Globalization III
A world in turmoil or new awakening.
Another less mentioned consequence of Globalization is emerging nationalism in many societies and the resultant heightened conflict within and across borders.
As poorer States with already significant internal inequalities find their low-income manufacturing jobs less competitive, they become ever more marginal to the global economy. Hence, their inequalities of wealth intensify.
Inevitably, in the face of stronger internal opposition, governments will use nationalist appeals to unite the population. It is an old story. An external enemy heals internal divisions, or at least diverts attention away from elite exploitation.
That is, we are likely to see societies become more bellicose, break away from traditional alliances and challenge international trade regimes. As well, harsher repression of dissident movements will lead to refugees and regional turbulence.
Such internal political pressures will force governments to be more aggressive in opposing global trade policies, alienating former political allies.
One nation or one alliance of nations will be unable to set the table for a new global order, political or economic.
All this is occurring in the context of global warming and accelerating scientific breakthroughs.
What does this mean for the United States?
The refusal of States to be bullied into compliance with policies that maintain American dominance?
A new era of isolationism and retreat into a Fortress America?
Or the opportunity for different alliances across the world, both public and private, as nations discover new shared interests?
Consider too, the possibility of growing tensions within States between localism and cosmopolitanism, as increasing numbers of citizens forge global identities while their societies enforce new nationalist priorities.
A lot for the self-appointed savants of Davos to handle? A lot for the present generation of world leaders to consider as they find that their old methods of “handling” vastly inadequate.
I wonder to what degree the evil of the US invasions, abuse, and hostility in Iraq and Afghanistan have created, not just a swing in the US toward authoritarianism, but also authoritarian reactions around the world as well as sympathetic reactions in countries like Hungary etc. And that this has little to do with globalization except maybe that much of it is driven by the same billionaires and investors.