Although the nation-state has been the predominant unit of political organization for most of the last few centuries, its future seems to be uncertain. Two trends point to the nation-state as receding in importance, but these trends sometimes contradict each other. Still, globalization and devolution continue to occur at a rapid rate throughout the twenty-first-century world, and both will affect the future of nation-states. The first major trend is globalization. Over the last few decades, national boundaries have broken down in a variety of ways, including economically. In today’s truly global economy, money and goods travel across borders in huge quantities and at great speed. Many corporations build parts in a variety of countries, then assemble them in yet another country. Most goods are no longer “made in America,” for example, because much of the manufacturing often happens in other places, whereas final assembly occurs in US. The rapid growth of international investing has further globalized the economy. Globalization often leads to transnationalism, so should this globalizing trend continue, the nation-state might give way to the transnational government. Since the mid-1990s, people from around the world have raised their voices against globalization. Environmentalists see globalization as a disaster for the environment, labor unions fear for their members’ jobs in a global marketplace, and others see globalization itself as a cause of poverty in developing countries. Most governments continue to favor globalization, but anti-globalization protesters have made their mark by demonstrating against meetings of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and other international economic institutions. During the so-called Battle of Seattle in 1999, thousands of protesters swarmed the hotel and convention centers at which meetings of the World Trade Organization were being held. Transnationalism Transnationalism has also occurred at the political level. International organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, play an ever-increasing role on the political stage, and nations join them for such benefits as military protection and economic security. In the case of the European Union, national boundaries have very little meaning. All citizens can travel, live, and work freely throughout the European Union, and all internal tariffs and trade restrictions have been abolished. Some residents see themselves as citizens of a new European Union nation, not of their smaller countries. Transnational governments and groups literally transcend geographical and political boundaries. The fact that increasing numbers of people around the world speak the same language demonstrates the transnational trend. English has become something of an international language, but many other languages such as French, Chinese, and Russian are also spoken by people for getting access to business and job opportunities around the world. Overall, the total number of languages spoken is decreasing, while the total number of speakers of certain dominant languages is increasing. Devolution Another interesting trend that marks the recession of nation-states concerns the increase in political power being given to local governments, sometimes to the point of autonomy. This trend is sometimes called devolution because states are said to devolve power back to local governments. In the United Kingdom, for example, Scotland has been granted a great deal of autonomy, as has Catalonia in Spain. Should this trend continue, local governments would replace national or central governments. Similarly, some cities will also become very powerful economically that they will effectively run almost independently, this is particularly true in cities like New York, Seattle where the city administration take many crucial decisions. New Federalism Since the 1970s, in United States of America, a number of presidents have pursued a policy which is sometimes called new federalism. Its supporters feel that the federal government has gotten too powerful and that more power should be given to state and local governments. Although the federal government remains strong, more power has been given back to state and local governments. In the 1990s, for example, US Congress created block grants that gave money to States with few strings attached. States were also given more freedom to experiment with policies. Accompanying devolution has been an increased identification with and interest in subnational groups. The prefix sub means “below” or “beneath,” so the term subnational indicates a smaller division of a larger national group. Many people are working to preserve the language, culture, and history of subnational groups. Some in France, for example, are learning to speak Breton, a language that had largely disappeared. In a number of countries, local dialects that were suppressed under dictatorial governments have reemerged after a transition to a more democratic government. Keep in mind that with the breakup of the Soviet bloc in Eastern Europe in 1989, a number of sub nationalities have emerged. In the Baltic states, for example, students learned native languages rather than Russian. Czechoslovakia went so far as to split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In the Balkans, the emergence of sub nationalism turned violent as Serbs, Croats, Slovenians, and others fought over the remains of Yugoslavia. But in most of the cases devolution has not yielded any economic miracle for sub-divided nations. It will be very interesting to watch the new emerging trends, which may lead to passport or Visa less living for people.
