Q. “With the waning of globalization, post-Cold War world is becoming a site of sovereign nationalism.” Elucidate.

Model Answer:

The post-Cold War era witnessed unprecedented globalization with economic integration and liberal international order. However, recent years mark a shift towards sovereign nationalism, where nations increasingly prioritize domestic interests over multilateral cooperation.

Evidence of waning globalization is visible through:

• Trade protectionism has intensified with tariff wars (US-China trade dispute), import restrictions, and dissolution of trade agreements.
• Multilateral institutions face existential crisis with WTO’s appellate body paralysis, US withdrawal from WHO, and weakening of UN system.
• Supply chain localization accelerated post-COVID, with countries pursuing reshoring (semiconductor manufacturing in US) and friend-shoring strategies.

Sovereign nationalism manifests through multiple dimensions:

• Political movements like Brexit, Trump’s America First, and rise of right-wing parties across Europe (AfD in Germany) champion national sovereignty.
• Economic nationalism drives initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat, Made in China 2025, and EU’s strategic autonomy agenda.
• Immigration restrictions tightened globally, with border walls and stricter visa regimes becoming normalized.

This transformation stems from globalization’s discontents – job losses from outsourcing, rising inequality, and cultural anxieties. The pandemic exposed vulnerabilities of excessive interdependence (PPE shortages, vaccine hoarding), accelerating deglobalization. Security concerns, particularly in technology (Huawei bans globally) and critical minerals, drive economic decoupling.

Conclusion: While complete deglobalization seems unlikely, the world is transitioning toward selective globalization balancing sovereignty with necessary cooperation.