Transcript Reflections of Globalization (of politics) in Political

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Davorka Vidović and Davor Pauković
Reflections of Globalization in Political
Parties’ Programmes in Croatia
International scientific conference “Globalization of Politics”
Dubrovnik, October, 12-13 2007
Basic premisis
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• Globalization causes a number of changes in all aspects of social
life
• These changes can not be properly explained in the framework of
the Westphalian paradigm anymore
• The old paradigm of nation-state system has been changed
dramatically, in particular the issue of sovereignty that was the
basis of state system
• New paradigm imply redefining of sovereignty and the
transformation of the role of the state in world politics (Beck,
Scholte)
• However, political parties remain functioning as the main political
actors of the nation state
• How parties reflect on globalization issues and themes? How they
perceive their role in globalized society?
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Concept of the survey
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• Main objective: to explore how political parties perceive
globalization and global issues
• Target group: parliamentary parties in Croatia
left
right
• Methodology: content analysis
– analysis of the programmes of the main parliamentary parties in
Croatia
– perceptions of the globalization and global issues through the
dimensions of globalization
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Dimensions of globalization -indicators
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Political
Economic
Social
Cultural
Ecological
Perception of relations
toward supranational
organizations (EU,
NATO, MMF, WTO...)
Perception of neoliberal
economy and
neoliberalism
Perception of the social
problems and their
importance
Perception of the
process of cultural
globalization
Perception of the
ecological problems as
global issues
Perception of the issue
of sovereignty –
transfer of sovereignty,
the role of state
Perception towards
openness of economy
Perception of market
economy and its role in
social sphere
Perception of the role
and importance of the
Croatian identity
Attitudes towards
adjustment to the
international standards
in environmental
protection
Perception of the role
of foreign capital
(investment)
Perception of the role
and type of welfare
state and social politics
Traditionalism
Perception of the role
of transnational
corporations
Attitudes towards new
ideas
and values from the
outside
Perception of issue of
Croatian economic
zone (ZERP)
Perception of the value
of national resources
See: Beck, U. (2003), Scholte, J. A. (2000), Steger, M. (2005), Midgley, J. (1997)
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Political dimension
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• Political parties still perceive sovereignty in the scope of old
Westphalian paradigm
• All parties give top priority to the issue of accession to EU, and
also full support to Croatian membership in NATO
• Parties percieve EU membership as positive and useful and
advocate for the equal and partnership role of Croatia in EU
• All parties insist on protection of Croatian national interest in
process of accession
–
–
–
HDZ: “...we should resist to all forms of globalization that are opposed to Croatian
national interest”
SDP: “...against any kind of integration that would insist on renunciation of right to
decide on own national interest”
HSP: advocate for “more rigid position in negotiation with EU, in order to protect
national interest”
• The need to redefine sovereignty in new (changed)
supranational context has been recognized by the majority of
parties
• However, it remain unclear in which ways or by what degree the
sovereignty ought to be transformed
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Economic dimension
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• Parties on both side of political spectrum support the market
economy and argued for the greater openness of economy as
necessary for further growth
• Economic globalization is mostly seen as positive force/ process
that provide greater opportunities to faster development of
national economy in general
• There is also perception that economic globalization could bring
negative effects, but still strong conviction that state could
affect on it and protect oneself
• Also, economic globalization is perceived as closely
interconnected to process of European integration
– DC: “Globalization and European integration will be used as tools that will
eliminate limits of domestic market and raise productivity...”
– HNS: ...stimulation to the development are certainly pre-accession funds of
EU that should be largely used
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Economic dimension
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• There is evident broad perception that openness to foreign
investment is necessary (DC, HDZ, HNS), but still that most of
the national resources should stay in the property of Croatian
citizens (DC, HDZ, SDP); in particular the agricultural land (SDP,
HSS-HSLS-PGS)
• Parties on both sides of political spectrum (HDZ, HSP, SDP)
perceive foreign capital as potential risk for Croatian national
interest and advocate for strongest protection and control
– HDZ: ...it is necessary to stop further debts since it has brought Croatia into
dependent position towards foreign financial power
– SDP: ...we need to protect the national resources from foreign capital.
“Croatia is not for sale”
• Most of the parties advocate for the prompt proclaim and
regulation of Croatian economic zone in Adriatic sea according
to the international law (ZERP) (HDZ, HNS, HSS-HSLS-PGS)
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Social dimension
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• There is strong awareness that increase of social problems is
connected with (neo)liberal economy, so parties mostly criticize
the social insensitiveness of liberalism in economy
• However, market economy is recognized as reality and
transformation of the welfare state and social politics is argued
to be suitable to new circumstances
– SDP: ...economic development should be followed by social development;
market
• Therefore, parties mostly advocate for the transformation
towards active social policy
• Moreover, conservative parties (DC, HDZ, HSP) argued for more
residual and targeted welfare state (means and asset tests) and
increased individual responsibility
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Cultural dimension
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• All parties (in different degree) advocate for protection of
national identity, language, tradition and customs
• Globalization and ongoing process of European integration has
been mostly seen as condition that require stronger linkage to
the national roots, tradition and identity
– HDZ: ..national identity and awareness is important for the perception of
Croatia in international and global environment
– SDP: ...importance of both processes – integration of European values in
Croatia and integration of Croatian values in EU
– HNS: ...Fear of diminishing of national identity in EU is ungrounded,
because Croatia naturally belongs to Europe
• Parties show a certain tendency to build the base of
sovereignty protection in cultural and national identity
– HDZ: ...the role of Croatian identity and awareness of state tradition is
most important defense against national and state collapse
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Ecological dimension
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• Ecological issues have been understood as important for the
sustainable development of the society and its surrounding
• Mostly all parties show significant awareness that environmental
problems are global issues and that state has no capacity to
solve it barely inside the national territory
• Also, it is recognized that environmental protection should be
primarily adjusted to EU standards
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Conclusions/few thesis for further
research
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• Political parties (still) act as an actors of old Westphalian
paradigm, in the scope of nation state and territory
• Grounded on those premises all parties emphasize the necessity
of protection of national interests in the supranational and
global surrounding
• Globalization process has been recognized as reality that
determine the contemporary society and state
– DC - perceive globalization as inevitable; Croatia should take the
advantages of globalization and protect oneself from negative effects
– SDP – globalization is not default condition and is not intangible; it has
advantages and threats at the same time, but the state could and should
resist
• For political parties globalization is a process they could
influence on in great sense
• Globalization is mostly seen as economic globalization, and the
perception of political globalization (meaning transfer and/or
reduction of sovereignty in the process of EU integration) is
significantly lower
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Conclusions/few thesis for further
research
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• There is evident dogmatism in perception of EU and European
integration (all aspects of future relation to supranational bodies
are not fully presented – only advantages are underlined)
– HNS: “Advantages that Croatia will obtain in accession to EU are perfectly
clear. Accession to EU will certainly ensure significant growth of our
economy, increase the productivity and raise incomes and life standard.”
• EU has been seen as ‘community of equal states where national
interests have been respected and harmonized’
• Almost all parties express significant interest for conserving and
protecting national identity, tradition and language, so the
cultural dimension almost become substitute for threat of
weakening political sovereignty
• Finally, it can be identified that differences between political
parties are mostly diminishing in scope of globalization issues
and themes they reflect on
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