7.3 Globalisation, Power and Politics

2026 Syllabus Objectives

  1. The spread of liberal democracy and human rights.
  2. Global social movements and attempts to oppose globalisation.
  3. Debates about the role of the nation state in tackling global social and environmental problems.

🌍 The Spread of Liberal Democracy and Human Rights

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Growth of Liberal Democracy

Liberal democracy has experienced remarkable global expansion over the last two decades, with a significant decline in dictatorships worldwide. The Cold War period represented a unique political landscape where both superpowers supported dictators aligned with their respective ideologies. Following the end of the Cold War, transformative political changes emerged:

  • Countries in Eastern Europe transitioned from authoritarian systems
  • Many developing countries moved away from military rule toward democratic governance
  • Approximately 60% of governments in countries with populations of at least half a million are now democracies, compared to only 24% in 1976
  • Absolute monarchies and authoritarian systems have fallen in equivalent proportions

Liberal democracy has globalised from its European origins to become the world's most common political system.

Electoral Standards and International Monitoring

While not all political systems and elections qualify as 'free and fair' with opposition groups allowed to organise freely, important developments include:

  • Elections are almost always observed by international monitors
  • Procedures exist to reduce bribery, vote rigging, and electoral fraud
  • Having free and fair elections has become a condition for receiving international aid

Human Rights Framework

Human rights are rights that apply to all humans simply because they are people. This concept originated in Enlightenment Europe and represents a relatively recent development in political thought.

Key milestone: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations in 1948.

Legal protections have expanded through:

  • Many countries incorporating human rights protections into national laws
  • A growing framework of international agreements to protect human rights
  • The establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which can prosecute individuals for:
    • Genocide (mass killing)
    • War crimes
    • Crimes against humanity

Driving Forces Behind Democratic Spread

The globalisation of democracy and human rights results from three interconnected factors:

1. Cross-Cultural Contact Through Globalisation

  • Increased exposure to democratic ideas and human rights concepts
  • Encouraged democratic movements across regions
  • Facilitated the exchange of political ideologies

2. Pressure from International Organisations

  • The United Nations (UN) has pushed governments toward democracy
  • The European Union (EU) has mandated human rights respect as membership conditions
  • International bodies monitor and evaluate political systems

3. Spread of Capitalism

  • Democratic states provide more stable political environments
  • Better business conditions attract international trade
  • Transnational Corporations (TNCs) prefer operating in democratic nations

Limitations and Exceptions

Despite globalising forces, several countries with large populations maintain non-democratic systems:

  • China
  • Vietnam
  • Saudi Arabia

This suggests that globalisation alone does not inevitably lead to democracy and human rights.

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