Lesshon 3

The Global Interstate System

Pre-discussion
Interstate system refers to a system for international relations it is the
whole system of human interactions. The modern world-system is structured
politically as an interstate system – a system of competing and allying states.
Political scientists commonly call this the international system, and it is the
main focus of the field of International Relations. It is the fundamental basis of
the competitive commodity economy at the global system level -- a system of
international relations. The most important feature of the interstate system is
that it is anarchic, a system in which all states constantly face actual or
potential threats and their main goal is security. Unlike politics within states,
relations between states take place in a Hobbesian 'state of nature.' This is
characterized by the “war of every man against every man,” a constant and
violent condition of competition in which each individual has a natural right to
everything, regardless of the interests of others. Hobbes defined the laws of
nature as rational precepts that lead individuals toward a state of peace. The
first law of nature is that every person should seek peace with others, unless
others are not willing to cooperate, in which case one may use the “helps of
war.”

What to

expect? Objectives:
1. give the meaning of global interstate system;
2. explain the effects of globalization on governments;
3. identify the institutions that govern international relations; and
4. define and discuss internationalism and globalism.
 Lesson Outline

The Interstate Highway System is named after President Eisenhower, who

believed a reliable system of freeways was necessary for the economic
development and defense of the U.S. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956
authorized construction, which was completed over the course of the next 35
years. This relates to the origin of the Theory of State which tells us that
various factors like religion, family, force and political consciousness were
behind the growth of the state.

What is the interstate system in global relations? Interstate relations are

those authoritative actions, understandings, or commitments of the
governmental authorities--the leaders--of one state to or with the
governmental authorities of another state or its groups or citizens, either
bilaterally or through international organizations. How does the interstate
system works? Major interstate routes are designated by one- or two-digit
numbers. Routes with odd numbers run north and south, while even
numbered run east and west. For north-south routes, the lowest numbers
begin in the west, while the lowest numbered east-west routes are in the
south.

Weber (1997) describes the state as a compulsory political organization

with a centralized government that maintains the legitimate use of force within
a certain territory. In layman’s term, it refers to a country and its government
like for example the government of the Philippines. The state is said to have
four attributes. First, it exercises authority over a specific population called its
citizens. Second, it governs a specific territory. Third, a state has a structure
of government that crafts various rules that people (society) follow. Fourth,
and the most crucial, the state has sovereignty over its territory. Sovereignty
is one of the fundamental principles of modern state-politics. Sovereignty here
refers to internal and external authority. Internally, no individuals or groups
can
operate in a given national territory by ignoring the state. This means that
groups like churches, civil society organizations, corporations, and other
entities have to follow the laws of the state where they establish their
parishes, offices, or headquarters. Externally, sovereignty means that a
state’s policies and procedures are independent of the interventions of other
states. Russia and China for example cannot pass laws for the Philippines
and vice versa.

On the other hand, the concept of nation emphasizes the organic ties that
hold groups of people together and inspire a sense of loyalty and belonging—
i.e., ethnicity, language, religion, and others (Schattle, 2014). According to
Benedict Anderson a nation is an “imagined community.” Calling it “imagined”
means that the nation allows one to feel a connection with the community of
people even if he/she will never meet all of them in his/her lifetime. For
example, if you cheer for a Filipino athlete in an Olympic game is not because
you personally know him/her but because you imagine your connection as
both members of the Filipino community. In a given territory like the Philippine
archipelago, you rest in the comfort that the majority of the people living in it
are also Filipinos. It is “limited” because it does not go beyond a given “official
boundary,” and because rights and responsibilities are mainly the privilege
and concern of the citizens of that nation. Being limited means that the nation
has its boundaries. Nations often limit themselves to people who have
imbibed a particular culture, speak a common language, and live in a specific
territory. Most nations strive to become states. Nation-builders can only feel a
sense of fulfillment when that national ideal assumes an organizational form
where authority and power are recognized and accepted by the “people.
Moreover, if there are communities that are not states, they often seek some
form of autonomy within their ”mother states.” For example, the nation of
Quebec, though belonging to the state of Canada, has different laws about
language (they are French-speaking and require French language
competencies for their citizens). It is also for this reason that Scotland,
though part of the United
Kingdom, it has its own flag and national culture and has a strong
independence movement led by the Scottish Nationalist Party.
Combining these two, a nation-state can then be defined as a political
community that emanates from civic society to legitimately execute peace.
Academics also call it the “country”. The nation-state is relatively modern
phenomenon in human history, and people did not organize always
themselves as countries. At different parts in the history of humanity, people
in various regions of the world have identified exclusively with units as small
as their village or their tribe, and at other times, they see themselves as
members of larger political categories like “Christendom”(the entire Christian
world). It is composed of two non-interchangeable terms. Not all states are
nations and not all nations are states. In the Philippines, many commentators
believe that the Bangsamoro is a separate nation existing within it but through
their elites, recognizes the sovereignty of the Philippine state. Thus, the civic
society is the basis of the people’s oneness.

