This book offers in-depth legal and political analysis concerning the compatibility of the Westphalian state model with globalization and the digital revolution. It explores the concept of democracy in a globalized world, discusses the legitimacy of economic integration in the global market, and presents three case studies (from Brazil, Taiwan and Spain) on the impact of social media on elections. It further entails novel perspectives on the impact of digitalization on national borders, and the role of citizens and experts in the shaping of globalization. A final chapter addresses the extent to which insights gained from the analysis of the abovementioned aspects will need to be considered in efforts to recover from the current global health and economic crisis.

Dr. iur. Charlotte Sieber-Gasser (MA Development Studies) is Senior Researcher and Lecturer in International Economic, EU and Constitutional Law at the University of Lucerne. She is a member of the institute for economy and regulation at the University of Lucerne, an affiliated researcher of the World Trade Institute, and co-editor of the Swiss open access law journal sui generis. Her research focuses on the reconciliation of economic globalization with democracy and intergenerational justice.

Alberto Ghibelliniis a research fellow in the Department of Political and Social Sciences of the University of Bologna. He has taught or conducted research in several academic institutions, including the University of Genova, the University of Chicago, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Boston College, and the University of Lucerne. He has published essays on Plato, Richard Rorty and Leo Strauss and is the author of the monograph Al di làdella politica. Filosofia e retorica in Leo Strauss (Genova: Genova University Press, 2012). 

Introduction.- Part I Democracy at the Eve of the 4th Industrial Revolution.- An Untenable Compromise? Liberal Democracy Between Populism and Globalization.- From Formal to Radical: Tracing the Democratic Argument In Global Law.- Part II Statehood at the Eve of the 4th Industrial Revolution.- The scope of the State as a Function of Transaction Costs:  How Will Digitalization Change the Role of Public Law?.- Westphalian Sovereignty after The 4th Industrial Revolution: In Search of Legitimate Governmental Control Over Online Content.- Part III Free Speech and Social Media at the Eve of the 4th Industrial Revolution.- Dealing with Disinformation from the Perspective of Militant Democracy? A Case Study of Taiwans Struggle to Regulate Disinformation.- The Brazilian Case: The Impact of Social Media on a Current Democratic Regime.- Cambridgenalization in Politics? The Spanish Act 3/2018 Data Protection Regulation and the Future of Democracy.- Part IV Legitimacy at the Eve ofthe 4th Industrial Revolution.- Flexibilities in International Economic Law vs. Pacta Sunt Servanda Maintaining Legitimacy Over Time.- Participation in Standard Setting for The Agro-Food Industry.- Part V Citizenship at the Eve of the 4th Industrial Revolution.- The Questionable Role Of Experts In Global Governance Beyond David Kennedys Approach.- Politics as Change or Preservation A Case of Experts Against Citizens?.- Lessons for a Post-Covid-19 World.