FROM AGORA TO THE MARKETPLACE, AND WHERETO FROM HERE?*
Journal Title: Journal of Globalization Studies - Year 2011, Vol 2, Issue 1
Abstract
Beneath the present ‘globalization of inequality’ lies the current repetition on a planetary scale of the emancipation of business interests from all extant socio-cultural institutions of ethically inspired supervision and control and, consequently, the immunization of business pursuits against all values other than the maximization of profit. The state is today less and less able, and willing, to promise its subjects existential security. On the fears that saturate the present-day society, politicians as much as the consumer markets are eager to capitalize. The disastrous side-effects and ‘collateral damages’ of global laissez faire, cannot be effectively dealt with separately from the rest of the planet in one corner of the globe. ‘Social state’ is no longer viable, only a ‘social planet’ may take over the functions that the social states tried, with varying success, to perform. There are valid reasons to suppose that on a globalized planet, on which the plight of everyone everywhere determines the plight of all the others while being determined by them, one can no longer assure and effectively protect democracy ‘separately’ – in isolation, in one country, or in a few selected countries only. The fate of freedom and democracy in each land is decided and settled on the global stage; and only on that stage it can be defended with a realistic chance of a lasting success.
Authors and Affiliations
Zygmunt BAUMAN
Keywords
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