Reading Assignment 3: “What is the relation between politics and globalization?”——CHENG SHIYI

 1) Summary

In today's era of globalization, the face of politics has undergone a dramatic transformation. From the evolution of a state-centric world order to a polycentric network of governance to the rise of a global political culture, these processes together constitute the key elements of political globalization. This paper explores the multiple dimensions of political globalization and its implications for global politics. First, political globalization is seen as a phenomenon that transcends national boundaries and exhibits characteristics of diversity, acceleration, and interconnectedness. One of the most notable dimensions is the global spread of democratic government. The existence of democratic governments in various forms has triggered the demand for democracy not only domestically but also globally. This has created a form of globalization based on the parliamentary state that not only upholds traditional political structures but also constitutes a new global geopolitics.

Secondly, the rise of a global normative culture is also a key aspect of political globalization. The global normative culture, which includes global issues such as human rights and the environment, is no longer limited to spreading within national borders. This culture has influenced the political behavior of nations, challenged national sovereignty, and led to tensions in interpersonal relationships.

Another key dimension is polycentric networks, a form of non-territorial politics that differs from traditional state centers. These processes of political globalization involve emerging forms of global governance, such as global civil society, which is not a single space but multiple independent spaces. Global civil society consists of international non-governmental organizations, grassroots organizations and various social movements organized globally through loose coalitions and networks of activists.

These three dimensions are not isolated from each other, but are interconnected, and together they constitute the complex web of political globalization. While the globalization of politics has opened up a number of new emancipatory possibilities, it has also given rise to challenges, such as transnational political action that challenges neoliberal politics and national sovereignty.

The article also emphasizes the transformation and dissemination of the public sphere, the importance of political communication, social influence and cultural diffusion. The public sphere is closely linked to the national public sphere and has traditionally been an important site of political debate and discourse in which the media and political parties have played a key role. However, with the rise of commercial media, some have begun to express concern about the decline of the public sphere, triggering a rethinking of its definition.

In the context of globalization, a new concept of global public sphere has emerged, which is considered as a transnational and open discursive sphere that encompasses the dissemination and shaping of global political discourse. This has led the global public sphere to emphasize the importance of discourse in a global context, especially on global issues such as human rights, environmental issues and health security.

The importance of global civil society, which represents the political potential of globalization and marks its evolution from the bottom up, has also been emphasized. Global civil society consists of non-governmental organizations, transnational social movements and political networks working to ameliorate global problems, challenge the hegemony of traditional national politics and contribute to the emergence of new forms of global politics.

Finally, the complexity of space and borders is discussed. Globalization has triggered a rethinking of space and borders, liberating them from traditional national paradigms. This re-bordering is not only reflected at the global level, but also has implications within the state, where national borders and borderlands become interpenetrating zones, changing the dynamics of internal and external relations.

In summary, the article highlights the new dynamics and complexity of politics in the age of globalization. This shift will continue to generate debate on the definition and future development of political globalization to better adapt to the evolving global political environment.

2) Interesting Point

Political globalization thinking sometimes makes it difficult to separate fact from rhetoric, and the hopes and aspirations embedded in global civil society thinking often lead to an exaggeration of its importance. For example, Mary Robinson, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, claimed that "there are two superpowers left on the planet: the United States and global civil society" (Robinson, 2003). It is interesting in that it emphasizes the globalization of politics and global citizenship, but it also exaggerates the role of civil society in the globalization of politics, and even the possibility of organizing resistance to capitalism and the global hegemony of the United States.

3) Discussion

-How can global normative culture better interact and harmonize with the traditional culture and values of democratic countries?

-Are there some systemic challenges to global civil society, such as deficiencies in democracy and accountability, and possible abuses?

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