Global Order and Global Disorder: Globalization and the Nation-State

The contemporary world order is ending. The old order has been based on nation-states, or countries, with centralized national governments. As Suter makes clear, the process of globalization, which is now the most important factor in world politics, is undermining that world order and leading to world disorder. Global change is running ahead of governments’ abilities to manage it. Economics is only part of the process. Suter also deals with other vital concerns: war, crime, environment and health. Therefore, while Suter examines the growth and impact of transnational corporations, he also takes in many other matters that comprise globalization. The process of globalization is not reversible. Therefore, there has to be a search for a new order rather than vain efforts to patch up the system of the nation-states. Suter concludes by exploring alternatives to the contemporary world order using the technique of scenario planning.