Great Powers And Global Trends PDF

Great Powers and Global Trends Natalia Encalada, MSc. What characterizes a great power? To what extent can great powers influence in global trends? Why? Great Powers Most powerful states in the world – get the most attention of IR analyses. Great powers’ status is f...

Great Powers and Global Trends Natalia Encalada, MSc. What characterizes a great power? To what extent can great powers influence in global trends? Why? Great Powers Most powerful states in the world – get the most attention of IR analyses. Great powers’ status is formally recognized in an international structure such as the UN Security Council- P5 (United States, China, Russia, France and United Kingdom). Great powers are often defined as states that can be defeated militarily only by another great power. These states concentrate military and economic power, including also natural resources, advanced technology and educated labor forces. Rarely a great power loses its status – According to Gilpin, the decline of a former hegemon and the growth of a new one can result in a change of the preeminence of a global power, normally through a war. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Contemporary highlights September 11, 2001- Attack on the US Twin Towers War on terrorism Humanitarian interventions Unexpected US foreign policy in the Trump Administration US withdrawal from Afghanistan US Foreign Policy objectives JOINT STRATEGICPLAN : Goal 1: Protect America’s BIDEN ADMINISTRATION Security at Home and Abroad FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES Goal 2: Renew America’s *Promote democracy- counter Competitive Advantage for threats and ambitions from Sustained Economic Growth and China and Russia Job Creation *Foster environmental Goal 3: Promote American protection engagement *More protection for refugees Leadership through Balanced *Revitalize key alliances Engagement *Support multilateralism Goal 4: Ensure Effectiveness and Accountability to the American Taxpayer Topics of analysis Questioning of US policies by other states - Is it still a hegemon? Immigrationpolicy has become more restrictive considering increasing migration flows from Central America, Venezuela, Middle East. Militaryinterventionto democratize- Fight against terrorism and authoritarian regimes Internalneeds of the country- Increasing unemployment Support to environmental initiatives Position during COVID-19crisis- New leadership of the US in the post-COVID international order Position towards the Russian invasion in Ukraine- NATO leadership DISCUSSION What else could/should great powers do to improve the global situation in terms of: Development USA UK RUSSIA Climate change International security Gender gap FRANCE GERMANY CHINA Political order Do they have this responsibility? Bibliography Dueck, 2009. Neoclassical realism and the national interest Omelicheva, 2015. Russian Foreign Policy Strong, 2015. Interpreting the Syria vote parliament and British Foreign Policy Middle Powers and Emergent Powers Natalia Encalada, MSc. Middle Powers Two criteria to determine them according to Hamil: BY THEIR CAPABILITIES / RELATIVE BY ITS BEHAVIOR POWER Territory ‘Good international citizens’ Mediators Economy They use diplomacy to promote world Military resources peace and stability Catalysts: Intellectual leadership to promote foreign policy initiatives. Facilitators: Facilitate coalition building to solve global or regional issues. Managers: Build institutions and regimes, develop consensus on conventions and norms, especially at the regional level. Followers Middle Powers Moeini, A. et al. define middle powers according to four axes: 1) Enduring regional presence and geographic rootedness 2) Considerable economic and military capacity relative to neighbors 3) Historical and cultural status as civilizational states 4) The regionally-focused, limited extent of their ambitions — they do not aim world domination but a sphere of influence in their regions. This differentiates them from great powers. South Africa Post-Apartheid transformation Nelson Mandela as an international icon on human rights Middle power (Hamil, Alden, Neack) It leads regional integration organizations, e.g. SADC Paradoxically, it has achieved greater influence at global than regional level (Hamil, 2001). Debate: Greater focus on foreign policy and deficiency in solving their internal problems Other States that are commonly considered as Middle Powers Canada Australia Brazil Malaysia Iran Japan Germany Turkey Emergent Powers States that registered an increase in their capabilities and global influence on the path to becoming great powers. They have achieved accelerated economic development based primarily on industrialization in recent years. Concept that has been developed in the 21st century, especially since the establishment of the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). Debate: what concept of development is behind the growing economies of these powers? Discussion Choose one of the world's regions and analyze: What are the main middle/emergent powers in this region? What are their main material capabilities (territory, economy, military resources) ? What is the impact of their behavior at the local, regional and global level? Bibliography Alden, 2009. South Africa in Africa Bound To Lead Hamil, 2001. A middle power paradox. South African Diplomacy in the Post-apartheid Era. Rodríguez, 2016. Evolución de la política exterior China Small States and Global Trends Natalia Encalada, MSc. Small States Diverse criteria State capacities: territory, population. Ex: Approx. 