Are politics local? Reflections on Activism

Source: Asl.org

Since the rise of globalization, even local politics have become something for the world to access, assess, and even get involved. It is a lot easier to learn of events and struggles in other parts of the world now with computers and social media. A great example of technological activism is the ASL ice bucket challenge. ASL affects a small number of the population and was not a commonly known medical condition prior to the viral ice bucket challenge. The original challenge was to either donate $100 to support ASL research or to put up a video of having a bucket of ice poured over your head. The challenge has since been modified and many people donate in addition to the video. While making a video of pouring ice over your head may seem silly, ASL is now a household term and according to ASL.org, the ASL association has received over $115million  in donations from this challenge.

 Naturally, the group who is affected the most by certain policies has a stronger motive for changing said policies. However, sometimes a group does not realize the need for action, or is incapable of action. The situation may seem hopeless, there could be weaponry and threats to safety involved, etc. Sometimes activist groups lack organized leadership, and fail with the best of intentions.

With globalization, we also have an increasingly global level of politics. The United Nations is a supranational organization that tries to police the world and keep nations and states in check. There are also regional organizations such as the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council that can get involved in local politics if they see them as a threat to the greater good.