LESSOn 3

THE GLOBAL INTERSTATE SYSTEM

 INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Explain the effects of globalization on
governments/nation states.

2. Determine the institutions that govern

international relations.

3. Distinguish internationalism from

globalism.
NatioN-State
The nation-state consists of two
parts: “nation” and “state.”
Historically, ‘nation’ emphasized
organic relationships, while today,
nations are socially constructed
political communities. Max
Weber’s definition of’state’
emphasizes jurisdictional claims
over land and people,
emphasizing sovereignty. The
nation-state combines the
subgroups that identify as a nation
and the organizational structure
that makes up the state
THREATS TO THE NATION State
Ohmae (1996) contends that “the uncomfortable truth is that, in terms of the global economy,
nation-states have become little more than bit actors.” He speaks of a global economy
without borders that nation-states are powerless to manage. Similar arguments were made by
Strange (1996), that the decline of the nation-state is linked to technological and financial
changes, as well as to “the accelerated integration of national economies into one single
global market economy.” While nation-states once controlled markets, it is now the markets
that often control the nation-states. Because of globalization the nation-state has become
increasingly permeable. Another threat is the increase interest in universal human rights. As a
result, global human rights groups have claimed the right to be able to have a say about what
is done to people within and between sovereign states (Farr, 2005). Thus, human rights are a
global matter and not exclusively a concern of the state (Levy & Sznaider, 2006). Furthermore,
the implication is that when a state breaches human rights or when a violation happens within
a state’s borders and the state fails to take effective measures to address it, the international
community can and should intervene
IN DEFENSE OF THE NATION-STATE
A variety of arguments are made, including that the nation-state
continues to be the major player on the global stage (Gilpin, 2001), that it
retains at least some power in the face of globalization (Conley, 2002), that
nation-states vary greatly in their efficacy in the face of globalization
(Mann, 2007), and that the rumors of the demise of the nation-state are
greatly exaggerated. Daniel Beland (2008) argues that “the role of the
state enduring and even increasing in advanced industrial societies.”
Another argument in favor of the nation-state is that diverse global
processes are not as powerful as many people imagine. That it would be a
mistake to simply see globalization as a threat to, or constraint on, the
nation-state; it can also be an opportunity for the nation-state (Conley,
2002).
CHANGES IN GLOBAL NATION-STATE
RELATIONSHIP
•The State in a World of Economic
Interdependence

Interdependence Globalization, often linked to

free market capitalism and neoliberal ideologies,
has imposed a burden on states to adapt or risk
losing economic sovereignty. Journalist Thomas
Friedman warns that nation-states may lose
economic sovereignty due to neoliberalism’s
unassailability. Governments often prioritize
external stakeholders’ interests over their
citizens’, leading to exploitation.
•Economic and Political Integrations •The Rise of International Law and
States have formed regional Universal Principles.
partnerships, such as the European The United Nations (UN) was created
Union (EU) and the North America Free to address global issues and address
Trade Agreement (NAFTA), to promote grievances among states.
trade and economic cooperation. Transgovernmental networks among
These partnerships allow citizens to participating states help resolve the
live, work, vote, and run for office in “globalization paradox” by increasing
European elections. The EU has government competency and
strengthened states by empowering regulatory efficacy. This brings
them to defend their interests in governments closer to international
international negotiations and norms and conventions, leading to
bolstering national regulatory more productive working relationships.
mechanisms. This international However, adherence to international
collaboration gives nations new duties law and conventions is a question of
and responsibilities without giving up choice, and streamlined collaboration
sovereignty. can result in greater government
service delivery.
•States as Targets: The Rise of Transnational •Communication Networks, New
Activism Media and the State
Margaret Keck and Kathryn Sikkink traced the roots
of international advocacy to 19th-century movements Globalization and digital media have
against slavery and women’s rights, introducing the created networks that empower
“boomerang pattern of influence,” where domestic communities to engage politically and
organizations collaborate with international groups express identities. Manuel Castells’
to pressure governments for human rights policy ‘network society’ concept shows how
changes. Increased awareness of globalization has citizens can challenge state authority.
led many to see themselves as ‘global citizens,’ While states aim to maintain power,
emphasizing responsibility and empathy. Social citizens use online platforms for
media has energized civil society, particularly in the communication. However, state-run
‘global south,’ facilitating network-building. This shift media often prioritize rulers’ interests
has fostered greater interaction between over public needs.
international relations and political communication,
but solutions may not be universally applicable
across different countries.
~INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (IGO’s)

Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) were formed to facilitate

linkages between nation-states. Their goal is to establish strong
intergovernmental economic, political, cultural, educational, and technical
links. Examples include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),
the European Union (EU), and the World Trade Organization (WTO). The
International Criminal Court (ICC), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),
and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN)
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and
Vietnam are the current members. It was formed to
form a united front against communism’s growth
and to maintain political, economic, and social
stability in the Asia-Pacific region, where tensions
were mounting. It is now chaired by an annual
rotating presidency in Jakarta, Indonesia, with the
help of a secretariat. Consultation and consensus
are used to make decisions, which are guided by
the values of non-interference in internal matters
and peaceful conflict resolution.
- The European Union (EU)

It governs common economic, social, and security

policies and is composed of 27 European countries. It
was formed to become more competitive in the
global marketplace while also balancing the
interests of its separate fiscal and political members.
The EU is governed by three bodies. National
governments are represented by the European
Council, which receives the second reading of all bills
and can accept the Parliament’.

