The Global Interstate System PDF

- The transformations of the interstate system. - Elements of the contemporary interstate system as well as Different views on its character and the nature of its actors. - Changes in the construct of sovereignty and territory.  The role of states in international affairs and the transformati...

- The transformations of the interstate system. - Elements of the contemporary interstate system as well as Different views on its character and the nature of its actors. - Changes in the construct of sovereignty and territory.  The role of states in international affairs and the transformations that have occurred. Growing role of non-state actors. Impact of globalization on the interstate system. FOR A LONG TIME, STATES HAVE BEEN THE DOMINANT ACTORS IN THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.  The Interstate System The idea of a 'system' requires the existence of units, among which interactions take place (Buzan 1993). In the interstate system, the units are the states, and their interactions include war, diplomacy, and cooperation.  The Interstate System The contemporary interstate system is founded on the principles of sovereignty, territoriality and non - interdependence. The use of the term “interstate” is preferred over “international” to emphasize that what is being dealt with are states instead of nations.  The Interstate System The contemporary interstate system can be traced back to the Peace of Westphalia which ended the Thirty Years War in Europe. The continent before 1648 consisted of political units smaller than the states.  The Interstate System These political units include territories ruled by powerful feudal lords who did not necessarily owe allegiance to the monarchs. At the macro level, authority resided in the Holy Roman empire. This made the state being not the focus of power.  The Interstate System At the time, in fact, there was an obscure idea of what a state was, what it was composed and who it represented.  The Interstate System The current interstate system is a result of convergence of economic and political factors, wealth and coercion. These factors enabled monarchs to wield powers enough to challenge the dominance of the Holy Roman Empire as well as the feudal lords.  The Interstate System With the money and army, monarchs gained exclusive control over the means to wage wars.  STATE A COMMUNITY OF PERSONS, MORE OR LESS UNITED, OCCUPYING A DEFINITE PORTION OF TERRITORY, HAVING A GOVERNMENT OF ITS OWN IN WHICH A GREAT NUMBER OF INHABITANTS RENDER OBEDIENCE AND INDEPENDENT OF EXTERNAL CONTROL.  ELEMENTS OF STATE 1.TERRITORY- DEFINITE PORTION OF THE EARTH WHERE THE PEOPLE LIVE. 2.PEOPLE- MASS OF INHABITANTS WHO LIVE WITHIN THE TERRITORY OF STATE 3. GOVERNMENT- AGENCIES/OFFICES WHICH CARRIES OUT THE WILL OF STATE STATE, THAT IS TO MAINTAIN ORDER AND SECURITY IN THE STATE. 4. SOVEREIGNTY- SUPREME POWER OF THE STATE TO COMMAND OBEDIENCE FROM ITS PEOPLE AND TO BE FREE FROM OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE (INDEPENDENCE).  Four Types of Sovereignty 1. Internal Sovereignty 2. External Sovereignty 3. Political Sovereignty 4. Legal Sovereignty AS A RULE, EVERY STATE MUST RESPECT EACH OTHER’S SOVEREIGNTY AND NOT INTERVENE IN EACH DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. - THE TREATY OF WESTPHALIA (1648) RECOGNIZES THE PRINCIPLE OF SOVEREIGN STATEHOOD.  CONCERT OF EUROPE From 1815 - 1914 the concert of Europe established a set of principles, rules and practices that helped to maintain balance between the major powers after the Napoleonic wars (1803-1815), and to spare Europe from another broad conflict.  CONCERT OF EUROPE The concert of Europe, also known as the Congress System or the Vienna System after the congress of Vienna was a system of dispute resolution adopted by the major powers of Europe to avoid future conflicts escalating into war, and to solidify and maintain their powers in their respective controlled regions.  CONCERT OF EUROPE Their goal was primarily to prevent any figure like Napoleon who would incite popular uprisings and cause Europe instability.  THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES There are theories that other competing explanations and interpretations on the character of the interstate system and the nature of interstate relations. These theories include REALISM, LIBERALISM, CONSTRUCTIVISM and  THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES 1.REALISM- ASSUME THAT JUST LIKE HUMAN INDIVIDUALS, STATES ARE RATIONAL ACTORS AND THEIR PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE PROMOTION OF THEIR SELF- INTERESTS. REALISM IN AN ANARCHAIC INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM, WHEREIN THERE’S AN ABSENCE OF CENTRAL AUTHORITY, STATES MUST FEND FOR THEMSELVES AND MUST AMASS POWER TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE