The 1990s could be called the decade of globalization. All forms of capital are circulating more widely and in far larger amounts than ever before. Localization and its causes Globalization has forced the nation-state to focus its attention on supranational issues and increasingly circumscribed its choices. At the same time, localization is forcing states to take note of subnational dynamics and accommodate local demands. Several hundred books have been written on globalization, but localization still occasions a furrowed brow.
Localization is the demand for autonomy and political voice expressed by regions and communities.
It has many causes. Dissatisfaction with the ability of the state to deliver on promises of development is one. A third cause, in a world where globalization is leveling cultural differences, is the desire to deepen a sense of belonging to a place. And a fourth is the sharpening competition between subnational units in an open environment, combined with the reluctance of richer communities to share resources with their less well off neighbors. Furthermore, the demand for political voice is striking firm roots.