Jaden Vincent M.

Reyes Feb 4, , 2022

3-BPl Module 1, Assignment

International Relation

1. What is a state? Why do we have them? What is a state system?

The state is considered as a political organization composed of a different group of

individuals who agreed to associate themselves with each other to form a bigger and
distinct organization that is now sharing with same identity and culture. Has own
declared population and clear boundaries of the territory. Moreover, the state has a
governing body that separates from other foreign governments.

We have them in order to be recognized by the foreign state. it is also a representation

that we are independent and not subjected to any foreign power. for instance in the case
of the Philippines under the Spanish occupation. The sovereignty of the Philippines is not
yet recognized by foreign states. until when the Filipinos achieved independence on June
12, 1894. Another point is that states are needed to have a sort of peace and security
across the declared jurisdiction.

State systems which state numerous state-recognized other nations each other local
independent sovereignty. It is originated in the concept of peace of Westphalia. So that It
will bring and preserving international balance of power.

2. When did independent states and the modern system of states emerge? What is the
difference between a medieval and a modern system of political authority?

In the 16th century, the independent state and the modern state become known in Europe.
The differences Between the two systems are mentioned. In the medieval system. It is
complicated because there is a lot of individual involved in the process. The power is
only focused on one king or Family. Additionally, the medieval system has a hierarchy to
follow and the position of the people can be found at the bottom of the people. That’s
why the modern system has arrived because in contrary to the medieval system. The
government becomes the authority and hierarchy is removed. While the People become
much closer to the Government.
3. What are two different interpretations of Westphalia?

We have traditionalists and revisionists. Both have different points and stand. In the
traditionalist or classical View, their perspective is that the treaty of Westphalia has a
significant impact on the concept of the modern state. The treaty of Westphalia provides
the concrete division of territory in Europe. Additionally, The treaty provides authority and
political autonomy to the rulers to defend their lands, and in this treaty where the modern
state begins.

In the revisionist perspective. They believe that the modern state doesn’t originate from the
treaty of Westphalia. Moreover, the revisionist claims that the concept of Westphalia is just
a myth and doesn’t exist. There is no concrete evidence that the treaty is the reason why
modern states exist. Additionally, the revisionist claims that the classical thinkers created
these issues about the modern state to retain their predominant and credibility in Politics.

4. Why did the modern state and state system emerge in Europe and not somewhere
else?

The reason why the modern state emerges in Europe and not in the other parts of the world
such as Asia. Because in Europe Pope and kings are significantly influential and they
owned most of the land. So the People in Europe assume that authority in the medieval
period doesn’t represent the majority of the people. As a result, the people look for an
alternative government system that is grounded in their own. They free themselves from
the political authority of Christiandom. They also freed themselves from the influences of
barons and local feudal leaders. In the modern state. the peasant becomes the people that
are formally subjected to the king and local feudal leaders.

In conclusion. The people in Europe overthrow the old and highly centralized form of
government and began to formulate a new set of systems that will truly represent the
people and not one personality.

5. We expect states to sustain a number of core values: security, freedom, order,

justice, and welfare. Do states meet our expectations?

Yes, The Philippines sustain and meet the Core values. in the Security despite of having
tension in the West Philippines sea between China. Our armed forces manage to implement
and protect us from the potential threat. Another, Historical event that our government
exemplified that they can protect and provide security both internet and the external threat
is the battle of Marawi.

In Freedom, despite numerous attacked of the administration against the media still. Our
freedom of speech and assembly are still exercised by us. However, we hope that the
Duterte administration will stop attacking the media for the sake of their interest.
 In Order, the current administration has issues in handling crimes however still The PNP
manages to provide order and prevent our country to turn into a Wild West. We have laws
such as the constitution, penal law, and civil laws to follow.

In Justice, We are known for having a slow and weak justice system but it doesn’t reflect
that we don’t have justice at all. We still have justice but we should improve it more.

In welfare, Most Filipinos are still living in poverty. However, the government still is in
the process of providing good welfare to the Filipinos.

In conclusion, the Philippines are still in the process of strengthening core values and we
hope the next president can create an impact in improving the Philippines situation

6. What are the effects on developing countries of integration into the global economy?

The global economy has a lot to offer for a country that is developing like the Philippines.
If the Philippines integrated itself into the global economy. It can open up more new
avenues for our local businesses and we can benefit from it. But, the question is how the
Philippine Government will manage to use the integration opportunity to its interest.

On the other side, it has a negative impact on the developing country. Since they will do
everything to adjust their policies just to keep up with the international standard.
Additionally, international institutions such as the World bank can easily dictate to a
country what law should be adjusted or to made before they grant a loan.

In conclusion, a country that is in a state of development must be wiser. They must use this
Globalization to their advantage.

7. Should we strive to preserve the system of sovereign states? Why or why not?

In the perspective of the realist, the system of sovereign state must be preserved. While in
the liberalist perspective it should not be preserved. Considering that the states are meant to
be developed based on what the states needs. We should not aim to preserve the system of
state since the state is not stagnant and the people are striving to improve so as the system
also.

8. Explain the main differences between strong, substantial states and weak quasi-
states; great powers and small powers. Why is there such diversity in the state
system?

To identify the differences between the substantial state and weak quasi-state; great
powers and small powers. We should define first what is a substantial state and a weak
state. And who is considered as a powerful nation and who is not? We can only detect if a
nation can be a substantial state if this characteristic is present. One is if the state has a
strong economic basis to support its activity and a strong legal institution that is fully
independent of any influence from another state another is having a rock-solid degree of
national unity. Not only having a strong economic institution but a strong government
institution that will ensure that state values are met. Moving forward to the characteristic
of a weak-quasi state. the characteristic to be identified is that even though they have
juridical statehood doesn’t imply that they possess efficient political institutions a rock-
solid economic basis and a firm national unity that empirical states possess. Again the
distinction of substantial state from weak quasi-state is that substantial state possesses
both empirical statehood and juridical statehood while the quas-state are lacking one of
this dimension. The difference between great power and small power is not about the
military power is about how well they manage their political institutions and how they
attain a high level of empirical statehood. Some of the states are capable in terms of
military power however their political institution is weak. For instance, the country
Russia portrays as being powerful in terms of military capability but they are not
considered as a powerful state that possesses the characteristic of an empirical state while
Sweden on the contrary who happen considered as a small country without strong
military powers but has strong empirical statehood.