According to Schattle (2014), nation-states can manipulate competitive

advantages with international and political issues transnational civic society
organizations, and multinational companies. On the other hand they are also
accountable for a host of international norms and standards, find themselves
in subordinate positions to protect their economy, and face new kinds of
pressures of supranational integration and focus on local fragmentation.

As we all know, globalization results from the removal of barriers between

national economies to encourage the flow of goods, services, capital, and
labor. It has in a way, reshaped the role and functions of nation-states as
governing bodies in their particular territories. First, globalization is seen to
impose a forced choice upon nation states. Second, is the establishment of
economic and political integration. Third, is the establishment of international
laws and principles. These three mentioned effects of globalization to nation-
states are vertical effects. Slaughter (2004) stated that globalization has a
horizontal
effect which can be observed in the formation of Trans-governmental
Networks. National government offices connect with their counterparts in
other nation- states in order to establish linkages that would benefit all parties.
These linkages are informal institutions that connect legislators, finance
ministers, and other valuable individuals who are significant in carrying out
various aspects of global governance. As institutions, policies are agreed
upon and individual state-participants are conscious that their home country
policies should not be violated.

The fourth effect of globalization is the rise of Transnational Activism

(TNA). Such happens when activist groups of nation-states connect with their
counterparts in other states. For example, an advocacy-based organization in
the Philippines may connect itself with and get support from other human
rights groups in Europe to pressure the Philippine government to realign its
stance and actions in upholding human rights. When a nation-state
recognizes international interventions and changes its behavior in response to
international pressure, it reconstitutes the relationship among the nation-state,
its citizens, and international actors (Keck&Sikkink,1998).

