Globalisation & the State System (Edexcel A Level Politics): Revision Note

The process of globalisation

• Globalisation broadly refers to the interconnectedness and interdependence of multiple actors in the world today

• Globalisation means that power and influence are shared between many elements

  • Decisions in one area can have wide political consequences

• Because all these elements are connected, power is diffused, and no single actor fully controls global politics

• At the centre of globalisation are people

  • People matter politically because they act as citizens, voters, workers and activists

  • Their beliefs and behaviour influence governments, markets and political ideas

• Societies and cultures shape political values, such as attitudes towards democracy, equality or authority

• Political ideas, such as liberalism or nationalism influence how states respond to globalisation

• Countries (states) remain important but do not act alone

  • Their sovereignty is influenced by global pressures

• Institutions such as the United Nations, WTO, or IMF create rules that limit or guide state behaviour

• Economies are interconnected through trade, investment and global supply chains

  • This reduces economic independence

• Technology spreads information quickly, allowing ideas, protests and political movements to cross borders

Factors driving globalisation

• Globalisation has increased rapidly in recent decades due to changes in technology, transport, people and international institutions

People

• Since World War Two, people across the world have become more connected than at any point in history

  • Migration, tourism, international study, and global communication mean individuals regularly interact across borders

  • This has increased cultural exchange and political awareness of global issues

Technology

• The development of the World Wide Web, alongside personal computers, smartphones and social media, has transformed global connectivity

  • Information, political ideas, news and activism now spread instantly across borders

  • This has reduced the importance of distance, making global cooperation easier

Transport

• Improvements in land, sea and air transport have also driven globalisation

  • Container shipping, low-cost airlines, and faster logistics allow goods, services, and people to move efficiently around the world

  • This has increased trade and interdependence between states

International institutions

• Finally, since 1945, liberal international institutions such as the United Nations, World Bank, IMF, and WTO have emerged

  • These institutions promote free trade, cooperation and economic development, based on the belief that globalisation helps maintain peace and stability by linking states together

How globalisation impacts the state system

• The increased interconnectedness and interdependence of state and non-state actors has challenged the assumption that states alone are the most powerful actors in global politics for a range of reasons

  • States are economically interdependent with other states and multinational corporations 

  • Informed citizens and nonstate actors may challenge laws and the authority of the state 

  • Global and regional institutions promote international laws and standards of human rights

  • The state’s authority to exercise force over its citizens is increasingly challenged 

Views on the impact of globalisation

Political theories and globalisation