Does realism or liberalism better explain the core dynamics of the international system?
Transfer-Encoding: chunked Does realism or liberalism better explain the core dynamics of the international system? Discuss in light of evidence from the 19th and 20th centuries. The international system is a complex game with various key players ranging from states to multinational corporations to non-governmental organisations. Throughout the development of the international system, there have been various significant events that have led to the current state of affairs and in turn, scholars have developed various theories in an attempt to understand and analyse international relations. The two most prevalent theories are realism and liberalism. Both positivist theories, they exist as polar opposites and offer two different perspectives on the behaviour and relations between states. Some argue that realism best explains these relations and the core dynamics of the international system but this essay will argue that it is in fact liberalism which better explains it. This will be argued in light of evidence from the 19th and 20th centuries which will show that although realism has played a role in the evolution of the international system, it is liberalism which has been dominant in explaining historical global events. As we know, according to realists, states are primarily concerned with power and survival. Theorists such as Thomas Hobbes argue that mankind is
COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE
'The reality of world trade governed by the rules of the WTO is a far cry from the economists' model of mutual benefit from specialization according to comparative advantage.' Explain and evaluate this judgement One of the most remarkable features of the post-war world economy is liberalisation of international trade. Change in trade policy strategies and the trade policy environment are among the reasons why trade has grown nearly five times faster than world output (as Chart 1 show- WTO) and also why global trade growth increased by 9 per cent in 2004, more than twice as fast as output1. But is this strategy of specialisation and trade really a good way how to make countries better-off? Chart 1 Growth of World Exports of Manufactures and GDP, 1950-2003 (1950=100) Source: World Trade Organisation The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established and incorporated in January 1st 1995 at the amendment of the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) in 1994 with the aim of regulating international trade. The creation of this organization clearly underscored the acceptance and commitment of trade liberalization by most of the international communities. Upon signing and ratifying the WTO Agreement, each member state of the WTO committed itself through a series of agreements to ultimately liberalize its trade in goods, services and trade-related aspects of intellectual
What is globalisation and to what extent is the contemporary world actually globalised?
Derek McKenna LG119 Student number: 10809341 What is globalisation and to what extent is the contemporary world actually globalised? To answer the question this essay will begin by attempting to provide a definition to the sometimes elusive meaning of the term ‘globalisation’. The essay will then take this definition and move on to use it to outline three different perspectives on what globalisation is. The three perspectives that will be used are the hyperglobalist, the transformationalist and the sceptical (Held et al, 2000, p10). Each of these perspectives on globalisation will in turn attempt to answer the question of what is globalisation. Within outlining each of these perspective’s views on globalisation, each perspective’s views on the extent the contemporary world is actually globalised will also be outlined. After this the essay will compare and contrast each of the three perspectives to gain an understanding of which of them provides the best or strongest answer to how much the contemporary world is actually globalised, before concluding with a summary of its main points and by pointing out that each perspective shares a general agreement that the capitalist system is the driving force of what globalisation is, but each differs in its views on to what extent the world is actually globalised. The term globalisation is one that is used
International Relations (henceforth referred to as IR) has many theories that attempt to define the actions of states in modern politics, the only problem with these paradigms is none of them are universal.
When in Rome Science through out history has been the pursuit of truth: testable, quantitative truth. Political science is just the same -- with out any of the tangibility of other doctrines. International Relations (henceforth referred to as “IR”) has many theories that attempt to define the actions of states in modern politics, the only problem with these paradigms is none of them are universal. In order to analyze the international system, it must be understood that it isn’t much of a system at all. It functions in a state of anarchy. Anarchy does not mean chaos or lack of direction, rather, it means there are no rules. The UN is a governing body but it cannot control the main powers -- which are unfortunately the only ones that matter. The very reason for the UN’s existence is to promote peaceful negotiation and humanitarian rights around the globe, which in theory is the human race’s greatest attempt to provide equality -- all of it is undermined by the security council. USA, China, Russia, Great Britain, and France are all permanent members of this council which allows them to make the rules -- and not play by them. Their true power, though,isn’t in approving decisions, it is the ability to veto decisions that counter national interests. Contemporary examples include the USA invading Iraq with out sanction from the UN and more recently, Russia evoked its
How useful is the concept of the balance of power for understanding international security today?
How useful is the concept of the ‘balance of power’ for understanding international security today? The concept of the ‘balance of power’ is considered as one of the oldest propositions in the field of international relations, attracting more scholarly effort than any other single hypothesis about international politics (Wohlforth, 2007, p.155). In terms of international security today, it is a theory which is becoming increasingly debatable as America rises to prominence in a stable system defined by unipolarity. The aim of this essay will be to assess the utility of the concept to the contemporary student of international security. The first part of the essay will focus on a historical analysis of the balance of power theory with the aim of scrutinizing its ability to account for the past. The second part of the essay then goes on to try and reformulate the concept in order to rejuvenate its modern relevance. Finally, the third part of the essay will then deal with issues which still plague the concept. If we are to analyse the utility of the concept of the balance of power for understanding international security today it is first imperative to see how adequately the concept of balance of power can account for events of the past. It is logical to assume that if a theory cannot satisfactorily explain the past then there is little hope for it to comprehending the
What is globalisation? Is it a new phenomenon? If not, how is this wave of globalisation seen to differ from what has come before?
