How Globalisation and Deglobalisation are dominating International Relations

Globalisation has become one of the most discussed and studied areas of international relations over the past few decades and many aspects of the modern world in which we live are touched by it.

However, in recent years the world has seen some pushback against the concept, starting with the 1999 protests in Seattle when the world saw the first major dissatisfaction from unions worried about cheap foreign labour, environmentalists concerned with the outsourcing of polluting activities, concerns over unsafe imports, and worries about how working conditions were nosediving.

Britain's rejection of the EU will surely be a major area of study and research for students studying international relations - now and for several years to come. With the election of Donald Trump in the United States amidst nationalist American desires to see jobs return to their country, will the study of anti-globalisation take centre stage? Or will the consequences of anti-globalisation attitudes in Britain and the United States prompt other countries to embrace globalisation in the form of trade and immigration, for example? These are the types of questions we encourage students to find answers for on the International Relations MA here at Queen Mary Online.

Whether they reject globalisation or not, all countries will be progressively impacted by environmental issues and technology, both of which continue to have profound and nebulous consequences - these are further example of the challenges graduates of international relations will have to face.

Is globalisation as we know it over?

Guardian journalist Larry Elliot asks, 'Does the UK's exit from the EU mark a resurgence of nation-state'? It certainly marks the start of a narrative that is one of disintegration. As far as the UK is concerned, it is the older generation who overwhelmingly feel let down by globaslisation, with 75 per cent of over 60s choosing to vote to leave.

With this in mind, the 75 per cent of under 25s who voted to remain could end up trying to steer things back in the other direction after the older generation of voters are no longer around, disturbing the transition to becoming a nation state. Elliot goes on to suggest that 'the hype for globalisation that excited the era before the crash has given way now to fears of deglobalisation'.

The resounding message appears to be that economic growth may have to stay on the back burner until political leaders and those working in international relations deal with the anger of the large proportion of the public who feel globalisation neglected them.

Once this is established, it appears that the UK and US public seek to operate as China do in terms of economics, embracing the idea of a nation state, without closing themselves off from the global economy. This will be a significant part of modern politics that arguably makes now a better time to study International Relations than ever before.

The part-time International Relations MA at Queen Mary Online is taught by academics at the cutting-edge of their field who can help students make sense and interpret the way globalisation and other relevant factors fluctuate in the 21st century.