DEPRADATIONS OF OTHER STATES REALISM To the realists, the rationality of states and the anarchic structures of the international system have important implications. Because states think in terms of self-help, they must fend for themselves. During the Cold War period, the United States and REALISM the former Soviet Union were engaged in a nuclear arms race. They each amassed thousands of nuclear warheads. Although biopolarity helped maintain stability vertical proliferation was seen mutually by both parties as a threat to their security. REALISM The United Nations was already in place but it could not do so much to keep the two superpowers from acquiring more nuclear weapons. THE STATE’S POWER MAY BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS: 1. MILITARY STRENGTH 2. STRONG ECONOMY 3. INTERNAL STABILITY 4. FOREIGN ALLIANCES 2. LIBERALISM - LIBERALS ASSUME STATES BEHAVE WITH RATIONALITY AND MUST BEHAVE PROPERLY IN RELATION WITH EACH OTHER - THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC FOR LONG-TERM PEACE LIBERALISM - LIBERALS EMPHASIZE THE PACIFYING ROLES OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, ECONOMIC INTERDEPENDENCE, AND DEMOCRACY LIBERALISM - LIBERALS MAINTAIN THAT ECONOMIC INTERDEPENDENCE MINIMIZES CONFLICTS. AS RATIONAL ACTORS, IT IS NOT IN STATE’S BEST INTERESTS TO SACRIFICE THE GAINS OF ECONOMIC TIES BY ENGAGING IN COSTLY CONFLICTS LIBERALISM - CONFLICTS AND WARS CAN ONLY RESULT IN MUTUALLY ASSURED ECONOMIC DESTRUCTION - LIBERALS BELIEVE THAT DEMOCRATIC STATES DO NOT FIGHT OTHER DEMOCRACIES. THEY RESPECT EACH OTHER 3. CONSTRUCTIVISM - IS CONCERNED WITH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AGENTS AND STRUCTURES CONSTRUCTIVISTS IDENTIFY THE PRINCIPAL ACTORS, THEIR INTERESTS AND INDENTITIES, AND THE NATURE AND STRUCTURE OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM  CONSTRUCTIVISM Substantive theory - provides specific claims and speculations about issues and patterns of world affairs. - how we can explain the absence of wars between the major powers. CONSTRUCTIVISM is best compared to Rational Choice - a social theory that explains how agents pursue their interests under specific conditions or constraints.  CONSTRUCTIVISM - breaks with the assumptions of two rational choice theories, realism and liberalism. - constructivits do not share the view that states are rational actors that have fixed set of interests, identities and preferences. - They do not also accept that anarchy is an inherent condition that cannot be  CONTRUCTIVISM - Constructivists argue that both state interests and anarchy are socially constructed, that is they are created by the states themselves. - Self - help and power politics are shaped through shared understanding and interaction. if states change the way they interact , their identity as sel-interested agents and their anarchic environment are likely to change too. A constructivist view can tell us why things happened the way they did  CONSTRUCTIVISM - Emphasizes the role of ideas. - the world is shaped not just by material factors but also by ideational forces. While capabalities like military power are important. It is ideas that determine whether states should always pursue them at all costs  CONSTRUCTIVISM - Constructivists highlight the importance of norms. Norms - are ideas that have an effect on the behavior of agents. Norms may be regulative, prescriptive, or constitutive. 4. MARXISM - ARGUE THAT THE WORLD IS DIVIDED ALONG ECONOMIC LINES, BETWEEN DEVELOPED AND UNDEVELOPING STATES. RICH/DEVELOPED STATES EXPLOIT POOR/DEVELOPING STATES RESULTING TO MASS POVERTY AND GIVING RISE TO ANTI- IMPERALIST MOVEMENTS. MARXISM -IMPERIALISM MAKES THE CONFLICT BETWEEN RICH AND POOR STATES UNAVOIDABLE AND CONTINUOUS. - IT IS THE AIM OF POOR STATES FROM FREE THEMSELVES FROM IMPERIALISM AND PURSUE DEVELOPMENT ON THEIR OWN PATH.  THE ROLE OF NON-STATE ACTORS 1.INTERNATIONALORGANIZATIONS - PROMOTE PEACE, SECURITY AND COOPERATION (UN, EU, ASEAN, NATO) 2. NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS - ENGAGE IN VARIOUS ADVOCACIES LIKE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ,HUMAN RIGHTS (AMNESTY INT’L, GREENPEACE) 3. MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS - MONOPOLY FIRMS THAT OPERATE IN MANY COUNTRIES - PROMOTE INTERDEPENDENCE BY EXPANDING TRADE AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS (MNC’S) - OWING TO THEIR ENORMOUS CAPITAL, THEY HAVE THE TENDENCY TO INTERFERE AND INFLUENCE THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF HOST COUNTRIES  GLOBALIZATION AND THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM Outside-in view - regards globalization as an exogenous process that is making a profound impact on state affairs. Inside-out view - globalization recognizes that states are the ones influencing the level of global interconnectedness today.