N.S determine the extent they will abide by international standards of HR.
• China refused to join the ICC when originally established in 1998 - deemed was an ‘attempt to interfere with the domestic affairs of a foreign nation’.
• Judgements of ICC requires states to accept them if they are to be enforced. For example, in 1992, El Salvador and Honduras agreed to accept the ICJ’s settlement of a border dispute between the two. However, Israel has ignored ICJ’s opinion that the wall separating I and Palestine territories is illegal according to IL.

Soft law:
- In 2014, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe declared that the Crimea referendum on whether it should replace Ukrainian with Russian sovereignty was illegal yet it went ahead and Russia declared it as binding.

Question 12

Factors that suggest globalisation does not erode state sovereignty

National allegiance

Answer 12

• Liberals falsely anticipated glob would reduce national allegiance but it remains potent.
• P. Putin has reasserted Russia’s sense of unique destiny, stating ‘we will be sovereign’. While P. Trump has expressed his commitment, at the expense of other considerations, to the ‘American people’.
• Across Europe, the dominance of pro-European parties is being challenged by the likes of the French National Front, the Freedom Party and Alternative for Germany (restore national self-determination).
• Scottish, Palestinian and Basque national movements further illustrate how important nationhood is for those without it.

Question 13

Factors that suggest globalisation does not erode state sovereignty

State egotism

Answer 13

• States act in self-interest rather than according to more liberal values.
• No UN mandate for the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq in 2003 - ignored calls for international restraint to achieve their strategic objectives in the region.
• 2014: Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in defiance of international condemnation that it had illegally infringed Ukraine sovereignty.
• Defence spending in China, Russia and the USA is increasing. China is increasing its presence in the South China Seas by militarising reefs and expanding its naval reach.
• Main players in the Syrian Civil War - Iran, Russia, Turkey, the UK and USA - have their own strategic objectives in the region = undermined any universal solution acceptable to all