The module introduces some of the key concepts in world politics: states, anarchy, power, and interest. This broad conceptual framework is linked to a discussion of the three main theories of international relations: realism, liberalism, and constructivism. The module also evaluates arguments abou...
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Lecture 1 Reading -
Globalisation and global
politics
Making sense of Globalisation
Mapping Globalisation
Before the GFC economic globalisation (global flows of
capital, trade and production) in 2007, global flows of
capital, goods and services were estimated to be 53% of world
economic activity.
Post GFC in 2019 global economic flows are at 39% of world
GDP.
Governments no longer always primary decision makers since
trans-national corporations control global production
networks and are the primary sources of international
investment in manufacturing and services.
Digitalisation revolutionised global communications through
cheap, instantaneous info flows. This and mobility
infrastructures have made it possible to manage JIT
production across continents.
Same communications and mobility infrastructures facilitate
criminal and terrorist activity, making the world a more
insecure and dangerous place.
Lecture 1 Reading - Globalisation and global politics 1
, Engines of globalisation
Technics - technological change and social organisation e.g.
modern comms
Economics - capitalism’s demand for new markets and profits
leads to the globalisation of economic activity
Politics - ideas, interests and power. Politics provides its
normative infrastructure
Globalisation implicated in the emergence of a global risk
society where national borders provide little protection from
distant dangers or consequences of systemic failures.
Politics becoming more globalised - sharing of info and
collaboration increased.
Cultural globalisation increasing due to increased migration
and international tourism of middle classes being at historic
levels (2017).
Approaches to conceptualising globalisation
Materialist - globalisation as a substantive process of
increasing worldwide connectivity which is open to empirical
and historical methods of enquiry.
Constructivist - in ideational terms as a discussion, which
has no objective or permanent meaning.
Ideological - conceived as a political and economic project
and ideology advanced by the most powerful to fashion the
world order according to their interests.
Analysing Globalisation
Ways to characterise globalisation:
Lecture 1 Reading - Globalisation and global politics 2
, Stretching of political, economic and social activities
across national boundaries. Events, decisions, actions can
effect individuals, communities, countries around the globe.
Intensification of interconnectedness in every aspect of
modern life.
Accelerating pace of global flows and processes as velocity
of ideas, goods, news etc increases.
Deepening enmeshment of local and global such that they
become indistinguishable.
Globalisation associated with process of
deterritorialization: as social, economic or political
activities are organised at the transnational levels, they
become disembedded or detached from their locale or place.
Concept of globalisation should be differentiated from
universality, which implies worldwide convergence and
inclusivity.
Globalisation is associated with growing global inequality of
wealth, life chances and income.
Frequently perceived as Westernisation, stoking fears of
imperialism and provoking anti-western movements and
resistance. Globalisation concept doesn’t assume the process
has a historical logic.
Globalisation associated with process of time-space
compression, referring to impact of new tech of mobility and
comms to ‘shrink’ geographical space and time. Highlights
relative denationalisation of power in world politics so far
as power is organised and exercised not on national scale but
on trans regional and global scale.
Opacity of power problem for liberal democracies that value
accountability highly as it creates public perception that
they’re subject to external forces they cannot control.
Lecture 1 Reading - Globalisation and global politics 3
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