Globalisation and the Nation-State

So far in this course, we have seen some of the central debates surrounding the practices of globalisation (free trade versus protectionism, and corporate profits versus respect for human rights, for example). We have also introduced the notion of ideology: coherent ways of assessing how the world is and how it ought to be. A focus on ideology raises the possibility that people and organisations make decisions not just on the basis of rational economic calculation but also in keeping with their values and ideals. It is worth noting here that these values and ideals are neither accidental nor arbitrary. An individual or a government does not just decide to adopt neo-liberalism, for example, on a whim. Often, ideologies are related to material interests. A business group, for example, may espouse a neo-liberal focus on free markets and minimal regulation as they pursue their goals of maximising corporate flexibility and profitability.