THE GLOBAL INTERSTATE

SYSTEM
AND
CONTEMPORARY GLOBAL
 INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS
International Relations is the study of how the different
actors of the international community interact with one
another on a daily basis. While international relations
traditionally has examined inter-state relations, the field
covers a broad spectrum of political action among the
different entities at different level of analysis.
 LEVELS OF ANALYSIS
1. INTERNATIONAL OR SYSTEMIC LEVEL – argues that
all foreign policy can be understood without even looking at
the internal characteristics of nations or individual. Rather,
characteristics of international lead nations to behave in a
particular ways based upon how much power they hold.
2. STATE OR UNIT-LEVEL – argues that the international
system level tells only part of the story of international
relations, but looking at the backgrounds can offer a more
complete examination.
3. INDIVIDUAL OR SUB-UNIT LEVEL – emphasizes
the “great man in history” concept. In this view, the very
personalities of leaders shape foreign policy. Leaders are
not simply mechanically responding to international or
state systems, but taking an active role in determining
international relations.
INSTITUTIONS GOVERNING
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
GENERALIST INTER-STATE ORGANIZATIONS
UNITED NATIONS(UN) – an intergovernmental
organization that was tasked to maintain international peace
and security, develop friendly relations among nations,
achieve international cooperation and be a center for
harmonizing the actions of nations.
ROLES OF THE UNITED
NATIONS
UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY – main forum for international
discussions, deliberations, declarations and recommendations.
UN SECURITY COUNCIL – responsible for the maintenance
of international peace and security. Has the power to intervene in
the most serious Human Rights abuses by states.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL – multiple committees
which act as a forum to discuss international issues.
SECRETARIAT – provides information, studies, tasks
and facilities needed by the UN. Main administrative
body of the UN.
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE –principal
judicial organ; has jurisdiction to deal with international
conflicts brought to them by member states and to
advise on issues in international law.
ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION
(OIC) – international organization that attempts to be the
collective voice of the Muslim world and to safeguard the
interests and ensure the progress and well-being of
Muslims.
EUROPIAN UNION – a political and economic union
that are located primarily in Europe.
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN
NATIONS (ASEAN) – an intergovernmental
organization comprising 10 countries in southeast Asia,
which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and
facilitates economic, political, security, military,
educational and sociocultural integration among its
members and other countries in Asia.
ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS
WORLD BANK (WB) - an international financial
institution that provides loans to countries of the world
for capital programs.
World Trade Organization (WTO) - formerly known
as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
Deals with the rules of trade between nations, settles
trade disputes, and conduct straight negotiations.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Provides short
term loans to countries when an emergency occurs.
GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
Global governance can be understood as the sum of
laws, norms, policies, and institutions that define,
constitute, and mediate trans-border relations between
states, cultures, citizens, intergovernmental and non-
governmental organizations, and the market.
Global governance is understood as the way in
which global affairs are managed. As there is no global
government, global governance typically involves a
range of actors including states, as well as regional
and international organizations.
The dynamics of governance do not play out solely
within the boundaries of nation-states. Countries today
face an interconnected, globalized world characterized by
a high velocity and magnitude of flows of capital, trade,
ideas, technology, and people.
 EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION
ON GOVERNMENTS
Globalization and Sovereignty
- with the rise of globalization, some argue that
governments are far less able to control their own politics
with concern for the outside world.
- It becomes difficult to be economically isolated.
-Government matters less and less in a global economy.
Nation- states are simply other actors on the global stage
rather than its directors.
Osland (2003) has outline the pros and cons of
globalization related to governments:
Pros:
Increased economic development benefits some
governments.
Increased jobs and expanded infrastructure benefits some
countries.
Transfer of modern management techniques into
business sectors.
Greater interdependence among trading and investment
partners may deter war.
Cons:
Power of Transnational corporations and enterprises
increased at the expense of government power,
sovereignty and ability to regulate business.
Some Transnational corporations and enterprises
influence local government policy and threaten to leave if
their demands are not met.
They pay fewer taxes to governments and incorporate
where the tax rate is lowest, depriving their own country
of revenue.
Governments are pressured to reduce tax rates and
decrease social benefits that may affect stability.
 THE ROLE OF
GOVERNMENT
1. The creation of new infrastructure and other facilities to attract
foreign investment.
2. The ability of governments to prevent or reduce financial crises
also has a great impact on the growth of capital flow.
-strengthening banking supervision, requiring more transparency in
international financial transactions, reducing the risk of moral
hazard, and ensuring adequate supervision and regulation of
financial markets.
3. Working with developing country governments in
particular to help establish more stringent labor and
environmental standards to prevent either one from being
exploited.
4. Protecting domestic infant- industries until they
become competitive internationally.
 CHALLENGES OF GLOBAL
GOVERNANCE
Today, the world is very different from the one in which
the current developed countries emerged: cross-border
flows were low; they received no aid’; they were not
subject to a proliferation of transnational treaties, norms,
and regulatory mechanisms. For developing countries, the
era of globalization and global governance presents both
opportunities and challenges.
Thakur & Weiss (2015) argue that there are five particular gaps in
global governance. They are as follows:

KNOWLEDGE GAPS are important because if we do not know

the severity of a problem, or if we don’t have the resources to
investigate a particular issue, then this could become difficult for
effective global governance.
NORMATIVE GAPS follow knowledge gaps. After we
understand that an issue exists, it is important to establish (and
develop) norms to address that problem.
POLICY GAPS are related to the specifically policies that
one can implement in order to address the stated problem.
INSTITUTIONAL GAPS are the challenges of
implementing any policies that are put forth by the
international community.
COMPLIANCE GAPS are one of the final challenges with
regards to global governance. This includes effective
implementation, as well as enforcement.