Politics Versus Economic And Political Thinking

In a world where man has been regarded since ancient times by philosophers as a zoon politikon (Aristotel, 2001), and whose traits reverberates through centuries, focusing upon some of its peculiarities could only be refreshing. As the military, social, economic, and cultural traits of globalization have been accelerating, the leaders of different nations felt there is a slippery ground upon which they could take decisions. Lot of them have been bad prepared to fully understand these processes, or haven’t been capable to harness the national potential of their countries towards extracting benefits from these processes. There are small countries which have well understood the path the world was heading to, and they have acted accordingly; Singapore, South Korea, Finland or Switzerland could be such positive examples. All these have gained a lot as globalization has been widening. While others, with far greater potential in comparison with all these countries, are fighting for their survival. For these others, globalization has brought more pain than relief. The domestic society in all these examples and its traits has played important roles for these different paths, but there couldn’t be neglected the crucial role of political leadership in both, the successful countries, and the less successful ones. Without naming a peculiar state, the paper focuses in fact upon the character a man of state should have in a globalized world, and which should be the main focuses for him. There are presented in a contrasting manner the characteristics of political man, face-to-face with the characteristics of the man who thinks politically. In a globalized world the economic diplomacy can help a state in its geopolitical interests’ promoting, and a successful economic diplomacy is of crucial importance for having a healthy statehood. The paper mention that a healthy state is formed and is based on its citizens, while a weak or even a failed stated has the illusion of being based on individuals. There are presented the differences between individuals and citizens, and which are the benefits for having a society formed by citizens leaded by a man who thinks and acts politically, in a globalized economy and society.