Lecture November 13

Globalization continued– Nov. 13, 2002

Overview of lecture:

1. Consequences of globalization - 2 models:

--> “neo-liberal model”: what happens when nation-state loses power in Information Age?

Negative view: 5 “deficits”

Positive view: “Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace”

--> interventionist model: strong nation-state promotes “information age” (case study of Singapore)


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1. Consequences of globalization: “neo-liberal model”: what happens when nation-state loses power in Information Age?

Negative view: 5 “deficits

--> in moving from nation-state as “guardian of national public good” to nation-state being “guardian of market economy”:

--> western nation-states’ governance capabilities are weakened and their WILL to govern is diminishing. This leads to governance deficits (according to Lubbers
www.globalize.org/dynamic.html):

1. Social Deficit

--> nation-states try to create “national comparative advantages” with regard to other states, in favour of TNC’s and international investors.

--> this results in a “race to the bottom” - social safety net dismantled, taxes for wealthy are reduced, subsidies (to weaker members of society) are reduced.

Gaps between income groups become wider: rich getting richer, poor getting poorer (see Chodos, et al. article).

2. Democratic Deficit

argument: since the sovereignty of nation-state is undermined by globalization:

--> the state is “less effective in realizing societal values” so citizens come to recognize the weakening of the nation-state- and that the politicians (who they have elected) have fewer possibilities of determining their own policies -- and politicians become less credible.

--> the power exerted by transnational regulatory bodies (or IGO’s - internal governmental organizations) + MNC’s is outside citizens’ ability to hold them accountable

3. Security Deficit (threats to social order)

--> attempts to protest against globalization seem to be leading to excessive force against protesters -the govt. reacts to public demonstrations by pepper spray, etc. because it sees demonstrators as “unruly” -- the threats in this case to social order are illusory

-->Whereas in the case of the growth of international criminality, the lack of supranational controls means that criminals can exploit the same information technologies as those “legitimate” TNC’s.

4. Environmental Deficit

“In the global economy it is economically attractive to apply as low standards as possible to the environment” (Holten,1998) -à few concerned about long term effects; they are just measuring short time economic gain.

5. Cultural Deficit

a strong nation-state had the power to protect national cultures: when the culture flowing across the Internet is primarily American-based, how can national identities survive the enormous power of American consumerism?

Result: homogenized world (i.e., American culture)

Neo-liberal Model: Positive view: “Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace”
Another alternative approach to a globalized world—no nation-states, everyone part of ‘global village”:

“The Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace” (distributed in class and at http://hotwired.lycos.com/wired_online/4.06/declaration

In this declaration, Barlow is writing to the governments of the “Industrial world” and he’s writing as the Co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation

He claims:

1) it is not right that conventional govts. rule citizens of cyberspace

why?
-->we didn’t consent (para 3)
--> you don’t know us and our ethics para 4)
-->you claim there are problems but many don’t exist; and anyway we can solve them (5)
--> our world is different from yours (5)
--> because you’re doing things wrong (11-14)
-->you’re treating us like colonies of old were treated (15)

2) it is right that we rule ourselves

Therefore, we’ll rules ourselves with our own SOCIAL CONTRACT
What does this contract guarantee?

--> freedom of access (7)
--> freedom of speech (8)
--> freedom from copyright (9)

What is the prevailing law?
--> the Golden Rule (10)
Result? A more humane and fair world than today’s governments have provided…

2. Interventionist model: strong nation-state promotes “information age”

(e.g. of Singapore as revealed in 1996 documentary called “The Intelligent Island”)
--> high standard of living
--> all information linked together and centralized (for efficiency but also to keep track of citizens)
-->govt. controls what citizens get to see
--> govt. influencing the young through education packages – even at home
--> parts of life that aren’t controlled are eliminated – e.g., old sections of run-down Singapore
--> interface with ancient artifacts—mediated by computer?
--> sociologist’s analysis: “citizens are highly controlled rather than better informed.”


This page last revised 9/17/02