10 million inhabitants (D. Vital) Asymmetries with respect to the other states External influences on foreign policy Perceptions and roles Small Powers: "Policytakers More Than Policymakers“ Advantages: Excuse and pretext for not acting, the small statecondition limits the power They have influence without power: the small one induces the need for cooperation(Hisch) They exercise soft power Small states: Debates Definition of smallness: subjective. Small states are very heterogeneous among them Geography: it is the position what determines the isolation or lack of relationships, being small or big (Napoleon). Does the mere fact of being islands imply the condition of smallness? How can a small state be transformed from being solely reactive to being proactive in the international system? Does smallness imply higher or lower levels of self-esteem and security? Some authors argue that the problem is that big states want to exert more influence (Eg EU: Germany, France, Italy and UK) Many countries have had to get used to their new smallness after the decolonization or separation processes (Africa, Eastern Europe) Luxembourg The smallest state in the EU until 2004 -> Malta currently has that status ‘Historical buffer-state’ between France and Germany-> avoids conflicts between two enemy powers. Luck, innovation and stability Great economic development Regional integration: Founder of the European Coal and Steel Community, Benelux, EU Migration: it has benefited from the education of its neighboring countries, while exporting jobs Problems: Minority in their own country, excessive dependence on financial services Ecuador: International Relations Socio-economic Aspects HistoricalBackground Identity Conflict with Peru Difficulty inserting itself Small state Relative good into international Diversity relationship with the liberalism Inequality USA Economic, social and Search for a state identity Non-Aligned Movement political instability Dependence on primary exports Main trade partner: USA Ecuador – Foreign Policy until 2007 Small state: adherence to international law, regional cooperationand integration Relationship with the United States Perceptions: the US is seen as the most important state in the international arena, not necessarily reliable (Chávez) Fight against drug trafficking Perceptions and interests of the leaders in government ‘Contemplative role of international dynamics’(Chávez) Ecuador – Foreign Policy 2007-2017 CORREA: he wanted to differentiate itself in the foreign policy guidelines with respect to its predecessors: Criticism towards the USA Greater role of Ecuador at the international level Axes of international relations Full exerciseof sovereignty Latin American integration Multilateralism Diversification of economic relations Illegitimacy due to concentration of power and corruption scandals Ecuador –Foreign Policy 2017-2022 MORENO: Changes in foreign policy Restructuring of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility Approach to the USA Resolution of the Assange Case Human Mobility Venezuelan Population: Quito Process LASSO: “More Ecuador in the world, more world in Ecuador” Focus on FTAs Closer relationship with the USA Maintains good relations with China Pragmatism? Discussion: International role of small states In groups, analyze the following points: *Do small states have to follow great powers necessarily? Why? Is there any alternative? *How could small states be more influential in the international arena? *What is the role of small states in the global context currently? Do they have a role? Choose an image (picture, Infographic, statistical graphic, cartoon, etc.) that summarizes your conclusions. Upload your image in the assignment in CANVAS. Remember to include a short explanation and the names of all members of the group in comments. Bibliography Chávez, Nashira. 2008. La Política Internacional Ecuatoriana. Pabst, 2008. Small states inside and outside the EU. Zepeda, Beatriz. 2011. La Política Exterior del Ecuador Durante el Gobierno de Rafael Correa: Un Balance.pp.114-124. En: Hans, M. y Niño, C. (eds.)(2011). Anuario 2011 de la Seguridad Regional en América Latina y El Caribe, editado por Hans Mathieu yCatalina Niño Guarnizo. Quito: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. Zepeda, 2010. Ecuador relaciones internacionales a la luz del bicentenario. Latin America and Global Trends Natalia Encalada, MSc. Are there similarities/differences among Latin American countries? https://www.cgdev.org/topi cs/regions/latin-america- initiative Historical Background Pre-Columbian history: diversity of native peoples Colonization Independence Relationship with the United States Theoretical Perspectives of Analysis Hey: three dimensions. Pro-center vs. Anti-center Autonomous vs. dependent on international influence. Foreign policy focused on the economic versus the political-diplomatic aspect Ebel, Taras and Cochraine: interaction of three domestic cultural orientations. Political monism: preference for a ‘top-down' order imposed on society by a charismatic leader or political elite according to a specific ideology or goals Clientelism Nationalism Kackowicz: United States as an international leader created a zone of negative peace in Latin America Thies: Negative peace zone = Lockean culture or rivalry (Wendt) Roles: major (autonomous) members vs. minor (dependent) members Contemporary topics of analysis Latin America within the South - South Cooperation trend (2000s) US dependency: tendency to seek diversification - autonomy (Forero) China - Latin America relationship Regional integration COVID 19 Impact Democracy recession? Bibliography Forero, F.(2015). Diversificación y autonomía en la política exterior latinoamericana. Desafíos, 27(2), 293-324. Thies (2014). Role theory and FPA in Latin America