Can Borderless World Beccome Reality
'Imagine, for a moment, a world without countries. Think a map not divided into neat, coloured...' The very thought of there being no countries, no nations with their borders, is completely incomprehensible at this moment, but the way the world is evolving this may become a reality, the people from any geographical region to other travel without passport or Visa, may work at a place of their choice without restriction. But do not get surprised at this scenario because 400 to 500 years back there was no concept of nation as it is prevalent these days. Either there were feudal Kingdoms or Greek or Roman type of systems run by the city or area elders or areas controlled by some rouge people. 
Although the nation-state has been the predominant unit of political organization for most of the last few centuries, its future seems to be uncertain. Two trends point to the nation-state as receding in importance, but these trends sometimes contradict each other. Still, globalization and devolution continue to occur at a rapid rate throughout the twenty-first-century world, and both will affect the future of nation-states. The first major trend is globalization. Over the last few decades, national boundaries have broken down in a variety of ways, including economically. In today’s truly global economy, money and goods travel across borders in huge quantities and at great speed. Many corporations build parts in a variety of countries, then assemble them in yet another country. Most goods are no longer “made in America,” for example, because much of the manufacturing often happens in other places, whereas final assembly occurs in US. The rapid growth of international investing has further globalized the economy. Globalization often leads to transnationalism, so should this globalizing trend continue, the nation-state might give way to the transnational government. Since the mid-1990s, people from around the world have raised their voices against globalization. Environmentalists see globalization as a disaster for the environment, labor unions fear for their members’ jobs in a global marketplace, and others see globalization itself as a cause of poverty in developing countries. Most governments continue to favor globalization, but anti-globalization protesters have made their mark by demonstrating against meetings of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and other international economic institutions. During the so-called Battle of Seattle in 1999, thousands of protesters swarmed the hotel and convention centers at which meetings of the World Trade Organization were being held. Transnationalism Transnationalism has also occurred at the political level. International organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, play an ever-increasing role on the political stage, and nations join them for such benefits as military protection and economic security. In the case of the European Union, national boundaries have very little meaning. All citizens can travel, live, and work freely throughout the European Union, and all internal tariffs and trade restrictions have been abolished. Some residents see themselves as citizens of a new European Union nation, not of their smaller countries. Transnational governments and groups literally transcend geographical and political boundaries. The fact that increasing numbers of people around the world speak the same language demonstrates the transnational trend. English has become something of an international language, but many other languages such as French, Chinese, and Russian are also spoken by people for getting access to business and job opportunities around the world. Overall, the total number of languages spoken is decreasing, while the total number of speakers of certain dominant languages is increasing. Devolution Another interesting trend that marks the recession of nation-states concerns the increase in political power being given to local governments, sometimes to the point of autonomy. This trend is sometimes called devolution because states are said to devolve power back to local governments. In the United Kingdom, for example, Scotland has been granted a great deal of autonomy, as has Catalonia in Spain. Should this trend continue, local governments would replace national or central governments. Similarly, some cities will also become very powerful economically that they will effectively run almost independently, this is particularly true in cities like New York, Seattle where the city administration take many crucial decisions. New Federalism Since the 1970s, in United States of America, a number of presidents have pursued a policy which is sometimes called new federalism. Its supporters feel that the federal government has gotten too powerful and that more power should be given to state and local governments. Although the federal government remains strong, more power has been given back to state and local governments. In the 1990s, for example, US Congress created block grants that gave money to States with few strings attached. States were also given more freedom to experiment with policies. Accompanying devolution has been an increased identification with and interest in subnational groups. The prefix sub means “below” or “beneath,” so the term subnational indicates a smaller division of a larger national group. Many people are working to preserve the language, culture, and history of subnational groups. Some in France, for example, are learning to speak Breton, a language that had largely disappeared. In a number of countries, local dialects that were suppressed under dictatorial governments have reemerged after a transition to a more democratic government. Keep in mind that with the breakup of the Soviet bloc in Eastern Europe in 1989, a number of sub nationalities have emerged. In the Baltic states, for example, students learned native languages rather than Russian. Czechoslovakia went so far as to split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In the Balkans, the emergence of sub nationalism turned violent as Serbs, Croats, Slovenians, and others fought over the remains of Yugoslavia. But in most of the cases devolution has not yielded any economic miracle for sub-divided nations. It will be very interesting to watch the new emerging trends, which may lead to passport or Visa less living for people.
