Globalization: Its Influence on State and Society

Globalized structures of production and trade destroy the scope for manoeuvre open to the nation state and civil society; consequently, the balance of tension that had hitherto prevailed in national societies between the economy, the state and civil society disintegrates. Under the market power wielded by transnational corporations and under the ever increasing speeds at which capital flows circulate round the world whole seeking out the highest rates of interest, there is a breakdown of democratic social structures. Individuals striving for autonomy are struck by the whiplash of cost-cutting company strategies and short term profit-oriented fund strategies. Nonetheless, what is it that should be done to meet individuals’ desire for self determination, preserve democracy and push structural power down to a minimum? What changes should the hierarchical structure of the state be subjected to, to enable it to tap the potential inherent in civil society engagement for stabilizing society as a whole? How expensive and energy intensive will it prove to ward off what are for the most part capital backed efforts to undermine democratic structures and replace them with sheer market power? Where democratic culture is not preserved are strengthened, democracies will not prove viable. The present study looks for answers and offices solutions. It shows that the perception of society as a complex system of functioning (Niklas Luhmann) does not suffice to adequately describe the socially relevant activities of hegemonial formations. It assigns to the state the arduous task of imparting extended continuity to the formless social counterbalance (Reinhard Hildebrandt) that emerges in the conflict between hegemonial formations. Contrary to prevailing theories, the present study does not assume for the realm of civil society an unrealistic distance from power. Further, it extends the reader’s vision to the regional and global areas of activity of civil society and, as opposed to Herfried Munkler, subjects the imperialist attempts of the United States of America to a sobering analysis.