Chapter IV

Impact of Globalization
on Politics
 IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON POLITICS

Globalization by removing geographical, political and cultural borders, and also

by pass dame of time and place has changed attitudes, behavior and action of

individuals, nations, states and even socio-political structure of societies. In politics

scope, globalization has created several evolutions which some of them are as follows;

1- Globalization and Democracy

The phenomenon of globalization as a new paradigm, in influence of economic

evolutions, has excellent changed human societies from half century past. In late

decades, the scientific and academic societies, especially political science, and some

other matters like political systems, states, and democracy, has conceptual redefined by

globalization. Some main questions about the democracy and globalization are: which

form of democracy did influence by globalization? Did ideology of democracy, or

political culture of democracy influenced by globalization?

Or democracy is as a governance pattern?

Democracy is Grecian word and derives of "kratia" and "demos", in mean,

"home rule". Mainly there are two classes definition of democracy: 1-outlook that

argued democracy as a governance method. 2-outlook that argues democracy is as

values.

Based on different goals and definitions of democracy, there are many various

models of democracy. According to mass direct or indirect participation, it disports to

direct and indirect or participative democracy. And according to isonomy and equality

of economy, there are liberal and social democracy and social democracy disport to

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industrial and corporate democracy49. And according to different geographical scopes,

and many religions and races groups, the indirect democracy disports to current

democracy and multiracial and associative democracy50.

Democracy has main characteristics that some of them are as follows:

Free elections. It means every one and groups can have chance to reach power.

This is a main index to evaluation democracy in political systems.

Rationality of political actors. In fact, this index is basic of democratic system, and

is democratic structures formation. However, the measure rationality of actors is

different in various countries51.

Separation and monitoring of powers.

Liberally decision making power of representations. The representations should be

making decision making liberally and without internal and external threat and

impacts.

Freedom of parties, political groups, social forces, in political actions. "Josef

Schumpeter" belief that, this index is essential for democratic decision making 52.

Civil liberties and its safeguard. It includes freedom of expression, press,

conscience, information, association, action, and etc. This index, obtains the context

of political participation.

Codification of constitution and respect it. In fact, the constitution appearance

general will and guaranties democracy53.

Political and social equal opportunity for all citizens.

There are many different outlooks about effective of globalization on structures

of political system and democratization process. Because of globalization and

democracy are complex, fluid and universal concepts. Some thoughtful argued,

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globalization explodes and reinforces the measure of democracy in national and

supranational level. And others said it is a serious challenge for democratization

process. Some thinkers belief, it's negative and positive effectives are different in

various countries, and it dependence to conditions.

The effective of globalization on democracy is not limited to special scope.

Some thoughtful beliefs that, globalization affects on all foundations of democracy such

as: freedom of expression, freedom of belief and religion, civil community, citizenship

rights, confine of state activity, legitimacy of governors, freedom of press, and etc54. In

principle there are some ways and methods of effective of globalization on democracy

that follows:

1) Evolution on concept of democracy: Democracy, in influenced of globalization, has

more changed in relative to its traditional concept. Democracy in its new concept is

not just participation process, election, representation, reign of low, and political

and urban freedom. But it should be define as: measure of formation civil

institutions in societies and its combine on global culture55.

In "David Held" opinion, democracy in globalization age, include societies that closed

in borders. However they utilize similar communication and world order56.

2) Spread of civil society: Civil society is essential and structural request for

democracy realization. Behind the three columns of democracy, namely:

responder state, freedom elections, urban and political rights, the civil society are

fourth and important column of democracy57.so, democracy doesn't realize, unless

independent institutions of civil society be Institutionalize in societies. "Richard

Falk" beliefs, globalization not only created civil society in national level and inside

of nation-states, but also caused creation civil society in supranational level,

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 namely; global civil society58. Global civil society includes all organizations,

movements and associations that are ultra individuals and understate59.

3) Increase of middle class: Globalization increased and developed middle class, by

increase of urban institutions, parties, national and supranational groups and

movements. Increase of middle class, whit various and vast demands, is a social

context of democracy. In otherwise, it signs non growth of democracy60.

