Реферат: Globalisation What Implications For Democratic Decision

counterparts are doing in response. The global news media

is another important international influence. It increasingly defines international

issues and events, which consequently demand immediate responses from

governments. Images of starving children or massacres, wherever they occur, are projected into

living-rooms around the world, shaping public opinion and demands. Governments

themselves are using the global media to influence global public opinion. It

has been suggested that, while Canada was legally in the wrong in seizing a

Spanish vessel in the recent fishing dispute between the two countries (also

involving the European Union generally), Canada/it won a lot of sympathy by

skilfully handling the surrounding media campaign. Saddam Hussein used the

media strategically during the Gulf War, a strategy that was later described as

"hand-to-hand video combat".(24) International relations

and events are therefore more visible and transparent, have more domestic

policy ramifications, and involve the public more often. Consequently, the

policy process is more complex. But does greater access to information and greater participation

in policy processes by an increasing range of policy actors make those

processes and their outcomes more legitimate, responsive and hence democratic?

Or are policy processes captured by powerful interests with special access to information and its

dissemination? Or adding to the

democratic deficit?While globalisation

and its many manifestations may have enhanced participation in the

international political and policy process, it may be having some contrary

effects on other aspects of the democratic process. Governments may take

policy processes to the international level as a strategy to escape domestic

opposition and to limit the number of players involved in policy. The

"behind-closed-doors" nature of international trade negotiations, for

example, has been noted as being helpful in overcoming protectionist pressures

on the domestic front.(25) Claiming "tied hands" as a result of

international agreements, may be a way for governments to present policies at