Editorial : politics, sovereignty and globalisation

Abstract

This editorial deals with the impact an increased level of globalisation may have upon state sovereignty and politics. In the era of globalisation the political leaders of a Nation State could make choices which might affect people -they are not accountable to and the converse is also true: a national government can be called before some international organisation because of situations originating within the national jurisdiction. The ref ore issues of justice no longer arise solely within the context of the relationship between a state and its nationals. The author focuses his attention upon his country, Italy. He observes that Italian politics is based upon the concept of the Nation State. Only the technological and economic consequences of globalisation are noticed, without grasping its fundamental political essence. Yet the Pinochet saga highlights the crisis of the model of national sovereignty and our new responsibilities. Thus, the European Union is a political reality which is not simply given by the sum of the wills of its individual member states. It is argued that flexibility and ductility in international relations can coexist with national sovereignty, provided that this be supported by active political subjects, parties, movements, and currents of thought. Italy is deprived of such strong references rooted in its national history. This is why, in the age of globalisation, Italy as a nation runs the risk of evaporating. The strength of Europe lies in its strong political identities, its heritage of experiences and capacities, values and memories, and also of myths and symbols.