Global Politics and Global Governance: Globalization in the Political Sphere: Globalization in the Political Sphere

Author: Zhang Shipei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Series of Peking University International Studies. The authors of the selected papers in "Global Politics and Global Governance" generally hold left, center, and right positions. Although "transcending left and right" and "" (diluting ideology) are fashionable slogans today, in reality, the political polarization of left and right still exists and has further strengthened and developed to varying degrees among global far-left and far-right forces, especially in the context of unprecedented wealth disparity within developed capitalist countries and globally. The role of ideology has not weakened but has instead become even more powerful and pervasive under the armament of modern advanced information and communication technology, almost penetrating everywhere.
With economic globalization, the neoliberalism represented by Reagan-Thatcherism has permeated the world as the ideology of the new right. It includes not only neoliberal economic policies such as "relaxing controls," privatization, and liberalization but also an excessive belief in the market, the "market fundamentalism" that pushes everything onto the market, the social Darwinism that glorifies survival competition, the "dog-eat-dog" mentality of the "fittest survive," and the extreme individualistic social tendency described as "dancing around the golden self."
In terms of political globalization, we see the threat of U.S. hegemonism on one hand, while on the other, European ethnocentrism is quietly growing. The political elites of developed capitalist countries, whether in the U.S. or Europe, are working to promote their own social, political, and economic system models worldwide, striving to reshape, govern, and even dominate the entire world with their own worldview. In this context, China's globalization studies must first thoroughly understand and accurately grasp the different positions of various Western schools of thought. While comparing, digesting, and critically absorbing the reasonable aspects, it is essential to clearly define one's own stance and ideological line, at least by distinguishing itself from neoliberalism. For globalization, China must develop its own interpretations, responses, and strategies. Political globalization is a double-edged sword, and a proactive approach that seeks to maximize benefits while minimizing harm should be adopted. Challenges should be actively embraced rather than passively avoided.