Glocalization
Interaction of Cultures and New Geopolitical Realities

1.    Methods for the formation of a new type of international regions
2.    Possible ways of creating a regional-scale multicultural environment
3.    Methods of formation of a new worldview
4.    Formation of a new political platform
5.    Creation of a new security concept 

 

Methods for the formation of a new type of international regions on the example of the Pilot-Project “New Hansa Lines - as an instrument of regional integration“.

 

GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION

Today Europe is changing rapidly. The state borders are becoming more transparent due to the other side of globalisation – localisation, which is accompanied by the decentralisation of power, increased independence of regions and the self-consciousness of territorial communities. 

 

 

THE ESSENCE OF THE NEW HANSA CONCEPT

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When the globalisation of the world economic system is discussed, usually the European Union is brought to the forefront as a new world leader of regional economic integration. However, there is seldom a process occurring in the world that would be without its analogue, that can be separated in time and space, can occur in parallel or be combined. 

The EU cannot be a panacea for all the problems of economic development of, for example, the Euro-Asian region, because it cannot expand endlessly and because of the economic heterogeneity of the countries in this region the process of enlargement would take too much time.
Based on the axiom of the common mechanism of world economic development, the Euro-Asian region should see its own EU, but on a different level of integration, which will function according to the same economic principles, but will take into account the specific character of the Baltic region.

 

The formation of a new type of international regions means uniting both 
•    individual countries and 
•    parts of countries 
which share common interests with their neighbouring states. 
This process can be considered as a natural result of European globalisation, which alongside the dissemination of universal norms and values in the spheres of economics, management, politics, and culture will contribute to creating a regional-scale multicultural environment.

Possible ways of creating a Regional-scale Multicultural Environment based on the “New Hansa” Pilot-Project example

 

The creation of a regional-scale multicultural environment can be seen in the pilot project “New Hansa”, which involves the creation of a system of effective ties between 
1)    the states 
2)    separate regions of the states 
3)    representatives of private business 
4)    political and public figures  
5)    non-government organisations 
6)    mass-media structures
7)    ethnic diasporas.

This Multilevel Structure of Interaction means that in the future the outline of New World Interaction will be formed, one element of which is the formation of a multicultural environment both globally and regionally.

Creating a regional-scale multicultural environment in a NEW HANSA means interaction within a global system of heterogeneous and diverse 
•    national 
•    cultural 
•    religious 
•    ethnic
•    political and other components. 

One of the advantages of such interaction of the above-mentioned components is the minimization of political risks in the region. For this, of course, there must be certain prerequisites in the region.
In the New Hansa region, all the necessary prerequisites for this process are in place: 
1)    a common past 
2)    historical closeness of countries and peoples 
3)    centuries-old cultural and economic ties.

What should be done to begin the process of creating multicultural environment taking into account the principles of interethnic consonance within the framework of the Baltic region?
It is necessary to unite the efforts of: 
•    non-state organisations and
•    private capital 
on certain issues of a geostrategic nature.

Next, we should consider the issue of the formation of a New Worldview in the region, since cultural rapprochement in the region will give an impetus to the process of forming a New Worldview and an understanding of the necessity and inevitability of this process.

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Formation of a New Worldview

Another task for the successful implementation of the “New Hansa Pilot-project” is the formation of a new worldview among all the stakeholders involved in the regional community of NEW HANSA, in order to promote interethnic consonance within the framework of the Baltic region.

Provided that such interethnic consonance exists, a multicultural environment will be formed on a regional scale, and, accordingly the contours of a new global level of interaction will also be formed. 

In other words, the formation of a New Worldview among all the stakeholders will promote cultural rapprochement in the region and vice versa –  cultural rapprochement within the framework of the Baltic region will contribute to the formation of a new worldview.

In summary:
I.    New Hansa is a system of effective ties between: 
1.    the states 
2.    separate regions of the states 
3.    representatives of private business 
4.    political and public figures
5.    non-government organisations
6.    mass media structures and
7.    ethnic diasporas. 

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Such a multilevel organisation of cooperation will contribute to the formation of the contours of new interaction in the future, while the minimisation of political risks in the Baltic Sea region will facilitate overcoming the legacy of historical myths and changing rigid behavioural stereotypes. 

II.    The distinction between domestic and foreign policy will be blurred.
Politicians will pay special attention to such global problems as: 
•    ecology
•    international crime
•    epidemics. 

III.   Energy, scientific and technological and transport policy will increasingly transform from domestic issues into international ones.

IV.    The aspects of foreign policy that were traditionally referred to as “low-key diplomacy”:
•    trade
•    technology 
•    unified taxation – 
will acquire greater importance to the detriment of “high-key diplomacy”:
•    national security 
•    military crises, etc. 
 
Accordingly, the content of Security Policy will change. The role of “soft security’’, i.e. security related to: 
•    finance 
•    poverty
•    ethnic conflicts 
will increase.

Next, I would like to focus on the issue of forming a New Political platform in the newly emerging geopolitical situation.

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New Worldview
New Political Platform
New Concept of Security

New Hansa and a New Concept of Security

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If globalisation is defined as the political shaping of business interests, business requires a new political platform. This new political platform can be substantiated as follows.
Since one of the consequences of globalisation is the active participation in international relations not of states, but of: 
•    financial and industrial structures 
•    mass media structures
•    ethnic diasporas and other actors,
the emergence of global markets can be considered as a result of the activity of economic entities rather than states.

This tendency will lead to the state playing a passive role, while the active role will pass to global economic entities which will take over a number of functions previously carried out by the state.

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    It should be noted that in this situation the concept of Security itself will be transformed.

Let’s remember the concept of globalisation includes the cross-border movement of four things: 
•    ideas 
•    people 
•    financial instruments and 
•    goods. 
If ideas and financial instruments can be moved in a more or less simple way, the movement of people and goods requires the creation of a specific infrastructure. When creating this infrastructure, it is necessary to think about ensuring the security of this infrastructure. 

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Nowadays Security is mostly considered to be a priority of the Ministry of Defence. However, in the era of globalisation the concept of security becomes much wider, since globalisation means not only economic and political contact, but also contact between communities and cultures. 

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Therefore, so that contradictions between various geopolitical actors do not in the future significantly impede the development of this New Identity in the sphere of Security in the region of the Baltic Sea, one should promote an understanding of the new realities in relation to security issues, and to this end involve: 
•    interested groups of the public 
•    lobby groups 
•    research institutes 
•   private researchers (in the sphere of theory and philosophy of culture; anthropology) from the Baltic and other regions in developing solutions in the sphere of New Security of NEW HANSA.

 

 

NEW HANSA as a Geopolitical Scenario of Latvia’s Development

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Taking into account its place in the region, its historical heritage and geographical position, Latvia should pursue in its foreign policy strategic goals. 

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The objective circumstances show that Latvia can probably take part in a new global development scenario. This is determined by the fact that Latvia is neither a mono-national nor mono-confessional country like Lithuania or Estonia. (To the north of Estonia there are Lutheran countries, Lithuania is a Catholic country and is surrounded by Catholic states in the south). Latvia is a Lutheran, Catholic, Russian Orthodox and Old Believers country at the same time. This fact alone is enough to prove that Latvia can’t choose a simple development scenario, since these historical factors need to be taken into account. 

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Edelina Kalnina-Wiseberg
President of inter-regional public organization “New Hansa Lines”