Political outcomesLoss of sovereignty – Discuss the links between the diminishing effectiveness of political borders and the flow of goods, capital, labour and ideas, and the role of one multi-governmental organization such as the European Union (EU), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and MERCOSUR (the common market of South America). Discuss the shift of power from nation state to TNCs as a result of their economic size and dominance. Compare the wealth of TNCs with that of nation states.

Responses – Examine the resurgence of nationalism in one country as it attempts to retain control of its resources and culture.

Discuss anti-globalization movements.

Discuss the attempts to control migration into one country.

Sovereignty - The state of being independent and being able to make your own decisions.

Globalisation has meant that many political borders are now much more porous, with goods, ideas, money and people able to travel much more freely between locations. The increased movement can bring both positive and negative impacts. Below is a table of some of these impacts.

The EU – click on the image below which the growth of the EU from 1957

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53109b11e4b05040160f0a8f/t/5637c7c7e4b080a8b7ec7604/1446496206714/?format=750w

The Swiss and the EU – what???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShWBUWyD3AA

Task

1. Write a summary of the Schengen Treaty and name 3 European countries not a part of it.

2. Read pp 181-188 HL Book3. Draw Fig. 1 and Fig. 54. Summarise Fig. 35. Make notes on how the EU has

impacted the flow of goods, capital, labour and ideas.

Watch the video below - Marine Le Pen: EU robbed us of all liberties, we should fight to get them back 

How does the EU erode soverengnty?

Exam question

Explain how one multi-governmental organization has led to a loss of sovereignty. [10 marks]

Mark scheme

Candidates would be expected to define their chosen multi-governmental organization as a grouping of nations, providing as their example the EU, NAFTA, MERCOSUR, ASEAN or others.

The example chosen will influence the answer, as some MGOs are merely free trade areas while others have a common external tariff, in the case of the EU a common market and fuller economic union with shared currency and freedom of movement for workers. Thus an answer based around the EU will most likely assert that sovereignty has indeed been lost, while one based around NAFTA may address the phrase “loss of sovereignty” more reservedly.

Accept a wide interpretation of MGO to include the IMF, UN, G20, NATO etc. However, such answers may be self-limiting and unlikely to gain the higher bands as it may be hard to display a loss of sovereignty.

Key terms:

Nation-state: an independent state inhabited by all the people of one nation and one nation only.

Sovereignty: the exclusive right to exercise, within a specific territory, the functions of a nation-state and be answerable to no higher authority. 

Religious fundamentalism: movements favouring strict observance of religious teaching (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism etc.)

Trade bloc: a group of countries that share trade agreements between each other. Immobility of labour: the effect of barriers to the movement of workers between

jobs and geographical regions. Wealth: the total amount of economically relevant private and public assets including

physical (natural), financial, human and 'social' capital.