How “low” politics became “high”
Defence and security issues were traditionally considered “high” politics, whereas (domestic) economic and social matters were categorized as “low”. As the threat of major war has declined, and governments have increasingly been seen as responsible for their people’s welfare, their economic competence has risen in political significance. Jobs, tax arrangements, welfare policy, attitudes to immigration, business regulations, trade agreements, free-trade arrangements, regional and other economic regimes, and international relations now comprise a complex bundle of interrelated priorities for governments. Local has become global, global become local, and low has become high.