PART I: DIMENSIONS OF GLOBALISATION
Globalisation refers to the intensification of worldwide interconnectedness across economic,
political, cultural and technological spheres.
1️⃣ POLITICAL DIMENSION
Core Question in Notes:
Has globalisation undermined the sovereignty of the nation-state?
Your professor frames the debate around:
Erosion of sovereignty
Decline of state?
Or persistence of state?
A. Erosion of Sovereignty
1. Role of MNCs
Dimensions of Globalisation .pdf None
MNCs make decisions based on profit.
They relocate production.
They pressure governments.
They are not loyal to one nation.
This reduces national policy autonomy.
Scholar:
David Korten
→ Corporations shift power from citizens to global capital.
Scholar:
Susan Strange → “Retreat of the State”
Global markets overpower state authority.
2. Global Financial Markets
Dimensions of Globalisation .pdf None
Capital moves instantly.
2008 crisis shows contagion.
States cannot fully control currency flows.
3. Transnational Bodies
Dimensions of Globalisation .pdf None
IMF
World Bank
WTO
UN
They impose rules and conditionalities.
Scholar:
James Rosenau → “Governance without government”
Authority moves beyond state.
4. International Law
Dimensions of Globalisation .pdf None
European Convention on Human Rights
International legal procedures
States subject to external legal scrutiny.
5. Technological Networks
Dimensions of Globalisation .pdf None
Fibre optics
Satellite communication
Trans-border activism
Reduces state’s monopoly over information.
B. Persistence of the State (Counter Argument)
Scholar:
Hirst & Thompson
Arguments:
Globalisation is not new (pre-1914 integration existed).
MNCs are nationally rooted.
Most Fortune 500 firms located in US.
Markets require public regulation.
Capital mobility exaggerated.
Conclusion: State remains powerful.
Political Dimension – Test Conclusion
State is not disappearing.
Sovereignty is being restructured and shared.
2️⃣ ECONOMIC DIMENSION
A. Globalisation and Inequality
Scholar:
David Dollar & Aart Kraay
Argument:
Growth is good for the poor.
Poverty reduced in China due to integration.
Scholar:
UN Human Development Report (1999)
Argument:
Gap between rich and poor widening.
B. IMF & World Bank Critique
Scholar:
Joseph Stiglitz
Key Points:
IMF policies worsen crises.
Structural adjustment hurts poor.
Policies imposed without democracy.
Liberalization too rapid.
He says: Globalisation can work, but institutions must reform.
C. TRIPS & TRIMS
TRIPS protects intellectual property.
TRIMS regulates foreign investment.
Criticism:
Favour developed countries.
Hurt domestic industries.
D. Jagdish Bhagwati
He defends globalization.
Argument:
Trade liberalisation promotes growth.
Globalisation can reduce poverty.
But: Needs proper domestic policies.
Economic Dimension – Test Conclusion
Globalisation promotes growth but deepens inequality unless regulated.
3️⃣ CULTURAL DIMENSION
A. Cultural Homogenisation
Spread of:
Western consumer culture
Media
Global brands
Scholar:
Anthony Giddens
Globalisation linked to modernity and capitalism.
It reorganizes social relations across distance.
Scholar:
Roland Robertson
Concept of: “Glocalization”
Global + Local combine.
Local cultures adapt global forms.
Cultural Tension
Consumerism spreads.
Local traditions challenged.
But hybrid forms emerge.
4️⃣ TECHNOLOGICAL DIMENSION
Core Elements
Fibre optic cables
Satellite communication
Telecommunications
Internet
Technology enables:
Financial integration
Cultural spread
Political mobilization
Effects
Positive:
Connectivity
Global awareness
Economic coordination
Negative:
Digital divide
Loss of state control
PART II: PERSPECTIVES ON GLOBALISATION
1️⃣ Hyperglobalist Perspective
Scholars from your notes supporting this view:
Susan Strange
David Dollar & Kraay
Jagdish Bhagwati
Core Ideas:
Markets dominate.
State declining.
Growth increases.
Global governance emerging.
2️⃣ Sceptical Perspective
Scholar:
Hirst & Thompson
Core Ideas:
Globalisation exaggerated.
State remains central.
Capital mobility overstated.
Economic integration not unprecedented.
3️⃣ Transformationalist Perspective
Implicit in your notes through:
David Held (mentioned earlier in syllabus)
Multi-layered governance discussion
Core Idea:
State not disappearing.
Sovereignty shared.
Power restructured.
If asked:
“Discuss dimensions and perspectives of globalisation.”
Structure:
Introduction: Define globalisation as intensification of global interconnectedness.
Body: Political dimension → MNCs (Korten) → Retreat of State (Strange) → Governance
without government (Rosenau) → Hirst & Thompson counter
Economic dimension → Dollar & Kraay → UN HDR 1999 → Stiglitz critique → Bhagwati
defence
Cultural dimension → Giddens (modernity) → Robertson (glocalization)
Technological dimension → Fibre optics, satellites, digital flows
Perspectives: Hyperglobalist Sceptic Transformationalist
Conclusion: Globalisation restructures power; neither pure decline nor total continuity.
Thus, globalisation neither completely erodes nor fully preserves state power; rather, it
restructures sovereignty within a multi-layered global order.