Whether one favors globalization or not, we have to admit we live in a world of ever-growing interdependence and interconnectedness. In fact, our interdependence has grown beyond anyone’s imagination. On June 23, 2016 for example, a referendum was held to decide whether Britain should leave or remain in the European Union. Although with small margin, a majority of Britons voted to leave the European Union and the implications of that national and local event will no doubt have enormous global consequences. The same can be say about the impact of climate change for the planet, in a way that what we do locally has a global impact. Another example of our interdependence is a food crisis, which reflects how dependent we are on each other’s production and policies to feed ourselves for our survival. We cannot escape the fact that today what happens in one part of the world can trigger a chain-reaction across the globe. However, in parallel the world is also witnessing the resurgence and birth of aspirations for localization and for a greater role of local governments. The global and local dynamics are no panaceas for current challenges facing humanity, and both offer advantages and disadvantages for well-being and democratic governance. But centripetal and centrifugal forces are creating a number of contradictions between globalization and localization. A dimension of this paradox was at full display in the referendum in Britain on whether to leave or remain in the European Union.
4democraticgovernance 