When we say, even in a global village, that all politics is local, we mean that national sovereignties are the only reliable source of political authority.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
All politics is local.
Ultimate authority in a global system remains with sovereigns. Governments will not have it any other way: politicians face instant rejection from their electorate if they allow transnational authorities to dictate terms.
Local politics, like everything else, are not what they used to be. But the fact is that our political system - like our physical existence - still breaks down along geographical lines.
A global democracy works only when countries trust one another.
Where issues used to be, say, parochial or local in Ireland or England and so forth, all politics is global now because all business is global.
For politicians to be honest, the public needs to allow them to be honest, and the media, which mediates between the politicians and the public, needs to allow those politicians to be honest. If local democracy is to flourish, it is about the active and informed engagement of every citizen.
Democracy cannot be a plaything for the capital cities. It has to infiltrate every nook and cranny in the country, including the village.
As free citizens in a political democracy, we have a responsibility to be interested and involved in the affairs of the human community, be it at the local or the global level.
Global actions require local and national participation. International cooperation and action requires community perspectives and legitimacy if it is to be effective.
Its not a global village, but we're in a highly interconnected globe.