11 National and international politics

Separation of National and International Politics

• Key Concepts:

  • Sovereignty: The principle of absolute and unlimited power.

  • State Sovereignty: The supreme, unquestionable authority of the state.

  • Two Types: Internal vs. external sovereignty.

  • Distinction between domestic and international politics.

• Political Science vs. International Relations

• Globalization:

  • Growth in transnational flows of goods, services, money, etc.

  • Spread of technology and ideas.

  • Impacts: State borders are more porous; less distinction between domestic and international.

  • Sovereignty: seen as a "soft shell" due to interconnectedness.

Dimensions of and Limits to Sovereignty

• Types of Sovereignty:

  • State Sovereignty: De facto and de jure recognition.

  • Legal Sovereignty: Supreme legal authority, the right to command compliance.

  • Political Sovereignty: Absolute power, ability to command compliance.

  • Economic Sovereignty: Control over fiscal policies and foreign trade.

  • Cultural Sovereignty: Preservation of national culture amidst global influences.

• Challenges:

  • Factors limiting state sovereignty: War, occupation, civil unrest, disobedience.

  • Effects of interconnectedness on sovereignty and challenges such as economic consequences and pandemic responses.

Interconnectedness and Interdependence

• Economic Interdependence:

  • Global trade and financial interconnectedness.

• Energy Interdependence:

  • Asymmetry in energy sourcing and infrastructure (e.g., Nord Stream).

• Environmental Interdependence:

  • Cross-border pollution, climate change impacts on water access.

• Security Interdependence:

  • Issues such as terrorism and organized crime, influence of irregular warfare.

• Responses to Interdependence:

  • Autarchy, vulnerability, and protectionist policies.

Security in Political Science

• Definitions:

  • Security: Protection from harm/threats, national interests, and public interest priorities.

  • International Security: Survival and safety through preventive measures and military capacity.

• Security Paradox: Military build-up may provoke arms races.

• Governance Models:

  • State-based Paradigm vs. Global Governance.

• World Order: Models include unipolarity and bipolarity affecting global relations.

Warfare Today

• Definition of War: Intensive armed conflict, primarily between states.

• Types of War:

  • Shift from inter-state to civil, proxy, and cyber wars.

  • Proxy Wars: Using third parties to advance interests.

  • Insurgency and Cyberwar: Modern forms of conflict with new strategies and tactics.

  • Blurred Civilian/Military Divide: New paradigm of warfare implications.

Transnational Terrorism

• Understanding Terrorism: Political violence aiming to instill fear through various methods.

• Historical Context: Link to anti-colonial struggles and present day movements like Al-Qaeda.

• Challenges in Countering Terrorism: Increased technological capabilities and radical tactics.

• Global Responses: Intelligence cooperation and 'War on Terror'.

Economic Sovereignty

• Control Over Resources: Includes raw materials, strategic industries, and productivity.

• Comparative Advantages: Economic viability defined by competitive prices and subsidies.

• Power of Currencies: Role in international financial organizations and economic relations.

• Geopolitical Tensions: Emerging challenges to US dominance (e.g., rise of China, Belt and Road Initiative).

EU and Multilevel Governance

• EU Characteristics: Supranational political system blending federal and confederal elements.

• Community Law: Takes precedence over national laws.

• Sovereignty Dynamics: Member states' sovereignty is partially retained yet EU competences grow.

• Multilevel Polity: Interaction between European and national spheres.

• Future Considerations: Enlargement and deeper cooperation among states.

EU Members and Sovereignty

• Types of Policy Implementation: Intergovernmental vs. transnational decision-making.

• Monitoring Compliance: By the European Commission and Court of Audit.

• Rule of Law and Conditionality: Mechanism ensuring adherence to EU norms and rules.

• Case Studies in Compliance: Highlighting examples such as the situations in Poland and Hungary.