Today’s Topics Globalization & Democratization 1.Positive impact of international factors on democratization. 2.Negative impact of international factors on democratization. 3.Group discussion activity.

International influences that encourage democracy

Effects of Decolonization Retreat of colonizing power creates necessary condition for democracy. Eastern Europe 1989: USSR would not intervene to suppress opposition. Cases with earlier colonial powers not so clear.

Effects of Economic Globalization (Friedman) Stringent demands of foreign investors for transparent government and consistent regulation encourage democratization.

Effects of Economic Globalization (Friedman) Investors don’t demand democracy but demand stability, transparency, and protection of private property. Threat: can always move their money elsewhere.

Effects of Economic Globalization Do investor demands always encourage democracy? Historical context: not really. Natural resource industries particularly indiscriminate. But perhaps today’s stock market investors more interested in transparent government than traditional MNCs.

International influences that discourage democracy

Declining Accountability of Democratic Governments in the Globalized World? 1.Loss of autonomous economic decisionmaking power. 2.Influence of transnational NGOs.

Loss of autonomous decisionmaking power Governments must balance budgets, lower taxes, cut spending due to global demands. Governments may be forced to take decisions that diverge from policy platforms they were elected on.

Influence of Transnational NGOs Extensive transnational networks among NGOs in different countries. Often lobbying for an arguably pro- democratic cause: protection of individuals’ rights. But is this really democratic, without comparable input from local citizens?

Decline of Sovereign State? Decline of Democracy? Treaty of Westphalia (1648) established sovereignty principle as governments’ authority to make and enforce rules. Sovereignty has never meant complete control over cross-border flows.

Decline of Sovereign State? Decline of Democracy? Some claim that nation-state in decline due to: –Emergence of supra-national institutions: European Union. –Erosion of state sovereignty. NAFTA, WTO, IMF

Decline of Nation-State? Decline of Democracy? Possible solution: other governing institutions become more democratic (e.g. the EU).

Summing Up International factors encouraging democracy. 1.Demonstration effects. 2.International norms & laws. 3.Decolonization. 4.Economic globalization: foreign investor demands (sometimes).

Summing Up International factors discouraging democracy. 1.Erosion of government accountability due to external pressures. 2.Nation-state decline?