Challenges of Globalization on Citizenship and the Interventions Democratic Government Offers - Essay Example

POLITICAL IDEAS AND IDEOLOGIES Name Course Tutor Date Ecological Problems and Democratic Systems of Government Introduction There has been a contested number of debates as to the link between democratic systems and the resolutions of ecological related problems. Ecological or environmental problems can ultimately be solved through democratic systems for a number of reasons. This essay evaluates how competent democratic systems of government are in solving ecological problems. Ecological Problems and Democratic Systems of Government Democratic systems of government have crucial role in the solution of ecological problems. First off, most democratic societies believe and share the ideology that respect for the ecosystem is generally not an ethical choice but rather a collective responsibility that deserves constitutional protection and thus the rebirth of human environmental rights altogether (Bernauer & Koubi, 2009). Environmental rights designed with the right to safe as well as healthy environment has been supported by most democratic policies and societies as well and has become the moral claim meant to enable political sovereignty of both individuals and groups within such societies (Mason, 2009). In short, the environmental rights have been designed to make it crucial to some extent to factor in political communication in solving ecological problems (Mason, 2009). A plethora of studies have shown that in more democratic countries there are lower levels of sulfur dioxide, lead, smoke, carbon monoxide, particulates, lead and arsenic compared to least democratic countries. There are four major reasons as to why democratic systems succeed in solving environmental problems (Bernauer & Koubi, 2009). First, they have higher levels of accountability and thus will be more aggressive to solving the environmental concerns that are raised by the constituents. Secondly, the democratic systems allow the flow of information through free press as well as a myriad of other forms that ensures that the citizens are well equipped with the knowledge of environmental based discoveries as well as ecological issues (Mason, 2009). Thirdly, such systems are civil society in setting and so the environmentalists and ecologists are able to associate in the democracies (Bernauer & Koubi, 2009). The freedom of association and speech enables activists and lobbyists as well as citizens to organize and put pressure on the government on matters that concern the solution of ecological issues. Lastly, such democratic countries are able to garner international cooperation (Bernauer & Koubi, 2009). Through the cooperation of the democratic governments amongst themselves, there is a higher likelihood of the systems adhering to international pacts that are for ecological protection. The constitutional democracy is essential in the solution of ecological issues as it creates an ecological contract between the citizens and state that then sets an avenue for rights as well as duties that define citizenship as both political and social relation (Humphrey, 2007). Through this the citizens are able to make decisions that are more inclined towards the solution of environmental issues. To avoid the tragedy of the commons through aggressive strategies, democratic societies ensure that the citizens have some moral obligations and responsibilities that are well shared amongst them with the key agenda of ecological protection (Mason, 2009). The democratic systems also have apt decision making processes that are neutral and have both sides participating or at least rallying for the good of the ecosystems (Humphrey, 2007). Democratic citizenship enables the voluntary creation and maintenance of ecological rationality within the public domain. The government is therefore able to address the ecological concerns raised by the public through various pubic opinions (Mason, 2009). In essence democratic systems instil some kind of sustainability practices that are more inclined towards the protection of the ecology. The arsenal of democratic systems is public interest that suffices in the proponent’s arguments as the benefit of democracy in environmental and thus ecological policy making as well as performance (Humphrey, 2007). In democratic systems this public interest is best represented. This means that the protection of the environment becomes the interest of the public and thus yields better results. Bernauer & Koubi (2009) note that, in democratic societies the leaders have to come up with ecological policies that provide high quality of public goods. Conclusion In conclusion the citizens in the democratic systems are more informed of their rights and use them to the maximum in pushing the government through the various constitutional mandates to ensure that there is adherence to the ecological or environmental rights. These environmental rights are to some extent viewed as human rights and are meant for the health of the ecosystems that have for a long time been degraded. There is also strong citizen involvement in ecological related initiatives as well as partnering with likeminded systems for cross border solutions in democratic societies. Despite the few critics that there is no link between ecological problems and democracy, the above discussion clearly indicates the opposite. The positive contribution of democratic systems in environmental restoration cannot be underscored. Challenges of Globalization on Citizenship and the Interventions Democratic Government Offers Introduction Globalization has been and still is a complex as well as controversial concept that has been in the