Gaton, Patricia Marize February 19,

2022

CMS 3A Sir Richard

Talento

ASSIGNMENT#1

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

 The whole population on earth is divided into various independent states and
political communities where it also effects the lives of the population inside of the
state.. The reason why we have the states is not only to be independent from other
states but it’s to create relations as well with them where we can benefit from each
other. This is where the core of international relations comes in because we want
to create meaningful relations with other countries. The state system is a unique
way of organizing political life on Earth, with deep historical roots, where the entire
territory of earth is part of the state system though there is one place on earth is
not a state which the Antarctica due to it being hard to inhabit due to the weather.

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?

 The emergence happened during the sixteenth century at Europe for the country
was the first one to do it and they also made it global. During the medieval period
there was a hierarchy of power from the common people, barons and other feudal
lords, kings and other nobles, and then the highest of power which is the emperor
who rules over all the empire. It was said that during this time only those who have
money and power were able to have the five basic core values while those who
don’t have money and power were treated lesser and most empires usually will
keep to themselves rather than make relations with other empires unless other
 parties’ benefit from it. This era was also one of the most conflicted eras due to
knights engaging in wars and the common people will suffer from the effects of the
war while nobles still live in luxury. But now in the modern political system when it
comes to authority, we have democracy and authoritarian, where in democracy the
people get the right to vote for their preferred leader to govern over the country
and they give and protects the people’s five core values from security to welfare.
While in authoritarian only one person or a small group of people are truly in power
and they still care for their people and give then their basic need to survive. In
today’s political authority is much better than during the medieval period where
one’s future is uncertain due to all the sexism, poverty, and abuse of power while
here in today society even though those difficulties are still prevalent but people
can finally fight back to those things.

3. What are two different interpretations of Westphalia?

 Traditionalist already there but needs to follow the criteria’s stated in the reading,
where everyone even the church must follow the laws that was set that they were
not an exception and that everyone from barons to aristocrat’s will be equal to
everyone else and be known as citizens. This marked the start of the modern state
and the end of the medieval period. Revisionist thought that in the traditionalist
view was just a myth meaning they believe that claim for the modern state wasn’t
there in the first place but it had slowly developed over time. Interpretation of the
history with evidence is what IR scholars wanting to achieve when it comes to
history.

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

 European were the first one to free themselves from the different powers during
the medieval period due to learning the western state teaching them their state
system. The reason why in Europe was because of their diversity and they needed
a solution to their conflict because the lands are so close with each other. During
 that time, they had needed leaders that are in the same league to form an
agreement for the benefit of their people. Also because of their rich history had
benefit in this and their intelligence had help to be more advance than other
countries.

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

order, justice, and welfare. Do states meet our expectations?

 Yes, they meet our expectation since every citizen around the world expects the
states to sustain the five core values for their people because it’s their jobs to
protect and provide these for the people inside the country. In the reading it said
that they state uphold the values to a minimal standard or higher one, but in reality,
only in developing countries are where these standers are truly developing while in
other countries just the basic standard. An example would be here in the
Philippines more specifically to the Overseas Filipino Workers. The reason why
OFW’s are choosing to work in countries is for their families benefit because there
are greater opportunities and greater standards in other places while in the
Philippines only the rich and powerful are given the higher standards than those in
the lower class. We the Filipino citizen in the middle and lower class are given the
basic standards to survive with while the upper class has the higher stander to live
with. Theres a difference between survival and living, while the higher class don’t
have to worry about where their food and other necessity comes from due to them
having money while the middle and lower class will always be worried about where
their necessities come from and would it be enough feed their families. That’s why
many Filipinos are choosing to work in other countries that gives better
opportunities.

6. What are the effects on developing countries of integration into the global
economy?
 The effects of globalization being used had benefit other countries as well since
they had opened their borders foe other countries to sell their products but in
reality, this only had benefit those in big companies. What about small companies?
Globalization is big disadvantage for small companies that are being looked over
by their own fellow countrymen. An example would be street food vendors that rely
on the masses to buy from them but they are being overlooked by famous fast-
food chains that are not Filipino owned. As much as possible as said in the
constitution that the majority of the country’s economy must be Filipino owned
companies rather than foreign companies. Globalization will have both advantages
and disadvantages where we are introducing to other countries products which
means we have great trading relationship with those country, while our own
country is still trying to catch up to the ever-evolving technology and we must start
supporting local businesses here in the Philippines in order to help our own
countries economy to raise up.

7. Should we strive to preserve the system of sovereign states? Why or why

not?

 Yes, we must preserve them why? Well for one thing its what made the medieval
era to be abolish since that period was full of war, ever increase of poverty, and
loss of core values from the common people. It what made the world of politics to
evolve into something that will acre for the masses rather than to those aristocrats.
Without the sovereign states we wouldn’t have democracy where the people have
the right to voice and vote for the leader that will represent them. The world of
politics is not something that is easily broken and fragile but it’s something that can
evolve and adapt to the ever-evolving world and it can overcome any challenges
that may come. Also, with the advantage from globalization came the UN where
almost all countries are gathered to create a union with one another from peace
and mutual benefits from trading. It’s also critical when it comes to understanding
how basic human life values are provided to people all over the world, or are not
provided to people all over the world
 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?

 The states have developed effective political institutions, a solid economic

foundation, and a high level of national unity, i.e., popular unity and support for the
state. In order to know if the state is either strong or weak in great power in the
sense of their military power whether their military power is just sufficient or
impressive. Their differences vary from the size of their land, military power, ability
of their government, and their economies growth can determine their level in power
and where their state in standing from strong to weak. In this is also their country’s
ability to develop from technological to agricultural. For under developing countries
are in question what and where are they severely lack while for developing
countries are being question how are they developed in different aspects and can
other countries do the same? When it comes to the world of states its still growing
and developing it’s not something that is static or staying still but moving and
growing concept.