2- Globalization and Nation-State

The post important political scope of globalization is its impact on nation-state

as a historic phenomenon. Some are believe that political globalization is salvation of

state domination61. It means that globalization reduces the authority and autonomy of

states. Other groups are arguing that globalization phenomenon causes downfall of

nation-state62. In contrast, some writers believe that globalization not only doesn’t

waken nation-state but, in globalization age, the central role of states will be

preservation and state as a main factor of organizer will stable63. Some theoreticians,

with realism outlook and without stress on continue or downfall of state, have regarded

to reference of supervision, and they believe that in globalization process the

concentration of supervision will be transfer from national state to sub governmental,

nongovernmental and ultra governmental organizations64. In other words, in

globalization age the method of governance will be completely difference.

So, whether we accept the realism outlook such as McGrew who was believed

that states are undeniable fact of political life and they will be stable65, and whether like

David Held talking about formation of global state, but the fact is that the nationstate

has been seriously influenced by globalization, and have been formed new issues in

political scope by it.

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3- Globalization and New Political Actors

Another impact of globalization on politics is appearance new political actors in

national, regional and global scopes, and change in location of some old and traditional

actors. These new actors, in inside of state, are visible in form of groups, ethnic and

regional organizations, and in transnational dimension, they are action in form of

intergovernmental international organizations and nongovernmental international

organizations. The important point is non historic growth of new different

organizations, especially transnational organizations in late of 20th and beginning of

21th. The number of intergovernmental organizations has increased from

37 at the beginning of 20th century to 300 at its end.

The new actors due to have mass capital and influence on politics and behaviors

of other actors and even states are post important66.

4- Globalization and Human Rights

One of positive consequences of globalization is more attention to human rights

as most important common issue of human society in nowadays world. The global

culture of human rights emphasizes on this issue that everyone in different dimensions

and levels has right which should be immunity of unjustifiable disturbance of states and

global power. Increase level of insight and knowledge of nations and states, under

influence of globalization process have converted the more attention to global human

rights as a general and humanity certain right requests in the world wid. Nowadays, the

issues such as illegal of killing, forbidden of torment, forbidden of child forcible

working, battle against terrorism, peaceful solution of discards, enjoyment of justly

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judicial system, enjoyment minority of hygienic and education and welfare, freedom of

expression and belief and action, are as general values of human rights and are

acceptance for all cultures67.

5- Globalization and New political culture

Another main and important output and consequences of globalization is its

influence on political culture in national and international level. Gabriel Almond defines

political culture as set of norms, values, emotions, information and political technique.

Almond argues political culture has three basic dimensions; 1- knowledge dimension

(the measure of information and knowledge of citizens about political roles and system).

2- Sentimental dimension (emotion of loyalty, dependence and relation to political

system). 3- Value dimension (judge about function of political system)68. Before

globalization age the culture and identity of nations have been defined by intervention

of state, but in globalization age due to reduction influence of states, the political culture

of people has changed independently. Globalization has created a kind of common

political culture among people in the world, and has caused similarity in political

culture69. So, common values like pace, justice, equality, freedom, democracy,

competition and free election as common humanity values, are publishing by

globalization.

Nowadays, the insight and knowledge of people about political system and

political behavior of governors have been changed, and they only and without any fear

are evaluating the function of system officers.

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6- Globalization and Increase of interdependence

The extension of globalization of has caused accession among nations, and

increase interdependence of different societies. Jims Rosina believes that if in the pest,

the global politics problems have been solved by interaction of states, but now there are

complex problems which are out of states capacity. Some of them are such as; air

pollution, financial crisis, narcotic, terrorism, aids, despotism and violence in some

political system, flood, earth quake, and etc70. So, it is clear that the solution of these

problems are out capacity of singular of states, and cooperation of formal actors and

trans national organizations are most necessity. Hence, globalization has created and

broadcasted nongovernmental international organizations and international actors, and

increased their independence71.

7- Globalization and Freedom

There is question that how freedom and globalization fit together. According to

some research it funded that they work together quite nicely. There is a strong positive

relationship between globalization and political freedom. Globalization may also be one

of the best ways of keeping politicians honest, as more globalized countries have far

lower levels of perceived corruption, as measured by transparency International. Some

countries may help foster increased political rights and civil liberties for their citizens.

