The Importance of Economic Factors in International Politics in Marxism and Neomarxism - Essay Example

DO MARXISTS AND NEO-MARXISTS OVER-EMPHASISE THE IMPORTANCE OF ECONOMIC FACTORS IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS? Course City/State Date Introduction The nature of international politics determines the level of a country’s economic growth based on its benefits from other economies in the world. For example, developed countries utilise international politics to exploits the labor and natural resources of the developing countries, which facilitates their economies (Adam, 2010 9). On the other hand, developing economies obtain finished products and export labor to the developed economies, which promotes various aspects of their economies. The research examines various aspects of the Marxists and Neo-Marxists argument in order to establish their arguments regarding economy and international politics (Skillman, 2007 41). The paper expounds on the different aspects international politics and the essentiality of economic factors in international relations. The essay further examines various elements of the Marxists and Neo-Marxists theories and establishes a critical comparison of the theories. In addition, the research examines the argument of the Marxist and Neo-Marxists paradigms regarding the importance of economic factors in international politics. The essay also describes the connection of Neo-Marxism and Marxism to the ideologies of liberalism. The thesis of the paper is to support the argument that both Marxists and neo-Marxists over-emphasized on the essentiality of economics in international politics. The Marxist theorists focus on the exploitive nature of international relations among countries in different economic levels (Balaam and Veseth, 2001 22). On the other hand, the neo-Marxists explore the benefits of economic-based international relations in the society that promotes equality among nations in the world. Both theorists emphasize the importance of economics in international politics (Shields, Bruff and Macartney, 2011 7). Economic factors and International Politics International politics is the major characteristics of the relationships between different countries world. The politics focus on strengthening the relationships between different economies to benefits at various levels. For example, international politics entail policies by various authorities that promote exploitation in terms of materials, labor and natural resources (Adem, 2010 32). The most exploitive form of international politics occurred in different countries during the colonial and slavery period. The advanced countries capitalised on minority economies vulnerability to enhance their economic progress (Re-orienting the New (International) Political Economy, 2001 2). The international political economy combines political economy and international relations. The concept examines the effects on international politics on the economies of various countries worldwide (Rupert and Solomon, 2006 14). In additional, political economy refers to the social science that evaluates the economic and political progresses in various regions in the world (Frieden and Lake, 2000 21). Moreover, the concept of international politics establishes the influence and interrelations between political and economic aspects of a country. Marxists and Neo-Marxists Theories Marxists theories were common in the Soviet Union before the Second World War. The theories emphasized the elements of inequalities in the relationships between various economies in the world. According to Marxism, the larger economies exploit the small economies, which create economic classes in the universe. Marxism expounds on various avenues the large economies exploits the minor countries such as materials, labor and policies (Spero and Hart, 2010 17). Most of the foreign policies of developed countries focus on exploring different exploitative platforms in the developing economies (Skillman, 2007 22). This exploitive nature of international politics promotes economic inequalities among various nations worldwide. Marxists expound on the economic exploitations, which is promoted by the modern capitalism in the society. The various international relations theories relate the nature of the organization in the world (Smouts, 2001 34). The Marxist theory highlights the class separation among different economies in the world. However, the theory emphasizes on a particular countrys economy, and it places the status of the countries economies over other aspects of civilization in the world (Balaam and Veseth, 2001 14). The Marxists feel that the realism and idealism theories are utilized by economic superpowers to justify economic inequalities among different countries worldwide. The basic concept of the Marxism theory on international relations highlights on the classification of the world based on the status of their economies at the expense of political motivations. In addition, Marxist criticizes the wealthy economies for creating an economic system that ensures their wealth increases at the expense of the minor economies. For example, the developed countries encourage the small economies to adopt the capitalistic economic systems in order to enhance growth of their economies by exploiting the minor countries (Lawson, 2003 11). The World system theory highlights the division of the world based on the economic status of the country. According to the theory, the world economies are divided into core, periphery and semi-periphery economies. The core economies entail the countries that produce highly skilled labour and produce most of the capital resources in the world (Szirmai and Szirmai, 2005 51). In addition, the semi-periphery and periphery countries comprise of the world’s poor and poorest countries respectively. These countries provide the core nations with raw material and cheap labour regardless of the level training (Lichtheim, 2010 22). In addition, the status of the particular countries in the periphery and semi-periphery categories is non-static. The countries in the periphery and semi-periphery category experience fluctuations in their economies and work towards reaching the core level economically. According to this Marxist theory, the surplus from the countries is distributed to different economies based on their needs. Moreover, the minor economies in the system purchase finished products from the major economies that increase the economic gap between the countries (Frieden and Lake, 2000 17). The dependency theory highlights on the exploitive nature of the capitalistic economic system in the world. The theory discusses the industrialization difference between the countries, which promotes dependency in the economies. According to the dependency theory, minor economies provide the industrialized with adequate raw materials for production of goods that promotes economic development. Consequently, the developed economies distribute the finished products at high costs to the small countries that limit economic growth in the in the minor economies (Bruff, 2009 35). The small nations depend on the industrialized economies in terms of essential goods and services. On the other hand, the industrialized economies depend on the minor nations for provision of raw materials and labour that essential elements are of production processes in the industries (Reus-Smit and Snidal, 2008 14). The exploitive nature of this theory occurs in a situation where the developed nations sell goods and services to the developing economies at high costs (Lipson and Cohen, 1999 25). Marxists arguments emphasise the need for incorporation of economic on international politics. International politics is a crucial avenue for enhancing equality among nations in the world as argued by Marxists (Lichtheim, 2010 44). The incorporation of economic in the international politics enables various countries to sustain mutual economic relationships with minimal exploitation. In addition, the aspect of economics in the international politics provides all the countries with an equal platform to enhance the status of their economies with minimal exploitations (Bruff, 2009 25). However, majority of the nations in the modern society embrace the capitalistic economic system, which promotes inequality in the society (Reus-Smit and Snidal, 2008 36). Neo-Marxism is a school of thought that utilises various aspects of Marxism in its arguments. The Neo-Marxism economic systems highlights on the existence of economic classes among nations worldwide. According to Neo-Marxists, the current structure of the world economy is implemented systematically based on the concepts of class divisions in the globe. The theory highlights on the exploitation of developing economies by the economic giants on a global perspective. The Neo-Marxism economic school of thought is applicable in opposing the inequalities experienced by various economies in the world. Neo-Marxists, on the other hand, emphasise the importance of economics in international politics in various ways. First, they argue that international relations are essential for benefiting both the upper and lower end economies in the world (Watson, 2004 24). International politics provides various nations with an appropriate platform to present their side of the bargain economically. In addition, it provides the minor economies with an appropriate platform top entice the developed to industrialise their economies. This form of relationship among the countries helps to reduce economic inequalities (Champagne, 2007 32). Additionally, the environment created by international politics ensures appropriate relationship among different countries in the world, which enhances equality in economic growth. It also enables the semi-periphery and the periphery economies to move towards the core part of the world. Further, economically based international politics creates an appropriate business atmosphere the involved parties, which is an essential element of enhancing economic equality. Neo-Marxist, however, criticise the elements of capitalism that facilitate economic exploitation among countries in different classes in the world (Goldstein and Mansfield, 2012 43). They highlight the importance of incorporating economics in international politics because of the ability of all nations to engage in trade regardless of their economic status. The concept also enables the countries to establish mutually beneficial agreement, which promotes equality in economic growth. In addition, the developed countries provide labour to the developing economies in order to promote effective growth in their economies (China in Africa: articulating Chinas Africa policy, 2014 5). According to Marxists and Neo-Marxist, the international community pays great attention to the social, political and economic dimensions of a particular. This observation is crucial to ensuring that the actions of a particular economy do not affect the large international community (Lüdert, 2008 37). Karl Marx conceptualised the dependency theory to suit only a single state or society, drawing from the economic and political environment of the Great Britain. For Neo-Marxists, the central point of concern was the capitalist world-system standing as a single unit in for effective study and analysis. In this approach, specific attention is given to historical evolutions of the particular systems, which usher in the new form. Despite the contradiction between the Marxists and Neo-Marxists, a dominant economic class continues to exist basing on the data regarding the distribution of wealth and income in a nation-state (Rose, 2002 33). The Marxist and Neo-Marxist theorist also agree on various concepts regarding the importance of economics in international politics. According to the Marxist theories, integration of economics in international politics promotes inequality in the economies. On the Contrary, the Marxist and neo-Marxist oppose the adoption of liberal forms of governance in the countries in order to facilitate equality. In addition, Marxism and Neo-Marxism enable the minor economies to combine resources in the production process, which is essential for economic growth (Lüdert, 2008 29). Marxist and Neo-Marxist theories help to provide the appropriate direction for international politics by examining how political patterns and economic policies influence the direction of international politics (Rupert and Smith, 2002 28). On the other hand, the liberalism ideologies criticise the approaches of both Marxists and neo-Marxists regarding economic equality. The liberalism economic school oppose the importance of economic factors in international politics and promotes the concept of economic individualism among various economies worldwide. Conclusion The relationship among countries provides an avenue for developed economies to exploit the developing and underdeveloped economies in the world. This capitalistic nature of exploitation promotes neo-colonialism and economic dependence on the exploited economies. Various scholars evaluate the relationship between different economies and expound on the benefits and setbacks of such relations (Economides and Wilson, 2002 37). In addition, several theories expound on the issue of international relations in the world. However, some scholars and theorist focus mainly on the international aspects of business among countries (Champagne, 2007 45). For example, Marxist and neo-Marxists emphasise on various aspects essentiality of economics factors in international politics (Erckel, 2009 29) The integration of economic factors in the concept of international politics is essential in promoting international relations among different countries world. Additionally, the countries benefit both socially and economically because of the equality created by the economics. It also helps in minimising the economic classes in the world, which promotes equal growth in various economies. The Marxists and Neo-Marxist emphasise on the importance of economics in international politics because of the effective nature of the system. In addition, it facilitates in reducing dependency levels among different economies in the world. The periphery and semi-periphery gain both socially and economically because of the integration of economics in international politics. The Marxists and Neo-Marxists highlight on the negative effects of capitalism and liberalism on the underdeveloped economies in the world. Karl Marxist examines the importance of incorporating various economic factors such as labour, production and raw materials in international politics in order to promote economic equality in the world. The Neo-Marxists and Marxist theories agree on the element of economic inequality in the world, which hinders effective development in the minor economies. In addition, the both Marxist and Neo-Marxist regard the incorporation of economic factors in international relations as an avenue for promoting equitable distribution of materials, labour and other resources among different economies that equal economic growth. 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