Political Consequences| Class 12 Political Science Notes

Globalization is the integration of people, businesses, and governments all across the globe. It is a type of capitalist takeover where local and national economies are interlinked into a global, unregulated market economy, and where ideas, commodities, and culture flow freely without obstructions.

Globalization has completely transformed the modern economy and society and has had major political, economic, and cultural consequences on them. This article gives simplified notes mainly on the political consequences of globalization from Chapter 7 of the Class 12 NCERT Political Science textbook. Students are advised to go through this article for further information.

Consequences of Globalization

• Globalization is the interconnection and interlinking of economic, social, political, cultural, and technological aspects between countries, hence we find the consequences of globalization in all these areas across the globe.
• The concept of globalization includes every country and every social structure in the world with all its aspects, which is why the influence and impact of globalization are also worldwide.
• Globalization has completely transformed the structure of modern society and institutions, especially the political sphere.
• Globalization has political, economic, and cultural consequences; However, in this article, our main focus is on political consequences, which we will discuss below.

Political Consequences of Globalization

We find that the steps taken by governments to reduce many cross-border obstacles, that existed in earlier periods, to facilitate the flow of ideas and capital, all thanks to globalization, has deeply impacted the sovereignty of states across nations.

• Globalization reduces/ diminishes state capacity aka the government’s ability to carry out its functions.
• The old “welfare state”, where the government used to wield lot of powers on almost all aspects of a country, including capital flow and flow of people, is turning into a more minimalist state that performs core functions like maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of its citizens.
• Governments are being forced to adopt global institutions and be more accountable in the global area, especially the protection of human rights.
• Many of the previous welfare functions of the governments, that aimed at promoting economic and social well-being, are now being seen as ‘obstructing’ the flow of ideas and capital, and have thus been abandoned.
• The market, rather than the welfare state, has become the main deciding factor of economic and social priorities.
• The introduction and rise of multinational corporations around the world have reduced governments’ ability to make independent decisions.

What is Political Globalization?

• Political globalization means the absence of the absolute sovereignty of a state’s political borders over certain aspects as well as increased interaction between the systems of government and increased external intervention on the basis of democracy, non-governmental organizations, human rights, and freedoms.
• Simply put it means the intensification and expansion of political interrelations across the globe.
• Since interactions with other state systems are on a rise, the economies of nations have become more open and porous. In the political sphere, globalization has challenged established notions of sovereignty and fundamental concepts associated with nation-states.interlinked

Advantages of Political Globalization

• Spread of democratic values and ideas which promotes transparency, accountability, and good governance among governments have drastically increased after globalization.
• Rise of foreign investments and trade after globalization, have resulted in better diplomatic relations between different countries, which would not have been possible in case of a closed economy.
• Involvement of countries in international institutions such as the WTO, UN has given them a greater voice in global affairs.
• There has been a rise in emergence of civil society organizations and social movements, after globalization which are advocate for greater accountability and transparency in government policies and actions.

Limitations of Political Globalization

• Despite its far-reaching consequences, political globalization faces limitations.
• International organizations often lack the enforcement mechanisms necessary to ensure compliance by nation-states, relying on goodwill for implementation.
• Political globalization sometimes engages in abstract idealism that fails to address current political realities.
• The States continue to play an important role, despite external interventions by these organizations and still uphold the position of supremacy in the political community.
• Despite the state withdrawing from certain areas, it continues to remain the pillar of a nation by making laws concerning core areas (national security, law and order etc.), where its decisions are final.

Conclusion – Class 12 Political Science Notes Chapter 7 Political Consequences

We find that globalization has affected all aspects of people’s lives across the globe. Economies and Societies of countries are becoming more and more inter-connected thanks to globalization, and this has had political, economic and cultural consequences on the age old world structures. Especially when we look at the political scenario we find that external interferences via institutions like UN, WHO etc. on the governments have increased. The traditional state sovereignty of absolute dominance has transitioned into a minimalist state that mainly concerns its with core aspects of a country like national security. This is not to say that the importance of state has reduced but rather that the political dynamics have changed. With times, political institutions are transforming to keep up with the impact of globalization, as change is the only form of survival.

FAQs on Political Consequences of Globalization:

What does political globalization involve?

Political Globalization involves the multilateral institutions and agreements that facilitate global political interactions, such as international organizations and multilateral agreements .

What are the political disadvantages of globalization?

The disadvantages include:

1. Loss of sovereignty, independence, and national identity.

2. Loss of national power in favor of even bigger government.

3. Increased competition causes job losses in some domestic industries.

4. Loss of border control increases smuggling.

5. Uniform laws don’t account for cultural differences.

What are the causes of Globalization in politics?

Globalization is facilitated by advancements in communication, transportation, and technology. It has led to increased trade, international cooperation, and the flow of capital. It has created both opportunities and challenges for nations worldwide.

What are the positive political consequences of globalization?

The positive effects of globalization include economic advancement and the reduction in poverty, creation of jobs, greater access to technology, cultural diversity and tolerance, emergence of new social movements and greater transparency.

How does globalization affect political processes?

Political globalization at this point is forcing governments to adopt global institutions. It increases the number of international organizations in which a country is a member. This makes governments more accountable in the global area and forcing them to pay attention to protect human rights.