Globalisation and International Relations - Essay Example

Discuss the Implications of Globalisation for the Study of International relations. Does Globalisation change our understanding of IR? Introduction: The essay explores the economic and political implications of globalisation, highlighting the role of international trade and multinational companies in shaping international relations. The social and political implications of globalisation seem to be the focus of the study of international relations and would determine whether globalisation has made the world more peaceful or united in any way. Has globalisation started the process of promoting a single common world culture? Is globalisation just a passing trend or a stable and permanent process? Has globalisation led to inequality of nations and has it widened or closed the gap between the developing and developed economies? These questions help us to provide adequate understanding of the process of globalisation and its influence on world culture, politics and international relations. The study of international relations as a theory is based on a model that helps in the analysis of international relations. However the theories of international relations can take different approaches based on constructivist, liberalist or realist perspectives. Liberalism would emphasise only the advantages of globalisation arguing for the need of open and free market policy. Some economists and political analysts have argued that neo liberal support for globalisation increases the power of multinational corporations leading to capitalist societies and greater divisions between the rich and poor even at the expense of democracy and balanced ecosystems. Yet as many would claim despite the negative effects and fears of losing cultural sovereignty to effects of globalisation and internationalisation, globalisation do change societies and help cultures to move forward towards economic growth as could be clearly indicated from the two major emerging economies of Asia, including India and China. Globalisation and IR Considering theoretical perspectives, Anievas (2005) discusses theories of IR and goes into the detail pf Habermasian social theory to understand the practical implications of such a theory considering discourse ethics and communicative action. Anievas suggests that the contradictory nature of international relations and its relation to globalisation perspectives could be understood within the Habermasian context and the constructivist approaches to IR also have more socially oriented applications of the Habermasian framework (Anievas, 2005). Habermas emphasized on the importance of the public sphere, and the need for a political community transcending nation state on ethnic and cultural similarities for a community based on equal rights and democracy. Thus the Habermasian framework could be applied within socialisation perspectives to explain globalisation as a phenomenon which transcends cultural or ethnic boundaries for equality at all levels. However how much of this would be true considering the current state of world affairs and global politics? Discussing on the role of foreign policy practised by the global powers, as the United States, Mabee (2004) suggests that the US foreign policy is defined and explained in terms of imperialism and the notion of an empire. Mabee points out that the US as an empire probably conveys deeper meaning to the process of foreign policy and US domination than the concept of US as an imperial republic. According to Mabee, the notion of imperialism would suggest the dynamics of power and coercion that seem to be a part of an anarchic international system. Imperialism and globalisation has a direct relationship with certain interpretations of globalisation being focused on the influence or hegemony of one culture especially western culture on the other more oriental cultures (Mabee, 2004). There are other theoretical alternatives, such as the constructivist approach to globalisation, and Palan (2004) suggests that constructivism in international relations has a string link with the concept of globalisation. Constructivism is seen as a study that focuses on political relationships and the context within which the dynamics of international relations seem to be working. According to Palan the approach of studying international relationships between nation states defining small divided and local spaces seem to have given way to global dialogue processes and relationships happening within the context of global spaces (Palan, 2004, p.14-18). Constructivism is thus now applied to a global world and although the definition of globalisation may be ambiguous, it is in a sense a strongly global theory of international relations. The effects of globalisation are however not without their controversies. Dine (2001) points out to the role of multinational enterprises in what he considers as globalisation of poverty that has led to polarisation incomes with rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. Dine points out that there has been no reform of international law to regulate the relationship between MNEs and certain developing nations. This suggests that free access of the MNEs have resulted in increased political pressure for domestic local companies Like many other critics, Dine suggests that it may be necessary to regulate the foreign investment process to avoid any external exhortation maintaining desirable standards of business practice. Dine highlights the need for justice in driving an economy and points out to the importance of socialist theories in international relations which according to him could balance the demands of globalisation with the need for equality in society (Dine, 2001, p.85-90). Globalisation has strong effects across all field and subjects including a critical approach to international political economy and interdisciplinary insights would be required to define the relationship between international political economy and globalisation and liberalised trade within the context of international relations theory (Langley, 2000). Within the context of globalisation and free trade, the public concerns of the implications of an open market policy may have to be examined in the context of WTO’s role in shaping international economic relations (Panitchpakdi, 2001). Globalisation has its direct effects in changing economic relations and political equations and could be seen as a single major force in defining IR theories and perspectives. Conclusion: In this essay we summarised the constructivist, Habermasian, liberalist, and socialist perspectives of globalisation and the implication in IR. The importance of globalisation as a force affecting power relations, political dialogues and economic enterprises has been highlighted to suggest that globalisation not only plays an important role in international relations but also has also changed the way we perceive and understand IR. Bibliography Anievas, Alexander (2005) Critical Dialogues: Habermasian Social Theory and International Relations Politics, Volume 25, Number 3, pp. 135-143(9) Coward, Martin (2006) International Relations in the Post-Globalisation Era Politics, Volume 26, Number 1, pp. 54-61(8) Dine J. (2001) Multinational enterprises: international codes and the challenge of `sustainable development' Non-State Actors and International Law, Volume 1, Number 2, pp. 81-106(26) Langley P. (2000) Confronting Globalisation: International Political Economy and its Critics Millennium: Journal of International Studies, Volume 29, Number 2, pp. 461-469(9) Mabee Bryan (2004) Discourses of empire: the US 'empire', globalisation and international relations Third World Quarterly - Journal of Emerging Areas, Volume 25, Number 8, pp. 1359-1378(20) Palan R. (2004) Constructivism and globalisation: from units to encounters in international affairs Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Volume 17, Number 1, pp. 11-23(13) Panitchpakdi S. (2001) Global Trade Liberalisation: Coordination and Coherence The Australian Economic Review, Volume 34, Number 1, pp. 3-13(11) Read More