In recent years, globalization has affected the political world with an unprecedented force. In fact, globalization has so affected politics that some critics have suggested the death of the nation-state as we know it to be a very real possibility in the near future. Transnational corporations, like Nestle,
they say, have become so economically powerful that their politics dictate the states’ politics, and force government leaders to kowtow to their demands. Yet I believe that a purely economic argument concerning the death of the nation-state does not factor in a vital aspect of political daily life: nationalism.
Nationalism has long been a problem in global society. Arguably, nationalism pushed both World Wars into the immensely global and horrendous events that they became. Yet nationalism also motivated the decolonization of more than 130 colonies, as pride led citizens to demand independence. And I believe that that very same nationalism will hold states together now. Corporations will never take over for state governments—countries have too much pride, too much invested in their identity as sovereign units. While money does run the world, nationalism will force nations to adapt to survive, finding their own economical niche and still welcoming TNC’s but not bowing down to their every desire. The political world has changed immensely in recent times. But the announcement of the death of the nation-state is patently premature, and nationalism will be the glue that holds countries together.