Furthermore, increased integration may lead to the adoption of higher international

standards for transparency, which in turn would discourage corruption and increase

government efficiency.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. Singapore, the world's most

globalized country, is home to a modern, open economy that exists alongside tight

government control over the media and limited individual liberties. On the other end of

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the spectrum, South Africa has a relatively high level of political freedom but a

mediocre globalization ranking. Going global does not offer any guarantees, but it

clearly can give countries a leg up.

So, globalization with its high impact power has completely influenced culture

and politics scopes of individual and states life. Globalization with formation new

definition of culture and politics and creation new political and cultural actors in

national, regional and global scopes has appeared now world which is completely

difference of the past. New political cultural discourse which has dominated on human

society has most important impaction, and shouldn’t imagine it simple.

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4 Poster. Mark, Second Age of media, Tehran, Institution of Iran Press, 1998, P. 93
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6 Semati. Hadi, “Islamic Revolution, Civilizational Design”, Iran, 1997, No 13th,
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17 Ibid: 47.
18 Castells, Ibid.
19 Golmohammadi, Ibid, P 377.
20
Henrique. Julian & Others, Changing the Subject: Psychology, Regulation, and
Subjectivity, New York, Methuen, 1984, P 1-3.

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21 Pahlavan. Changiz, Culturalogy; Speeches in Contexts of Culture and
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22
Sinaei. Vahid, “Cultural Pluralism in Globalization Age”, Olome Ejtemaei, No:
25, 2006.

127
23 Ibid.
24 Best. Steven & Douglas. Kellner, Postmodern Theory: Critical Interrogations,
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25 Doan. Robert. JSocial Critic of Post modernism; Identity Crisis, Translated by
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27 Rosenau. Paulline Marie, Postmodernism and the Social Science, New Jersey,
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28 Doan. Robert. J, Social Critic of Post modernism; Identity Crisis, Translated by
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29 Gasemi. Mohammad Ali, “Identity in Post modern’s Space”, Guideline Studies,
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30 Doan. Robert. J, Ibid, P 35.
31 Pakolesky, 2001: 384.
32
Gasemi. Mohammad Ali, “Identity in Post modern’s Space”, Guideline Studies,
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33 Engelhard. Ronald, Cultural Evolution in Industrial Advanced Countries,
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35 Ibid. 36 Ibid.
37
Jaleipor. Hamid Reza, Sociology of Social Movements, Tehran, Nei Press, 2002,
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38 Nash. Kited, Contemporary political sociology; Globalization, Politics and
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40 Ibid, P 425.

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41 Kenny. Michael, The Politics of Identity, London, Cambridge Polity Press, 2004,
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51 Shahramnia. S, Ibid, p. 171
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53 Alam. Abdorahman, Foundation of politic science, ibid, p. 297
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55 Shahramnia. A, ibid, p. 209
56
Held. David, The transformation of political community, rethinking democracy in
the context of globalization, lane Shapiro & casian ottaoker cordon(eds),
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57 J.B. Madison, Globalization; opportunities and challenges, ibid, p. 183
58 Falk. Richard, Global civil society and the democratic prospect, borgholden
(ed), Global democracy, London, rout ledge, 2000, pp. 162-179

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59 McGrew, Democracy beyond borders, Cambridge, polity press, 1997, p. 13
60 Bashirieh. Hosein, Ibid, p. 82
61 Albrow. M, The Global Age, Cambridge, Polity Press, 1996, P 165
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63 Hirst & Thompson, Globalization in Question, Oxford, Polity Press, 1999, P.256
64 Schiolte. Jan Aart, Ibid, P 22
65 McGrew, Conceptualizing Global Politics, Cambridge, Polity Press, 1992, P 6
66 Shahramnia. S, Ibid, P. 102
67 Ibid, P 104
68 Almond. Gabriel, Theoretical Framework in Comparative Politics, Tehran,
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69 Fukuyama. Francis, The End of History & The Last Man, New York, The Free
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70 Rosina. Jims, Disturbance World, Tehran, Rahbordy Studies Press, 2003, P. 88-
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71 Heywood. Andrew, Politics, Macmillan, Palgrave, 2002, P. 126

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