The State, Democracy, and Globalization: A Comprehensive Overview
The State
Definition and Characteristics
Status: A state is a political entity that organizes the living and active population within a specific territory, governed by the same laws and power.
Territory: The area where the state exercises its power, delimited by borders. Historically, states could make decisions and impose their will, leading to conflicts between them.
Population: Individuals subject to the state’s power and laws within its territory. They have rights and obligations and may come from diverse cultures and nationalities.
Power: The state sets laws that regulate social relations (Parliament), enforces these laws (judiciary), maintains order and security (police and army), manages foreign policy, levies taxes to finance services and infrastructure, and directs the economy.
Democracy
Democracy: A system characterized by freedom of opinion and citizen involvement in governance. Citizens aged 18 and above participate in elections, as sovereignty resides with the people.
Elections: Free, plural, and universal suffrage elections are held regularly for citizens to choose representatives who exercise sovereignty on their behalf. These representatives form the Parliament, which drafts and approves laws and elects the President of the Government.
Political Parties: Groups of citizens who present their programs and objectives to voters and compete in elections by nominating candidates.
Division of Powers:
- Parliament: Drafts and votes on laws (legislative function).
- Government: Determines policy, enforces rules, and applies them through the Administration (executive function).
- Judiciary: Applies laws, resolves conflicts, and punishes those who violate the law (judicial function).
Types of Democratic States:
- Parliamentary Monarchies: The King is the head of state, but sovereignty resides with the people (e.g., Belgium, UK, Spain).
- Parliamentary Republics: The head of state is the President of the Republic, elected by the citizens (e.g., France, Italy, Austria).
State Intervention:
- Liberal States: Minimal interference in the economy and social relations.
- Social States: Intervene in social and economic spheres to ensure equality and social welfare.
State Organization:
- Centralist States: Decisions affecting regions are made by the central government (e.g., France, Poland).
- Decentralized States: Power is shared with different territories, delegating some authority (e.g., Germany).
Non-Democratic States
- Absolute Monarchy: The King holds absolute power and dictates laws (e.g., Saudi Arabia, Oman).
- Dictatorship: A person or group rules with absolute power, often with the support of a political party, ethnic group, or the army (e.g., some Latin American countries).
The State and Globalization
Factors influencing the transformation of the state:
- Globalization of the economy: Capital flows freely across borders.
- Information technology: Rapid circulation of information eliminates time and distance barriers.
Supranational Organizations: States have created organizations like the UN and EU to address global challenges and delegate certain functions.
The State and Regionalization
Regionalization: The process of activating local/regional territories with distinct economic, cultural, and social characteristics.
Subsidiarity: The principle that decisions should be made by the institution closest to the citizens.
Relations Between States
Treaties and Conventions: States sign agreements to cooperate and address common issues.
International Organizations: States create organizations like the UN to maintain peace, promote cooperation, and address global challenges.
The United Nations (UN)
Created in 1945 with objectives to maintain peace, strengthen international relations, address economic and social problems, and promote human rights.
UN Organizations:
- UNICEF: Protects children and youth.
- UNESCO: Promotes peace and social welfare through culture.
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
Private, independent organizations that are not affiliated with governments or political parties. They receive funding from various sources and work on a range of issues.
NGOs as International Networks
Examples of NGO activities:
- Humanitarian aid: Providing assistance during wars, famines, and natural disasters (e.g., Red Cross, Action Against Hunger).
- Human rights: Promoting and defending human rights (e.g., Amnesty International).
- Environmental protection: Protecting the environment and advocating against its destruction (e.g., Greenpeace, WWF).
Culture and Cultural Differences
Culture: The set of customs, beliefs, knowledge, and ways of life that define a group of people and differentiate them from others.
Cultural Diversity: The existence of different cultures due to variations in education, lifestyle, and beliefs.
Cultural Pluralism: The belief that diverse cultures can coexist peacefully and that differences should be respected.
Mass Consumption Culture
The spread of a global culture characterized by the adoption of customs from different parts of the world (e.g., Halloween, fast food).