Reflections of Globalization in Political Parties’ Programmes in Croatia

1. Davorka Vidović and Davor Pauković Reflections of Globalization in Political Parties’ Programmes in Croatia International scientific conference “Globalization of Politics” Dubrovnik, October, 12-13 2007

2. Basic premisis • Globalization causes a number of changes in all aspects of social life • These changes can not be properly explained in the framework of the Westphalian paradigm anymore • The old paradigm of nation-state systemhas been changed dramatically, in particular theissueofsovereignty that was the basis of state system • New paradigm imply redefining of sovereignty and the transformation of the role of the state in world politics (Beck, Scholte) • However, political parties remain functioning as the main politicalactors of the nation state • How parties reflect on globalization issues and themes? How they perceive their role in globalized society?

3. right left Concept of the survey • Main objective: to explore how political parties perceive globalization and global issues • Target group: parliamentary parties in Croatia • Methodology: content analysis • analysis of the programmes of the main parliamentary parties in Croatia • perceptions of the globalization and global issues throughthe dimensions of globalization

4. Dimensions of globalization -indicators See: Beck, U. (2003), Scholte, J. A. (2000), Steger, M. (2005), Midgley, J. (1997)

5. Political dimension • Political parties still perceive sovereignty in the scope of old Westphalian paradigm • All parties give top priority to the issue of accession to EU, and also full support to Croatian membership in NATO • Parties percieve EU membership as positive and useful and advocate for the equal and partnership role of Croatia in EU • All parties insist on protection of Croatian national interest in process of accession • HDZ: “...we should resist to all forms of globalization that are opposed to Croatian national interest” • SDP: “...against any kind of integration that would insist on renunciation of right to decide on own national interest” • HSP: advocate for “more rigidposition in negotiation with EU, in order to protect national interest” • The need to redefine sovereignty in new (changed) supranational context has been recognized by the majority of parties • However, it remain unclear in which ways or by what degree the sovereignty ought to be transformed

6. Economic dimension • Parties on both side of political spectrum support the market economy and argued for the greater openness of economy as necessary for further growth • Economic globalization is mostly seen as positive force/ process that provide greater opportunities to faster development of national economy in general • There is also perception that economic globalization could bring negative effects, but still strong conviction that state could affect on it and protect oneself • Also, economic globalization is perceived as closely interconnected to process of European integration • DC: “Globalization and European integration will be used as tools that will eliminate limits of domestic market and raise productivity...” • HNS: ...stimulation to the development are certainly pre-accession funds of EU that should be largely used

7. Economic dimension • There is evident broad perception that openness to foreign investment is necessary (DC, HDZ, HNS), but still that most of the national resources should stay in the property of Croatian citizens (DC, HDZ, SDP); in particular the agricultural land (SDP, HSS-HSLS-PGS) • Parties on both sides of political spectrum(HDZ, HSP, SDP) perceive foreign capital as potential risk for Croatian national interest and advocate for strongest protection and control • HDZ: ...it is necessary to stop further debts since it has brought Croatia into dependent position towards foreign financial power • SDP: ...we need to protect the national resources from foreign capital. “Croatia is not for sale” • Most of the parties advocate for the prompt proclaim and regulation of Croatian economic zone in Adriatic sea according to the international law (ZERP) (HDZ, HNS, HSS-HSLS-PGS)

8. Social dimension • There is strong awareness that increase of social problems is connected with (neo)liberal economy, so parties mostly criticize the social insensitiveness of liberalism in economy • However, market economy is recognized as reality and transformation of the welfare state and social politics is argued to be suitable to new circumstances • SDP: ...economic development should be followed by social development; market • Therefore, parties mostly advocate for the transformation towards active social policy • Moreover, conservative parties (DC, HDZ, HSP) argued for more residual and targeted welfare state (means and asset tests) and increased individual responsibility

9. Cultural dimension • All parties (in different degree) advocate for protection of national identity, language, tradition and customs • Globalization and ongoing process of European integration has been mostly seen as condition that require stronger linkage to the national roots, tradition and identity • HDZ: ..national identity and awareness is important for the perception of Croatia in international and global environment • SDP: ...importance of both processes – integration of European values in Croatia and integration of Croatian values in EU • HNS: ...Fear of diminishing of national identity in EU is ungrounded, because Croatia naturally belongs to Europe • Parties show a certain tendency to build the base of sovereignty protection in cultural and national identity • HDZ: ...the role of Croatian identity and awareness of state tradition is most important defense against national and state collapse

10. Ecological dimension • Ecological issues have been understood as important for the sustainable development of the society and its surrounding • Mostly all parties show significant awareness that environmental problems are global issues and that state has no capacity to solve it barely inside the national territory • Also, it is recognized that environmental protection should be primarilyadjusted to EU standards

11. Conclusions/few thesis for further research • Political parties (still) act as an actors of old Westphalian paradigm, in the scope of nation state and territory • Grounded on those premises all parties emphasize the necessity of protection of national interests in the supranational and global surrounding • Globalization process has been recognized as reality that determine the contemporary society and state • DC - perceive globalization as inevitable; Croatia should take the advantages of globalization and protect oneself from negative effects • SDP – globalization is not default condition and is not intangible; it has advantages and threats at the same time, but the state could and should resist • For political parties globalization is a process they could influence on in great sense • Globalization is mostly seen as economic globalization, and the perception of political globalization (meaning transfer and/or reduction of sovereignty in the process of EU integration) is significantly lower

12. Conclusions/few thesis for further research • There is evident dogmatism in perception of EU and European integration (all aspects of future relation to supranational bodies are not fully presented – only advantages are underlined) • HNS: “Advantages that Croatia will obtain in accession to EU are perfectly clear. Accession to EU will certainly ensure significant growth of our economy, increase the productivity and raise incomes and life standard.” • EU has been seen as ‘community of equal states where national interests have been respected and harmonized’ • Almost all parties express significant interest for conserving and protecting national identity, tradition and language, so the cultural dimension almost become substitute for threat of weakening political sovereignty • Finally, it can be identified that differences between political parties are mostly diminishing in scope of globalization issues and themesthey reflect on