So here's the nuts and bolts of it. In the early 20th century there was a violent reaction to industrialism (which was brutal and oppressive until it was reformed). This led to reforms and labour action. Socialism was widespread in Europe in the early 20th century.
What I'm describing here is capital's reaction to this state of affairs. They began operating outside of borders, beyond the confines of nation-states that were increasingly controlled by those who sought to bring capital under a leash of social welfare. We now exist in a world where these corporate interests operate outside (and within) the sphere of control from nation states. This was a process that accelerated through the 20th century.
What I can see happening now is that we are at a point technologically where the other half of society can now transcend borders with global communication. People don't vote in local elections because national politics is small-scale. National politicians have little authority in the global order. It is the global economic order that shapes people's lives, where we live, what we do, how we interact, how much resources we have to our name, etc. (See for example how less employment here is devoted to industrial production; we are now a society that produces knowledge, communication, and ideas).
So in order to bring the system back under the people's control, we need to begin thinking beyond the nation state. We need people and labour to be able to transcend borders as well to meet capital on the same playing field. However, the state apparatuses inhibit our ability to meet it head on. We need rise above them to bring the focus back towards human welfare and not bald and insatiable accumulation.