- The World Trade Organization (WTO)

It has 164 member nations and is the only

international organization that deals with trade rules
on a worldwide scale. It ensures that commerce is as
seamless, predictable, and unrestricted as feasible.
THE CONCEPT OF INTERNATIONALISM AND GLOBALISM

The intensification of relations among nation-states gave birth to the idea of

internationalism and globalism. The former is the theory and practice of
interdependent collaboration while the latter is an attitude.

Internationalism is anchored on the opinion that nationalism should be outrun

because links that bind people of different countries are more powerful than
those that disconnect them (Ancora, 2014). Kant (1795) conceptualized the idea
of liberal internationalism which proposes that nations must give up their
freedom and submit to a larger system of laws that is embodied by common
international principles. Meanwhile, Giuseppe Mazzini (1805-1872) assumed that
nationalism and international cooperation complemented each other. On the
other hand, socialist internationalism contradicts the very principles of liberal
internationalism. The conviction is that the working class must.
LESSOn 4
Temporary Global Governance
Introduction :
The United Nations (UN) is an
international organization established
in 1945, aiming to maintain global
peace and security, foster friendly
relations between nations, and
promote cooperation on issues like
human rights, development, and
economic progress, with its primary
goal being to prevent future conflicts
through dialogue and diplomacy; it is
comprised of nearly every country in
the world, with its headquarters in New
York City.
The following UN organs would give further emphasis to the focus of the
organization:
• General Assembly: Represents all member states, facilitating global issue
discussions.

•Security Council: Focuses on maintaining international peace and security.

•Economic and Social Council: Promotes cooperation on economic, social, and

environmental matters.

•Trusteeship Council: Historically managed trust territories, now largely

inactive.

• International Court of Justice: Resolves international legal disputes as the

UN’s judicial branch.

• Secretariat: Oversees the UN’s daily operations and administrative tasks.

The United Nations confronts several challenges, as noted by Weiss and
Thakur (2014):

•Managing knowledge: The UN underutilizes its knowledge gathering and

sharing capabilities.

• Developing norms: Creating widely accepted norms is difficult due to the

diverse perspectives of member states.

•Promulgating recommendations: The UN often disregards recommendations

from non-governmental organizations and public opinion.

•Institutionalizing ideas: Institutional barriers can hinder the development of

new ideas, and the UN lacks effective mechanisms to enforce international
norms.
THE IDEA OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

Global governance, also known as

legal pluralism, involves the creation
and enforcement of rules and
norms by various networked
organizations and individuals. It
emerged due to weak global
governance, lack of central
authority, and minimal
enforcement, making it a surrogate
for governments to address
collective problems that are often
insurmountable for them to solve
independently.
A. Governance through multi-stakeholder

Multi-stakeholder initiatives involve public and private actors in public policy

networks and partnerships, providing governance in service provision,
industrial standards, and labor standards in global value chains, often
involving state actors, international institutions, INGOS, and private sector
organizations.

B. Governance through voluntary regulations

Voluntary regulatory systems involve multinational corporations (MNCs)

agreeing to social and environmental practices beyond local laws, either
directly by the companies or through international organizations, providing
public relations tools.
C. Governance through transnational arbitration bodies.

Transnational arbitration bodies provide global governance to courts and

lawyers, ensuring member countries follow their own laws, as seen in the North
American Free Trade Agreement’s environmental side-agreement.

The demand for global governance is increasing due to the weakening

power of nation-states, the massive movement of goods and people, and the
occurrence of horrific events within nation-states. Global issues like
recessions, such as the Great Recession, require support from global
governments. Nation-states have struggled to cope with these challenges
through interstate systems, but a recent trend is towards developing truly
global structures to address diverse concerns and problems.
THE NATION-STATE IN A GLOBALIZATION WORLD

The nation-state’s role is evolving in today’s globalized world.

Regionally, multilateral organizations and agreements are on the rise,
potentially paving the way for regional blocs to become the primary
governing units. These blocs have transformed from economic
integration efforts to loose political federations. Globally,
governments have established organizations like the UN, NATO, and
WTO, indicating that nation-states struggle with complex
interdependencies. Non-governmental organizations also influence
global governance. Some researchers envision a democratic global
governance structure rooted in cosmopolitan ideals, while others
doubt this vision due to cultural complexities.