The attack on the state: a comparison of the arguments

This article has evaluated the arguments concerning the impact of globalization on the nation-state, concluding first that the debate is confused, because definitions of the both variables vary as do their indicators. As for globalization, three dimensions can be distinguished, namely the international movement of people, production and products. As for the nation-state, it seems sensible to distinguish its essential tasks. Five were distinguished in this article: the ability to defend its population against outside enemies; the ability to repress and prevent crimes of violence and civil wars; taxation and law-making power; the ability to improve the quality of life and community feeling; and the ability to treat individuals as citizens and to ensure civil rights.