By Kanza Eemaan
In past the world has experienced a debate, centered on conservatives’ vs liberals, left vs right or capitalism vs communism. In 21st century the debate has been shifted to globalism vs nationalism. We are living in age of globalization, where everything affects everything else.
On one hand globalization is uniting the world and creating unprecedented opportunities, on the other hand this phenomenon is making national boundaries less important. The debate between the advocates of ‘Nationalists’ and ‘Globalists’ is not new, but the new nationalist surge has shocked the world, because unlike before the echoes of nationalism are coming from the land of ‘founders of globalization’.
Indeed, Nationalism is in vogue again. Either it is Brexit, Donald Trump success in USA Presidential election, nationalist political parties’ increasing vote bank in France, Italy, Netherland or German, protectionist policies or trade war mantra, globalization is under backlash.
In America a new surge of Nationalism can be witness now a days. American Unites States president Donald J Trump can rightly be quoted as ‘A Bull in China’s closet’. He ran his election campaign on slogan of “America’s first”. He spoke out against free trade policies, immigrant’s influx and refugee’s entry in USA. He claimed to be a nationalist and said that all Americans should also be nationalist.
Recently USA has imposed tax on import of Chinese products, tightens the immigration rules, announced to withdraw from several international treaties and declaration to build a wall along Mexico border; all are manifestations of how America is treading on narrow path of nationalism. (Rachman, 2018)
Many factors are responsible for the rise of nationalism in American soil. The domestic industries of USA are suffering due to availability of low-price foreign products in market. As USA is known as land of opportunities, the immigrant’s influx in their territory creates many social and security problems. The immigrants are mostly the people from developing countries, they are willing to work even at lowest cost, thus they take the job opportunities of locals. Then the law and order condition also suffer as many violent elements are also facilitated due to increased cross border trade and travelling.
The globalization has made the world interconnected, due to which industries prefer to hire labor from underdeveloped region as this will put less economic burden on them, this creates unemployment at home. The increasing episodes of terrorist attacks and emerging security threats gave way to deglobalization in America and compelled Donald Trump to say; “We will no longer surrender this country or its people to the false song of globalism”. (Hattem, 2016)
Trump administration has made withdrawal from international pacts like Paris Climate Deal and United Nations Human Rights Council, and government is also skeptical about NATO and NAFTA. The withdrawal of a major power from such accords is a major setback to international regimes.
USA president often complained about China’s unfair trade practices, but in July 2018 Trump administration has imposed tax on 534 billion worth of Chinese goods, including Television, spare parts, tyres and medical devices and commence a trade war between two economic giants. As China has retaliated by imposing tariffs on 110 $ billion of USA goods. This trade war would create disastrous ripple effect on global economy.
If we take the dependency ratio of both states on each other, then it is evident that China is less dependent on its exports to USA, thus the direct impact on Chinese economy is likely to be minor. On the other hand, Washington D.C is more intricately dependent on Chinese products. Beijing has many options to response like targeting American companies, employing diplomatic tools or financial leverage but whatever the option is, both parties will be a loser in this trade war. (Wilson, 2018)
American policies of deglobalization will have far reaching impacts, and it will give way to some winners and many losers. One must not forget that one of the primary reasons of two horrific world wars was narrow nationalism. The global economy will majorly affect as rest of the states will retaliate in same way in response to protectionist policies.
There will be more xenophobia and discrimination in world in name of nationality. It is a time-tested reality that when the economies of states are tied together than the probability of conflict occurrence reduced. In wake of protectionism and self-interested policies, states are more likely to indulge in conflicts. The faith of humans on collective welfare will lose and dreams of founding fathers of global institutions will be shattered.
Although American nationalists perceive that by adopting nationalism, they can escape the collateral damage pose by globalism, but treading on this path could be prove harmful in long run. As a time will come when the reigns of global institution will become so lose to get a control over states behavior in anarchical world order. (Beinart, 2018)
Globalization is not something that we can hold off or turn off. It is the economic equivalent of a force of nature, like wind or water. (William. J. Clinton).
The solution to the above-mentioned debate is that America must opt moderate, pragmatic, rational and long-term approach. Being pro- market economies does not mean that all regulations must be dismantle, or the government should never intervene to protect the local workers. Being pro-trade does not mean that every trade agreement is a good one. Being pro- globalization does not imply that compromising responsibility and loyalty to our country. And being pro- immigrant should never entails sanctioning illegal immigration or erasing borders.
Its is a fact that protectionism and nationalism are in vogue, but many traders, small businessmen and educated youth still welcome globalization, for the range of services it has provided and benefitted several of people. So, Globalization is not withering away. Globalization is not an option or choice rather it is a need to match pace with other states. This era is based on interconnectedness and technologies, and if a state is failed to make good connection with rest, it can be thrown backward.
In conclusion, it can be said that there is a need to achieve balance between protectionism and globalization. Only by adopting gradual and moderated approach USA will be able to play its best role on international and local level. Otherwise the country might lose its status of a global leading power.
(The views expressed in this article belong only to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of World Geostrategic Insights)
Image Credit: Flickr/Nico Paik