TGA on Nations and Liberalism

Timothy Garton-Ash again makes some accurate points on the general international situation, bringing in the future of the nation-state, liberal values on an internationalist scale and keenly rebuking the inevitable refutation of his argument as a 'neo-colonial export of Western ways'.

TGA refers to the 'drawbridge' (isolationist) option or the 'crusader' (uber-intervention) option. The trend currently seems to be towards the former: Obama's proposed withdrawal from Iraq and protectionist rhetoric; the liberal-left's reluctance to any form of physical intervention in non-Western countries after Iraq; growing scepticism about the purpose of the E.U from within its own borders and a strengthening of ethnic and religious identities across the world are testament to that. TGA's solution is 'liberal patriotism at home and liberal internationalism abroad', and more noticeably, a strengthening of the nation-state.

Such a view, that the nation-states whose cultural barriers and physical borders have never been more porous since their artificial creation (and wider implementation) should re-assert themselves as bastions of liberal values is a highly unfashionable one now. However, it is a point worth considering, even if I remain sceptical about it. Strong nation-states have both benefits and downfalls, and it is arguable whether such a trend could now develop given the prevailing forces of globalisation and fragmentation.

One of TGA's weaker points is his belief in an international set of values, indeed laws which could actually work. He fails to explain how such a system would work, though perhaps a short Guardian Comment article is not the place. I'd love to hear his thoughts on Robert Kagan's 'League of Democracies.'

TGA ends a strong point however:

'As at home, so abroad, we need a conversation - not a dictation. That seems to me especially important in the non-western democracies, and with people of open mind in closed societies. The world wide web is an amazing resource for this purpose, but we're only beginning to work out how to use it.'

In whatever debates are had, values discussed and people persuaded, the Internet will have an invaluable role to play. Chinese dissidents, Islamic Democrats, American party activists, African Human Rights lawyers and indeed, white European bloggers - it's all their platform to develop, deliberate, decide and most of all, act.