System and Actors

Many people think that there is a world State already -the United States- since the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet system.

Others think that the world institutions are being created. Such institutions are part of the United Nations, or represent the beginning of world judicial order. The Pinochet case is impressive. Any judge from any country can file a complaint against any ruler for genocide or torture.

Another significant group puts emphasis on supra-national States, such as the European Union -a federation of national States- the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), or MERCOSUR, which intends to go beyond the mere common market.

But none of these approaches fits the initial question. We are very far from the world State. The European federalist approach not only has not progressed, but is in fact losing ground. Therefore, the initial idea should be revised. Empires collapse, multinational States break up. National States resist more and more the internationalisation of their economy. Japan, the United States, or France have not broken up. Germany has been reinforced by union. Autonomies are born in Spain and the United Kingdom. But this is the result of national awareness rather than a break-up of the State-nation.

Such a conclusion does not assume a return to the classic State-nation. It suggests another conclusion: the increasing difference and dissociation of social sectors.

Undoubtedly, a significant portion of the economy has been globalised. In Europe, Brussels and the European Union are the true centre of political decisions. European Parliaments abide by Brussels rules. There is an European currency. The judiciary, the media, professionals in some cases, and public servants in many cases take an active part in the political system.

Under the political system, not only cities and locales are more active, but cultural and environmental groups, defenders of minorities, feminists and many others. NGO´s in Latin America or Eastern Europe are part of the civil society. This is a new level in the political ambit, as compared to trade unions of a century ago; when trade unions were a piece of the political system, and were partly independent from political parties.

The State-nation approach may disappear with the strong inter-relationship of all social components at the same territorial level. But neither State nor nation is suffocated by the markets absolute power.

If growing difference among social sectors is considered, then the possible intervention of political, social and cultural forces in the economy has not diminished. On the contrary, it has increased.