Although the nation-state has been the predominant unit of political organization for most of the last few centuries, its future seems to be uncertain. Two trends point to the nation-state as receding in importance, but these trends sometimes contradict each other. Still, globalization and devolution continue to occur at a rapid rate throughout the twenty-first-century world, and both will affect the future of nation-states. The first major trend is globalization. Over the last few decades, national boundaries have broken down in a variety of ways, including economically. In today’s truly global economy, money and goods travel across borders in huge quantities and at great speed. Many corporations build parts in a variety of countries, then assemble them in yet another country. Most goods are no longer “made in America,” for example, because much of the manufacturing often happens in other places, whereas final assembly occurs in US. The rapid growth of international investing has further globalized the economy. Globalization often leads to transnationalism, so should this globalizing trend continue, the nation-state might give way to the transnational government. Since the mid-1990s, people from around the world have raised their voices against globalization. Environmentalists see globalization as a disaster for the environment, labor unions fear for their members’ jobs in a global marketplace, and others see globalization itself as a cause of poverty in developing countries. Most governments continue to favor globalization, but anti-globalization protesters have made their mark by demonstrating against meetings of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and other international economic institutions. During the so-called Battle of Seattle in 1999, thousands of protesters swarmed the hotel and convention centers at which meetings of the World Trade Organization were being held. Transnationalism Transnationalism has also occurred at the political level. International organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, play an ever-increasing role on the political stage, and nations join them for such benefits as military protection and economic security. In the case of the European Union, national boundaries have very little meaning. All citizens can travel, live, and work freely throughout the European Union, and all internal tariffs and trade restrictions have been abolished. Some residents see themselves as citizens of a new European Union nation, not of their smaller countries. Transnational governments and groups literally transcend geographical and political boundaries. The fact that increasing numbers of people around the world speak the same language demonstrates the transnational trend. English has become something of an international language, but many other languages such as French, Chinese, and Russian are also spoken by people for getting access to business and job opportunities around the world. Overall, the total number of languages spoken is decreasing, while the total number of speakers of certain dominant languages is increasing. Devolution Another interesting trend that marks the recession of nation-states concerns the increase in political power being given to local governments, sometimes to the point of autonomy. This trend is sometimes called devolution because states are said to devolve power back to local governments. In the United Kingdom, for example, Scotland has been granted a great deal of autonomy, as has Catalonia in Spain. Should this trend continue, local governments would replace national or central governments. Similarly, some cities will also become very powerful economically that they will effectively run almost independently, this is particularly true in cities like New York, Seattle where the city administration take many crucial decisions. New Federalism Since the 1970s, in United States of America, a number of presidents have pursued a policy which is sometimes called new federalism. Its supporters feel that the federal government has gotten too powerful and that more power should be given to state and local governments. Although the federal government remains strong, more power has been given back to state and local governments. In the 1990s, for example, US Congress created block grants that gave money to States with few strings attached. States were also given more freedom to experiment with policies. Accompanying devolution has been an increased identification with and interest in subnational groups. The prefix sub means “below” or “beneath,” so the term subnational indicates a smaller division of a larger national group. Many people are working to preserve the language, culture, and history of subnational groups. Some in France, for example, are learning to speak Breton, a language that had largely disappeared. In a number of countries, local dialects that were suppressed under dictatorial governments have reemerged after a transition to a more democratic government. Keep in mind that with the breakup of the Soviet bloc in Eastern Europe in 1989, a number of sub nationalities have emerged. In the Baltic states, for example, students learned native languages rather than Russian. Czechoslovakia went so far as to split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In the Balkans, the emergence of sub nationalism turned violent as Serbs, Croats, Slovenians, and others fought over the remains of Yugoslavia. But in most of the cases devolution has not yielded any economic miracle for sub-divided nations. It will be very interesting to watch the new emerging trends, which may lead to passport or Visa less living for people.
.jpg "A Gumnam Actress Strips Nude to Protest Auto/taxi Fare Hike")
