States Ceasing Relevance?: The State Theory's Challenges Amid Globalization and Liquid Modernity

"Modern problems require modern solutions!" quips a meme widely circulated online, and that statement could not be truer. The world is now laden with a myriad of 21st-century problems that need innovative solutions beyond traditional approaches. Moreover, the contemporary period is marked by the State's engagement in processes of globalization and internationalization, wherein the notions of financial integration and capital mobility are swiftly losing relevance. This poses challenges to the State where the theory's soundness is constantly interrogated for its contemporary relevance in dealing with transnational problems and non-state actors. It is evolving into an outdated concept: inadequate for addressing the substantial challenges progressively projected onto an international or global platform and ineffectual in managing the minor issues increasingly relegated to the local level. Nevertheless, first, let us carry out an inquest into the elements of the State to see how it could be challenged amid today's problems.

The State encompasses four elements; the first is the population as its primary element, as the State is a human institution. No uninhabited land can be called a state. Next is the government, which exercises governance within a particular jurisdiction, the territory. The entirety of the State's territory falls within the domain of its sovereignty or supreme authority. All individuals, entities, associations, institutions, and locations within its borders are subject to the sovereign jurisdiction of the State. The State's government then crafts, implements, enforces, and adjudicates the State's laws. It must be noted that the government is just one element of the State, as it is its working agency. Sovereignty resides within the State and the people; the government only uses it on behalf of the State. The last element, sovereignty, is its final and incontestable legal power (Marume et al., 2016). It is the ultimate power over the citizenry by the social contract, as we live in a dangerous world. Thus, we must surrender a piece of our rights in exchange for the elements of the State, such as public order and safety and economic needs, among others. Nowadays, the gradual erosion of state boundaries poses a fundamental challenge to the core concept of statehood, which traditionally embodies a delimited entity exercising exclusive authority within its territorial confines.

In this globalized paradigm, the State finds itself grappling with a loss of control over economic flows, information dissemination, and the movement of people. With liquid modernity, post-modernity, and post-positivism, the State and agency have become eroded. In the current wave of globalization, a significant aspect is the prevalence of fluidity on the international stage. The extensive movement of capital, commodities, information, ideas, culture, and people, as highlighted by Castles (2003), has gained widespread reach, facilitated by advancements in information, communication, and transportation technologies (ICT). The State, structured initially for stability and organizational order, encounters challenges in efficiently adapting to the swift and unpredictable changes inherent in the era of liquid modernity. Bureaucratic frameworks, legal structures, and conventional governance mechanisms prove insufficient in addressing the constantly evolving social and economic milieu. The convergence of fluidic and tangible elements gives rise to global liquefaction within the 'liquid modernity' framework as conceptualized by Bauman (2012). This liquid State of modernity is evident in the escalating mobility of individuals and the growing permeability of once impervious territorial boundaries, accompanied by associated security implications. 

To further substantiate the claims made forward, let us look into a liquid problem such as the trafficking of persons and the current foreign policies of the Philippine government. Human trafficking is considered a fluid issue that necessitates solutions beyond the conventional, state-centric approaches, particularly in the context of addressing sexual exploitation. As Shelley (2010) noted, as an offense transcending national boundaries, it illustrates the globalization of criminal activities. An identifiable constraint within its concentration on the state-centric perspective is the considerable prioritization of diplomatic ties with host nations, possibly neglecting the specific necessities of Filipinos abroad. While maintaining international relations is crucial, this approach poses the danger of disregarding the perspectives and experiences of marginalized groups, particularly migrant women. The emphasis on interactions between states neglects the intricate challenges encountered by women. According to a report from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (2022), 55% of documented instances of sexual abuse against Filipina migrant workers in Saudi Arabia were dismissed under the influence of pressure from Philippine authorities to prevent diplomatic tensions. This prioritization of political expediency over individual safety exposes women to heightened risks of harm.

The intricacies of human trafficking extend beyond the confines of the nation-state, as dynamic global factors, including international criminal networks and the obscured realms of the dark web, influence the facilitation and perpetuation of trafficking demand. As posited by Capistrano (2020), the intertwining dynamics of the capacities of tourists and the susceptibilities of vagabonds in the context of trafficking in persons exemplify a multifaceted issue that extends beyond the inflexible structures of the Westphalian international system governed by sovereign nation-states. Consequently, it necessitates a shift away from the central focus on nation-states to include new actors and networks on the international stage, such as the Global Civil Society. This reveals that the fluid nature inherent in human trafficking underscores the need for a broader comprehension of security, urging an extension beyond the prevailing discourse dominated by state-centric and punitive approaches.

Now, do states cease relevance due to the firm claims being forwarded concerning issues on transnational problems that permeate the borders of states? Hay et al. (2005) suggest that globalization may present a challenge to the nation-state, yet thus far, it has demonstrated an ability to respond to this challenge. How globalization operates has unquestionably evolved; however, the mere existence of globalizing influences does not necessarily indicate the impending decline of the State. It is probable that individuals will persist in residing within territorially defined communities governed predominantly by state institutions to which they consistently grant legitimacy. These institutions are still perceived as primarily accountable for the social and economic conditions within which individuals find themselves. 

References:

Bauman, Z. (2012). Liquid Modernity. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Capistrano, A.N.F. (2020). Sexploitative human trafficking in, out of and beyond the Philippines: A liquid problem in a cosmopolar international system. In Adiong & Cruz (Eds.), International Studies in the Philippines: Mapping New Frontiers of Theory and Practice (pp. 226-244). London and New York: Routledge. 

Castles, S. (2003). The International Politics of Forced Migration. Development, 46(3), 11–20.

Hay, C., Lister, M. & Marsh, D. (2005). The State: Theories and Issues. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Marume, S. B. M., Jubenkanda, R. R., Namusi, C. W., & Madziyire, N. C. (2016, March). An analysis of essential elements of the State. International Journal of Engineering Science Invention, 5(3). https://www.ijesi.org/papers/Vol(5)3/D053024028.pdf 

Shelley, L. I. (2010). Human Trafficking: A Global Perspective. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.