History of Global politics (1)

History of Global Politics: Creating an International Order

Learning Objectives

  • Identify key events in the development of international relations.

  • Differentiate internationalization from globalization.

  • Define state and nation.

  • Distinguish between competing conceptions of internationalism.

  • Discuss historical evolution of international politics.

Importance of Studying International Relations

  • States/governments are key drivers in global processes.

  • Scholars focus on:

    • Individual state policies.

    • Trade deals between states.

    • Interactions and diplomacy between countries.

  • Understanding the emergence of the modern world system depends on historical context.

Attributes of Today’s Global System

  1. Independent states that govern themselves.

  2. Countries engaged in diplomacy with one another.

  3. Presence of international organizations (e.g., United Nations).

  4. International organizations operate independently.

The Nation-State

  • Definition: A state refers to a country and its government.

  • Attributes of a State:

    1. Authority over a specific population.

    2. Governance of specific territory.

    3. Established government structure.

    4. Sovereignty (primary attribute).

    • Internal authority: No group can disregard national authority.

    • External authority: Policies are independent of other states' interventions.

The Concept of a Nation

  • A nation is an "imagined community" where rights and responsibilities are communal.

  • Citizens feel connected to each other despite never having met.

The Interstate System

  • Treaty of Westphalia (1698): Ended the Thirty Years War, establishing control over domestic affairs to avoid meddling.

  • Provided stability for European nations.

Historical Influences

  • Napoleon Bonaparte and the French Revolution:

    • Promoted liberty, equality, and fraternity, challenging monarchies.

    • Introduced the Napoleonic Code promoting meritocracy and religious freedom.

Post-Napoleonic Europe

  • Concert of Europe (1815 - 1914):

    • Aimed to prevent war and uphold a system of privilege; powerful countries formed a core alliance.

    • Influence of the United Nations Security Council.

Definition of Internationalism

  • System of increased interaction among sovereign states, advocating for cooperation.

Types of Internationalism

Liberal Internationalism

  • Key Thinkers: Immanuel Kant, Jeremy Bentham, Giuseppe Mazzini, Woodrow Wilson.

  • Advocates for setting common international principles to avoid chaos in the global system.

  • Principles of Liberal Internationalism:

    • Emphasis on international law and self-determination.

    • Formation of the League of Nations for diplomacy and cooperation.

Socialist Internationalism

  • Key Thinkers: Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels.

  • Critique of nationalism; focus on class struggle and economic equality.

  • Established in 1889 but achieved short-lived results (e.g., Labor Day, International Women's Day).

Rise of the USSR and Impact

  • Emerged from the collapse of Socialist Internationalism during WWI.

  • Russian Revolution (1917) led by Bolshevik Party advocated for global socialist revolution.

  • Comintern established to spread socialist ideas and later transformed into Cominform by Stalin.

Reference

  • Claudio, Lisandro and Abinales, Patricio. The Contemporary World. 2018. C&E Publishing, Inc. South Triangle Quezon City, Philippines.