The Purpose of the International Politics - Assignment Example

International Politics Is sovereignty being transformed by globalization? The planet is first modernizing leading to more globalization that is compressing the world through changes in spatial organizations of social relations and transactions creating transcontinental networks. Many scholars believe that globalization has made the world superfluous in affecting the role of the states. Despite all these arguments, it is evident that globalization is affecting the role of states largely than before. In their original form, the states were created from Westphalia model that portrayed the states as the highest power with complete sovereignty with less external influence in the manner they govern their people (Shaw, 2000). With globalization, the roles of the states are affected economically, technologically, socially, and politically as they govern their people. Due to such political arrangements, similar jurisdictions have emerged that are influencing political and economic decisions of the independent states. A pattern is thus emerging whereby states are making political progression and regression together, causing states to become developmental (Lake, 2006). The roles of states have changed in the face of globalization since some of them have high independence on others due to their economic power and influence on international decisions. United States is one of the countries in the world who is known to exercise authority over other states by influencing the manner in which they make decisions (Lake, 2006). Since the World War II, most of the western states like Britain and France started working closely with the United States leading to a more dependent scenario. Currently, most countries in Europe formed the European Union that facilitated their dependence on each other in decision-making purposes. The European Union is also known to work closely with the united states thus further fostering high dependence between the states thus in turn erodes their sovereignty. Britain together with other European countries now highly looks at the United States as an authoritative power to lean on. United States acts as the global power that other states depended on due to their increased capacity, will, and international acceptance to provide leadership. Due to globalization, many decisions of sovereign states are based on judgments of their allies, friends, and even enemies (Elmawazin, Sherif & Manga, 2013). In technological perspective, globalization has allowed barriers between states to be broken through technological globalization. The states role has changed due to the formation of an interstate-shared media that has reduced the level of control over the information being provided to the states people. Increased use of internet is affecting the states role in that people are easily contacted across the world without states consent. Information is also easily availed through the internet for everyone to access, hence, the state no longer controls the information flow to its citizens (Shaw, 2000). Globalized economic changes also have substantial effects on the states role since the global economy has resulted in online banking, stock markets, and global franchises that serve everybody around the world. The credit crunch of 2008 provided a perfect example how world economies are interconnected and individual states have less control on their financial status due to external influence. What were the key developments of the post-cold war era? The end of the cold war had an impact on international relations experienced to date, the end of cold war permitted democratization to continue in many countries that were formerly ruled by Marxist dictatorships that cared less of conflict resolution (Yilmaz, 2008). This period also saw the reduction of tension that used to prevail between the east and the west that was mostly developed due to super power ideology during the cold war. Due to reduced conflicts, the cold war era enabled most governments to reduce their government spending as they try to focus on economic development in their states. However, the end of the cold war did not result in total peace since the emergence and reemergence of many serious conflicts were still evident in various parts of the world. Some new threats were also posed to the international order that went beyond the control of international powers like the United States (Usul, 2011). The results that can be put forth in the post cold war era ranges from economic, military, and political aspects in the analysis of international relations. After the cold war, china took place of in the multi centered economic structure in which the United States, the European Union, and Japan try to flex their financial muscles. Other countries that are also emerging as economic powers include turkey, Indonesia, Brazil and India, but the United States are still regarded as the economic giant (Cheng & Huangao, 2009). After the cold war, the economic relations between various powers have created a mutual economic dependency that may cause vulnerability and fragility in the short term and long term respectively Post cold war also saw the formation of regional blocks (European union and BRICS) that are structured to increase their influence in international relations. This is because unlike the past, countries have realized that there is more power and influence when they come together that when they remain divided (Yilmaz, 2008). Most of these regional blocks