talks both in public and scholarly domains. Its effects are local, national and international and is defined as the integration across national borders along political, economic, technological and socioeconomic dimensions (Carter, 2013). Citizenship probably one of the most spoken terms derives from the existence of a group of people say a community who are geographically embedded in a bounded nation state that is well known to other nations with certain laws within upheld. This paper looks at the challenges that globalization has posed on citizenship that only the extension of democratic government beyond the nation state can meet. Impacts of Globalization on citizenship The context of global citizenship has undergone significant transformation coming with various ambiguities (Schattle, 2012). There are two major aspects in relation to globalization that have implications on citizenship. First off, the mobility of people across boundaries to live and consequently work impedes national identity and belonging of membership of a state as well as the rights that institute the membership (Carter, 2013). This means that as people move into different countries their citizenships are likely to change (Schattle, 2012). Secondly, there has been the issue of transnational organizations that have also come in as a result of globalization outlaying national autonomy (Schattle, 2012). The other aspect though not major is that globalization has greatly undermined the independence of national cultures. Citizenship still remains one of the most crucial institution in the contemporary globalized world. With globalization there has been a challenge of inclusion and exclusion of citizenship. This stems from the fact that most of the citizenship is viewed differently. For example, the citizenship of an individual may be non-citizenship of another (Schattle, 2012). For instance, immigrants despite being residents in a country for many years may not be able to enjoy the right of citizens in the country in question. Citizens are not able to embrace their national identity as should in the case of autonomous nation states (Carter, 2013). The social citizenship is therefore affected in such situation since the individual members of state are not able to integrate in the community (Carter, 2013). The rights and obligations of citizens differ across boundaries depending on the state. In the case of globalization, the definition of these rights become ambiguous since there is a completely novel approach to the development of rights in the new transnational alliances (Schattle, 2012). Therefore there is a major challenge when it comes to globalization on the political, civil and social citizenship and only best forms of government can help intervene the situation. Role of Democratic Government in Solving the Challenges The role of democratic governments in the globalized world especially with reference to citizenship is significant. The democratic governments are accountable to the concerns of the citizens (Carter, 2013). In this case there is that collective view of the whole society and its population. Such governments are able to come up with policies that ensure that the citizenship of an individual in the nation state is well defined (O'Byrne, 2003). This has been done through collaboration between the democratic governments so as to allow such things as dual citizenship as well as set terms for the inclusion and exclusion of citizenship. Through democratic governments in the nation states, there is the ability of integration of policies that then allow political efficacy (O'Byrne, 2003). This goes a long way in ensuring that the governments are able to be pressured by various citizens to act on challenges that affect them despite their country of origin (Carter, 2013). The democratic governments also cooperate with other governments which uphold similar ideologies to come up with a solution through such things as global governance that ensures that ensures proportional representation of the citizens (O'Byrne, 2003). The national values can also be shared at will while still upholding national identity in the state. The democratic governments are therefore able to build a civil society with the members of the states well informed of what is required of them and the limit they can go. Conclusion There are many challenges on citizenship in so far as globalization is concerned, as have been outlined in the essay. However, despite the growing challenges that have effects on social, political and civil dimensions of citizenship, democratic governments still have a crucial role to play in ensuring that the challenges are well managed for the best of the member states as have further been discussed in the paper. Worth noting is the fact that there has been the mobility of individuals across nations resulting from globalization as well as transnational organizations that have challenged the existence of the traditional nation-state citizenship definitions. The proof to this is the peaceful correlation among different democratic governments in the world. Bibliography Bernauer, T., & Koubi, V. 2009, 'Effects of political institutions on air quality'. Ecological Economics, 68(5), 1355–1365. Carter, A. 2013, The political theory of global citizenship. London: Routledge. Humphrey, M. 2007, Ecological politics and democratic theory: The challenge to the deliberative ideal. London: Routledge. Mason, M. 2009, Environmental democracy. London: Earthscan. O'Byrne, D. J. 2003, The dimensions of global citizenship: Political identity beyond the nation-state. London: Frank Cass. Schattle, H. 2012, Globalization and citizenship. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Read More