ANTONIO MASALA

Processi globali e nuovo ruolo dello Stato

209

Maggio-Agosto 2005

Anno LXX    n. 2

Summary — Owing to globalization processes, the nation-state is facing the problem of re-examining its ability to create and maintain order through legi­slation and law enforcement, as well as its capacity to direct the economy in line with citizens' choices. The use of globalized economic and juridical patterns by private individuals is a great leap forward in economics and personal freedom, considering that the state is continuously loosing its monitoring and checking ability. At the same time, these individuals still li­ve within the framework of the state and also acknowledge its power. Ironically, while trying to sidestep the state, the citi­zens still look to it to solve their everyday problems. The author investigates the reasons behind the crisis into which a specific model of state — the Kelsenian and Keynesianan model — has fallen in recent years. Nevertheless, the crisis of that model does not imply the loss of the possibility of managing the economy and globalization processes. The nation-state remains the most important producer of a great many services and its role in promoting advancements in knowledge and technological innovation is still a central one. One of the most important roles of the nation-state in the global era is that of removing the barriers to the global economy and pursuing the efficiency and innovation of its infrastructures and bureaucratic machinery. In the light of global changes, it is important to rethink the idea that the production of law and institutions can only be legitimated by ballots, or at least that voting always represents the best solution. Other kinds of legitimating processes should instead be considered by contemporary politicai theory — for example, considering how people make their political choices like consumers in the free market.