Chapter 1: Introducing Global Politics
over an increasing range of issues, states interact with one another in conditions of global
interdependence, they nevertheless remain the key actors on the world stage
state: a political association that enjoys sovereign jurisdiction within defined territorial
borders.
the most significant changes in world politics
- the emergence of new actors
- the growth of interdependence and interconnectedness
- the erosion of the domestic/ international divide
- the rise of global governance
although most modern states are either nation states or aspire to be nation states, it is their
possession of statehood rather than nationhood that allows them to act effectively on the
world stage.
qualifying properties of a state
- a defined territory
- a permanent population
- an effective government
- the capacity to enter into relations with other states
state centric: an approach to political analysis that takes the state to be the key actor in the
domestic realm and on the world stage
state system: a pattern of relationships between and amongst states that establishes a
measure of order and predictability
state sovereignty is one of the primary organizing principles of international politics.
However, states are no longer the only actors on the world stage.
mixed actor model: the theory that , while not ignoring the role of states and national
governments, international politics is shaped by a much broader range of interests and
groups
International politics is oriented mainly around issues of war and peace with diplomacy and
possibly military interaction being the principal form of state interaction, based on the
distribution of power among states → billboard model
security: the be safe from harm, the absence of threats; security might be understood in
national, international global or human terms
diplomacy: a process of negotiation and communication between states that seeks to
resolve conflict without resource to war; an instrument of foreign policy
,interdependence is by no means always associated with trends towards peace, cooperation
and integration. Interdependence may be asymmetrical rather than symmetrical in which it
can lead to domination and conflict rather than peace and harmony.
borders and boundaries matter. this can especially be seen in the division between domestic
and international politics, in that sense, sovereignty is a hard shell which divides the inside of
politics from the outside. An emphasis on borders and clear territorial division has however
come under pressure as a result of recent trends and developments, not least those
associated with globalization
globalization: the emergence of a complex web of interconnectedness that means that our
lives are increasingly shaped by events that occur and decisions that are made at a great
distance from us
transnationalism: political, social, economic or other forms that transcend or cut across
national borders
However, claims that the modern world is effectively borderless are manifestly absurd and, in
some ways, territorial divisions are becoming more important, not less important → stronger
homeland security and attitudes against migration
anarchy: literally without rule; the absence of a central government or higher authority
sometimes, but not necessarily associated with instability and chaos
self help: a reliance on internal or inner resources, often seen as the principal reason states
prioritize survival and security.
balance of power: a condition in which no state predominates over others, tending to create
general equilibrium and curb the hegemonic ambitions of all states
if international politics operates as a self help system, the power seeking inclinations of one
state are only tempered by competing tendencies in other states, suggesting that war and
conflict are inevitable features of the international system.
international organizations reflect the fact that states are increasingly confronted by
collective dilemmas, issues that are particularly taxing because they confound even the most
powerful states when acting alone.
globality: a totally interconnected whole, such as the global economy; the end state of
globalization
globalism: an ideological project committed to the spread of globalization, usually reflecting
the support for the values and theories of free market capitalism
3 ways of interpreting globalizations
- economic globalization → from national economies to a single global economy
- cultural globalization → information, commodities and images enter a global flow that
tends to flatten out cultural differences
, - political globalization: making responsibilities has passed national governments to
international organizations
3 positions towards globalization
- hyperglobalism: the view that new, globalized economic and cultural patterns became
inevitable once technology such as computerized financial trading ,satellite
communications, mobile phones and internet became widely available
- globalization as a profound, revolutionary set of economic, technological,
cultural and political shifts that have intensified since the 1980s
- sceptists
- portray globalization as a fantasy and dismiss the idea of an integrated global
economy
- transformalists
- offer a middle road view of globalization
- accepting that profound changes have taken place in the patterns and
processes of world politics without it's established or traditional features
having been swept away altogether
- much has changed but not everything
major transformations in world politics
- the breadth of interconnectedness has not only stretched across national borders,
but also potentially across the globe → possible developments into a single
worldwide system
- the intensity of interconnectedness has increased with increasing magnitude of
transborder or even transworld activities
- interconnectedness has speeded up
the two mainstream perspectives on global politics are realism and liberalism. both are
grounded in positivism and share similar concerns and address similar issues
positivism: the theory that social and indeed all forms of inquiry should conform to the
methods of the natural sciences
the core balance of both liberalism and realism is the balance between conflict and
cooperation in state relations. Realists generally place greater emphasis on conflict and
liberalists on cooperation
power politics: an approach to politics based on the assumption that the pursuit of power is
the principal human goal, the term is sometimes used descriptively
internationalism: the theory of practise of politics based on cooperation or harmony among
nations, as opposed to the transcendence of national politics.
assumptions of realism:
- human nature is characterized by greed and selfishness
- politics is a domain of human actibity structured by power and coercion
- states are key global actors
- states pursue self interest and survival prioritizing security above anything else
, - states operate in an context of anarchy and rely on self help
- global order is structured by the distribution of power among states
- the balance of power is the principal means of ensuring stability and avoiding war
- ethical considerations are irrelevant to the conduct of foreign policy
assumptions of liberalism
- human beings are rational and moral creatures
- history is a progressive process, characterized by a growing respect of international
cooperation and peace
- mixed actor models of global politica are more realistic than state centric ones
- trade and economic interdependence make war less likely
- international law helps promote order and fosters rule governed based behavior
among states
- democracy is inherently peaceful, particularly in reducing the likelihood of war
between democratic states
since the late 1980s, the range of critical approaches to world affairs has expanded
considerably. Each of them seeks to uncover inequalities and asymmetries that mainstream
theories tend to ignore, however the attention is many and various
- neo marxists
- constructivism → people construct the world in which they live
- poststructuralists→ all ideas and concepts are expressed in language which itself is
enmeshed in complex relations of power
- feminists → gender inequality
- postcolonialism → cultural dimension of colonial rule
- green politics
all forms of politics are about power
hegemon: a leading paramount power
globalization may have made power more diffuse and intangible, increasing the influence of
global markets and drawing states into a web of economic interdependence that
substantially restricts their freedom of manoeuvre
security is the deepest and most abiding issue in politics. permanent insecurity between and
amongst states is therefore the inescapable lot of those who live in a condition of anarchy.
international security: conditions in which the mutual survival and safety of states is secured
through measures taken to prevent or punish aggression, usually within a rule governed
international order
security regime; a framework of cooperation amongst states and other actors to ensure the
peaceful resolution of conflict
the growth of interconnectedness and interdependence has extended thinking about morality
in world affairs, particularly through an increasing emphasis on the notion of global or
cosmopolitan justice.