30011722 Robert Bickerstaffe What is ‘globalisation’? Is it a new phenomenon? If not, how is this ‘wave’ of globalisation seen to differ from what has come before? The issue of globalisation is one of the most fiercely debated by academics around the world. The question of what globalisation is can take many answers, with the word defined by UNESCO as, circumstances arising from the changing character of the production, consumption and trade of goods (UNESCO, 2003). Globalisation has different meanings to others, and may be viewed as not one process but as several, including perhaps globalisation of the economy, of knowledge and governance (2007). The background to most for the word ‘globalisation’ will be statements that one cannot avoid these days, claiming that the world is getting smaller, that we now live in a global village and that geography is now obsolete. Trade and communications are like never before. Where once it could take weeks to deliver documents to the other side of the world, it now takes seconds due to current systems. Whether or not globalisation is a new phenomenon of recent decades, or a continuation of a theme that has continued for more than a thousand years, can be debated, but it is reasonable to accept that the term itself is known now more than ever. Professor U. Beck claims in his book, "globalization is a new game with expired
Does the principle of sovereignty promote security or threaten it?
Does the principle of sovereignty promote security or threaten it? Sovereignty is one of the most important aspects of international relations and it's affects on the security of nations, of peoples and of individuals is indeed paramount to how the international community (if there is one) conducts itself. The aim of this essay is to examine the various factors that influence both sovereignty and security, and whether the principle of sovereignty can help or hinder the achievement of security globally. In order to examine the effects of these principles definitions of terms need to be made. Sovereignty, has been a much-debated theory for many years. Jean Bodin was the first to theorise the concept, as the sovereign (being the ruler, king or prince .etc) having the sole ability to create law1. The modern day concept can be described as the supreme power over a territory, answerable to no higher authority2. From this definition, the principle of sovereignty with regard to international relations means that a state has the right to make law within its territory without the influence of outside pressures. This view and definition relates most directly to the realist perspective of international relations. This is the idea that the international scene is without order or enforceable rules and states always act in their own interests without regard to others. Security, even more so
Does the principle of sovereignty promote security or threaten it?
Does the principle of sovereignty promote security or threaten it? Today's concept of sovereignty, is based around the ideas created in the early to mid-17th century; founded on the idea of a centralised power that controls the processes of law within a given territory. The authority in this territory is supreme to any other forces making themselves felt within it, and they have power over their own internal affairs and policy making, no other nation has the right to interfere in any form of the government. Only international law and treaties bind the sovereign state, these laws make sovereignty a legal concept and only a small number exist without the consent of the nation1. This legality of sovereignty leads to the recognition of a sovereign state by other nations. With the international laws and organisations such as the UN which maintain states sovereignty it could easily be thought that this gives nations a great deal of security. Is this really the case? Or does the principle of sovereignty work the other way as to create upheaval and conflict amongst these different nation states? The principle of sovereignty promoting security is that can these nation states feel that their rights as a sovereign nation as governed by international law are protected, do the principles of sovereignty promote security? Or do they give other nation-states an initiative to become an
The Arab Israeli Conflict.
The Arab Israeli Conflict The roots of the current Arab-Israeli conflict stretch back to ancient history.The crux of the issue lies in the fact that a small sliver of land, which is located west of the Jordan River and east of the Mediterranean Sea is holy to three different religions. Some refer to this land as "Palestine"while others call it Israel. Regardless of its name, it is considered holy to Christians, Muslims and Jews and it plays a central role in the origin of these religions. For Jewish people, this reion is the Promised Land. They believe that it was given to them by God. The Jewish people were forced from the land in A.D. 70 by the Romans, who then changed the name to Palestine. Ever since then, Jews dreamed of returning and recleiming their biblical land. In the late 1800's there was a rise of anti-semitism in Eastern Europe, large scale massacres of Jews, called pogoms, had happened in Russia. Many Europeans blamed Jews for economic problems. Europe no longer felt safe for Jewish people, they felt that they could only be safe in their own country. In 1896 Theodor Herzi wrote The Jewish State, which helped launch the Zionist movement whose goal was to set up a Jewish nation in Palestine. The biggest obstacle or the Zionist's was the Arab population which already lived in Palestine. The Arabs had been living there for hundreds of years and felt no
What Is Globalisation?
WHAT IS GLOBALISATION? "Globalisation is unavoidable" (World Bank, 1995:54) "Globalisation is a myth suitable for a world without illusions, but it is also one that robs us of hope" (Hirst and Thompson, 1996:6) There are many theories that try to define and explain globalisation. What is commonly accepted by most of them is the fact that globalisation is a multidimensional process. The major aspects of globalisation are economical, political and cultural. It can be claimed that globalisation in our days has created a strong debate field where supporters and opponents of globalisation, act in very dynamic ways. The antiglobalisation movement has become a global social movement that has many supporters in a big number of countries who think of globalisation as a big threat to their world. On the other hand, support of globalisation is also widespread in many countries, and what strengthens this support is the belief that globalisation is the progress and the future. For some, globalisation is not a new phenomenon. This view has to do mainly with the economical aspect of globalisation. According to this view, globalisation is described as the process which involves growing economic "interdependence" of countries worldwide. But the economic interdependence is not a new phenomenon (Singh, 2000:3). By the second half of the 19th century Adam Smith's theories and the "Laissez