Are states still the most powerful actors in global politics?

Authors Avatar

INTRODUCTION (MAX ¾ PAGE)

        Are states still the most powerful actors in global politics? This essay will prove that states are the most powerful actors in global politics. The state of our world today is such that it can often be unclear as to who are the most important actors in world politics. While some may argue that states are still the most powerful actors in global politics, non-state actors also play an important role and cannot be dismissed. I will begin by providing an overview of the roles played by states and non-state actors in international relations. There are a number of authors who strongly believe that non-state actors are playing an increasingly important role in global politics. This essay will provide an in-depth look into these alternative views.

BACKGROUND (3-4 PAGES)

        In international relations, there are two groups which compose of the actors in global politics: states and non-state actors. As defined in the International Relations textbook, a state is “a territorial entity controlled by a government and inhabited by a population.” A state has ultimate sovereignty over its population and is acknowledged by other states. There is no authoritative power which resides above a state. Almost every state has a capital city and a leader who acts in what he believes to be of interest to the state. Most states have delegates representing them in the United Nations. Unlike non-state actors, states have the ability to vote on political issues.

        Non-state actors can be broken down into four different categories. The first, a ‘transnational actor’ is defined as being “any participant in world politics operating outside the group’s home country, independently of their home government.”  The many multinational corporations can be classified as transnational actors. Multinational corporations often “control greater resources, and operate internationally with greater efficiency than many small states.” Another type of non-state actor is the non-governmental organization. Intergovernmental organizations are the third type of non-state actors. Non-state actors consist of anything from terrorist groups and freedom fighters to non-profit organizations such as Doctors Without Borders.

Join now!

        Non-governmental organizations were originally noticed in the world community in the nineteenth century; however, the number of recognized NGOs did not begin to grow until the end of the 1800s. These early organizations covered a mixture of topics, including, “the treatment of offenders, the slave trade, the traffic in women and children, organized labour, the opium trade, peace, and humanitarian assistance”. The UN charter permits the “consultation” of NGOs in various UN meetings.

        In theory, “consultation” allowance in the charter is supposed to provide an environment where a wide range of organizations are able to voice their opinions and ideas ...

This is a preview of the whole essay