powerful impact on domestic debates and politics, not only in countries that sent
coalition forces, but also in Mulim countries where conflict between different
factions became worse like in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and also in Latin America,
for example, where the global role of the US is hotly contested. KALDOR reminds us
that today the real choices are not about embracing or rejecting globalization, but
between
multilateralism
and
unilateralism,
between
cosmopolitanism
and
particularism.
Three possible frameworks are outlined in ANHEIER, et. al: 2005. One is
designated “Global America,” and described as the deep entrenchment of American
political, social and cultural institutions in key countries and institutions of the world
(like the UN, the IMF, the WTO and the World Bank). The paradox is that the US,
which has been instrumental in making globalization possible, is increasingly
unwilling to live as a citizen in the very world it has created. This can be observed in
the unilateral use of force that has contributed to the gap between the Green and the
Red Zones and increased global insecurity. This is termed one form of “regressive
globalization”.
A second possible framework is “Global Islam,” and describes the reaction of
Islamic elites and militants to internal modernization failures by seeking to establish
a more global cultural and political presence in the name of religious devotion and
tradition. Global Islam exports internal conflicts and failures to the outside world (to
the US and Europe, but also to Africa and Asia). It is termed as another form of
“regressive globalisation”.
The final possible framework that is outlined is the victory of multilateralism
and what is called the “reformist” and “supportive” tendencies in global civil
society. This includes a vigorous and vibrant global civil society combined with a
loose international order (for example, a reformed UN system), permeable and
multicultural nation states, with the rise of regional governments such as the EU and
other regional formations like the Mercosur and ASEAN, and a strong presence of
global market institutions and corporations. One of the criticisms of this outlook is
that it takes the normative stance that all civil society is “good” civil society.
The real “clash of civilizations”, according to MOHAMED EL-SAYED SAID, was
found in the gap between Global America and global civil society during the time
leading up to the Iraq war and was greater than the conflict between Global America
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