The fifth and last effect of globalization is the creation of new

communications network. It binds communities through digital media. With the
new technologies in communication, political interaction can happen in a
virtual sphere. People can exchange political perspectives through the
internet, therefore stirring political discourse on an on-line platform. Castells
(2009) articulated in his “network society” that social, economic, political,
cultural, and technological transformations are produced and reproduced
through individuals’ digital interactions; the global economy is now
characterized by the almost instantaneous flow and exchange of information,
capital, and cultural communication. These flows order and condition both
consumption and production. The networks themselves reflect and create
distinctive cultures. Nation-states must reshape themselves to become part
of global networks in
the arena of finance, education, science, technology, arts, and sports. This
can be seen in the proliferation of on-line education from universities outside
the Philippines. Conversely, Philippine universities offer on line courses to
non- Filipinos. Thus, digital media has become the platform for strategic
communications at home and abroad wherein the nation-states can utilize the
internet to gather feedback from the citizens. Social media became an avenue
to express their sentiments, comments and raise issues on matters of great
importance. Government created websites to formally receive, hear, and
forward concerns to other offices, public and private. Other nation-states also
established their own state-funded television networks for information-
dissemination as an alternative to the well-established privately funded news
networks like in the case of China, Russia, and North Korea wherein the
governments make use of media technologies to filter content that can be
viewed by their citizens. Digital media can also be used by the governments
to gain public support in their campaigns. In particular, social media can
become an alternative to mainstream media that advances its biased
perspective. Giuseppe Mazzini believes that nationalism and international
cooperation must complement each other and that international cooperation
among nation-states is essential.
To facilitate connections among nation-states, Intergovernmental
Organizations (IGOs) were established whose aim is to foster strong
economic, political, cultural, educational, and technical intergovernmental
relationships. Examples of these are the ASEAN (Association of East Asian
Nations), EU (European Union), and WTO (World Trade Organization). Also,
some examples of institutions and organizations that govern international
relations include:
 Humanitarian organizations. Action Against Hunger
 Government agencies. Department of State
 International corporations. General Electric
 Media outlets. BBC
 Intergovernmental organizations. World Trade Organization
  International communications. Amnesty International
 Research centers/Think tanks
 Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA)
 Global Studies Consortium.
 International Studies Association.
 The Jadavpur Association of International Relations.
 Swedish Association of International Affairs.
The intensification of relations among nation-states paved the way to
the idea of internationalism and globalism. Internationalism is a political,
economic and cultural cooperation between nations; a theory and practice of
interdependent collaboration. It connects people all around the world where
no country has sovereignty, such as Switzerland. Anora (2014) opines that
internationalism is basically anchored on the opinion that nationalism should
be outrun because links that bind people of different countries are more
powerful than those that disconnect them. Immanuel Kant (1795) stated that
in order to avoid wars, agreements must be reached among nations. He
conceptualized the idea of liberal internationalism and socialist
internationalism. The former proposes that nations must give up their freedom
and submit to a larger system of laws that is embodied by common
international principles and that a form of global government is needed to
create and enforce these laws. Moreover, socialist internationalism
contradicts the liberal internationalism in the sense that this form of
internationalism is based on the view that capitalism is a global system and
that the working class must unite as a global class to forward the struggle
against capitalism. It is linked to the goal of a world revolution---to end class
struggle globally. The Second International (1889-1915), an organization of
labor and social parties established in Paris in 1889 is best known for
declaring May 1 as the International Worker’s Day and March 8 as
International Women’s Day and for initiating the campaign for the 8-hour work
day.
On the other hand, globalism emerged as an attitude that seeks to
understand all the interconnections of the modern world and to highlight
patterns that underlie them. It pursues to describe and explain a world that is
characterized by a network of connections that span multi-continental
distances. It is an ideology based on the belief that people, goods and
information ought to be able to cross national borders unfettered. For
example, universal declaration of human rights are embedded in all countries
around the world and no country can deny the spirit of it.
Overall, the global interstate system is a facet of contemporary political
globalization that seeks to form collaboration among nation-states through the
establishment of intergovernmental organizations. It is rooted on the idea of
internationalism. Experts on interstate relations cannot discount the numerous
effects of neoliberalism on the rise of new communication networks utilized by
the governments.

Globalization is considered a multi-dimensional phenomenon. It is

something that is difficult to understand. It is described as something that is
comprised of multiple sameness and interconnectedness that go beyond the
nation-states. According to Mcgrew (1990), it is a process in which individuals
and organizations in one part of the world are affected by the activities,
affairs, and convictions on another part of the globe. Through globalization,
the world becomes borderless.
This lesson examined the effects of globalization to governments and
the roots of the international System. In tracing these roots, short discussions
on the history of internationalism were provided. Moreover, it can be gleaned
that internationalism is but one of the many facets of the phenomenon of
globalization. However, internationalism is considered a very important aspect
of globalization in as much as global interactions are heightened by the
increased interdependence of states. This increased interdependence
manifest itself not just through state-to-state relations. Increasingly,
international relations are also facilitated by international organizations that
promote global
norms and policies. The most prominent example of course, is the United
Nations and the other institutions that play important roles in the global interstate
system.
Overall, the global interstate system is a facet of contemporary political
globalization that seeks to form collaboration among nation-states through the
establishment of intergovernmental organizations.