 |
May 7,2006 - May 14,2006 |
Commentary
The first of its kind... the impact of globalization on politics
By Angelo Persichilli
Originally Published: 2006-04-02
Some people had prognosticated a political earthquake on the scale of the October Revolution, with heavy interference on Canada's internal politics, electoral meetings attended by oceanic crowds, fights pitting fathers against sons, and the like. On the contrary, the campaign to elect representatives to the Italian Parliament from abroad, the first ever of its kind, is unfolding quietly, seriously, in compliance with all the rules set forth in Italy's and Canada's laws.
For the moment, at least, the prophets of political doom have been proven wrong.
Actually, understanding what is going on is far from easy.
Globalization has had a profound impact on everything, including politics. The campaign now underway is nothing but another consequence of globalization, a phenomenon that is tearing down economic, geographic, sports and now political borders.
Many English-language journalists are inquiring about what will happen now.
Answering is not easy, since we are way off the beaten path. Those who are involved in this campaign are discovering something new every day, and whoever gets elected will have to establish a political figure without any precedent. The new Deputies and Senators will have to 'invent themselves'.
These MPs and senators will be on a par with any other Italian representative; that is clear, however their responsibilities are not written in any handbook. They will have to write it themselves. For them, 'right' and 'left' will not be rigid demarcation lines as in the past. In their capacity as representatives in Italy's Parliament, they will have to consider the interests of Italy, but being elected by voters who live abroad they will also need to consider the interests of their constituency, and therefore the interests of the countries of residence of those voters.
Over the past few years, we have often heard the words 'citizen of the world'. Those were suggestive words but, until now, only an aspiration, a sentence lacking any political or constitutional meaning.
Page 1/...Page 2
|
| Home / Back to Top |
|
|
 |
|
|
</ td>
