Sub national actors in the new phase of the process of globalization

Abstract

The emerging international system in the twenty-first century is characterised by a new phase of globalization in which, largely due to the explosion of information and communication technologies, the role and activity of a variety of actors –outside and within states– has been significantly strengthened. While the states remain as the main actors of the world system, the current configuration of the international order no longer responds to the Westphalian state-centric paradigm that shaped international relations until the end of the twentieth century. In this new scenario, the role of subnational actors is increasingly active, which opens a window of opportunity for developing nations to improve their competitive and cooperative insertion in the international system at both regional and global levels.