that formed after cold were destined to increase the hegemonic powers of their member states by establishing a regional hegemony. Post cold war era also saw the development of increased inter country relationships, such as that of Turkey and Iran, South Korea and Japan, China and European Union. In the military front, the United States emerged as the number one power in the military and political arena since there is no power that could match their military antics. Currently, there are is no power that matches the Untied States military technological power and their military spending is twice bigger than that of Germany, England, Russia, and china (Cheng & Huangao, 2009). Does globalization threaten international security? Globalization has resulted in numerous benefits and shortcoming with regard to international security. Globalization and international terrorism are some of the challenges faced by governments, especially after the end of the cold war. The divide between east and west caused brought new concepts of ideologies that led to the emergence of new security threats. Security has become so complex in the context of globalization and the traditional methods of security operations are becoming obsolete (Carmel, 2013). This is because those who cause insecurity are developing new methods of causing insecurity from time to time. Some of the security threats that have emerged currently are international terrorism and cyber threats. The United States is a victim of international terrorism since they fall victims in September 2001 when they were attacked, killing several, and wounding others. Terrorism has become rampant with globalization since issues are currently analyzed in the global context and the terrorist eying global targets. The United States attack marked the beginning point for most states as they began viewing terrorism as an international concern to every state (Kalesnykas, 2012). Surprisingly, the terrorist attacked the World Trade Centre thus sending a message throughout the world that the terrorist were targeting the centre of globalization with their heinous crimes. The terrorist who attacked the United States also targeted the Pentagon that symbolizes the political and military might of the American people. It is thus evident that terrorism has become more intense in this age of globalization thus; terrorism cannot be separated from globalization. Traditionally, security threats were seen in the context of deployment of large amounts of military hardware and personnel to the targeted area or state (Kirshner, 2008). Due to globalization, security is seen in a broader scope that ranges from information, communication, technology, and economic security. Due to globalization, it is becoming very difficult for a state to control non-state physical security aspects such as information technologies that are currently under security threats. Currently, cyber attacks are common in various places and the more you can protect your information, the stronger you are when compared to others who cannot protect their information (Kalesnykas, 2012). One of the problems with globalization is that individual states cannot control the movement of information; therefore, a giant military must be ready to protect their information at all costs. Globalization has also resulted in the trans nationalization of security threats, since individual states lacks the capability to handle pollution, diseases, technology and information transfer, both of which are potential security threats. In economic terms, emergence of information based economies has reduces the importance of national industries leading to increased foreign direct investment in local economies. Such investment by multinational companies decreases the state control of their domestic economy, which in turn makes a country vulnerable to the international economic crisis like that experienced in 2008. Globalization has also made it possible for militia and organized gangs to access weapons of mass destruction that they use against their opponents in times of conflicts. It is thus true that globalization; to some extent is a threat to international security (Carmel, 2013). References Cheng, J & Huangao, S. 2009. Chinas African Policy in the Post-Cold War Era. Journal of Contemporary Asia. Vol. 39 Issue 1, p87-115. Carmel, S.M. 2013. Globalization, Security, and Economic Well being. Naval War College Review. Vol. 66 Issue 1, p41-55. Elmawazin, K., Sharif, A & Manga, P. 2013. Trade Globalization, Financial Globalization and Inequality within South East Europe and CIS Countries. Journal of Developing Areas. Vol. 47 Issue 2, p303-317 Kalesnykas, R. 2012. European Union Security Strategy: Globalization and New Challenges. Issues of Business & Law. Vol. 4, p1-11. Kirshner, J. 2008. Globalization, American Power, and International Security. Political Science Quarterly. Vol. 123 Issue 3, p363-389. Lake, D.A. 2006. American Hegemony and the Future of East–West Relations. International Studies Perspectives. Vol. 7 Issue 1, p23-30. Shaw, M. 2000. Theory of the Global State: Globality as an Unfinished Revolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Usul, A. 2011. Academia and the Legitimising of International Politics: studies of democratisation and world politics. Third World Quarterly, Vol. 32 Issue 9, p1691-1702. Yilmaz, M.E. 2008. "The New World Order": An Outline of the Post-Cold War Era. Turkish Journal of International Relations. Vol. 7 Issue 4, p44-58. 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