Research Paper on "Power, Interdependence, and Nonstate Actors"

Research Paper 18 pages (5243 words) Sources: 15 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Interdependence in World Politics

Interdependence in global politics suggests that actors have a correlation or a connection such that one factor influences one of the aspects, on a single occasion and in a single place will influence other actors. Therefore, a particular system in, which there are more actors, more places and more occasions there will be substantial interdependence. Using this information, the term "interdependence" refers to situations whereby actors or events in various parts of a system affect each other. Simply put, interdependence means mutual dependence. The greater the extent of interdependence between nations, for instance, there is a higher probability to lose control they experience over a part or all of their ability to make independent decisions.

Interaction is not entirely on requirements and responses, and actions of nation states, global organizations, and numerous non-state actors. It is also on transactions across national borders such as trade, tourism, investment, technology transfers, and ideas processed over the internet. Some scholars suggest that interdependence is a relation of interest such that, when a state changes its position, other states are likely to feel the impact of the change. In the economic context, states are in the state of growing interdependencies, when national sensitivity against external economic developments. Interdependence implies sensitivity, suggesting that if an actor of a given system is indifferent to some change in the relationship, which influences other states, the type of interdependence evident is asymmetrical (Rosecrance and Stein, 1973).

The costs of interdependence may have a relation to sensitivity, which may apply in short-term or long-term, whereas the sensitivity has a relation to the significance and rapidity of the impacts of dependence. On the other hand, the costs of vulnerability have a relation to the costs of modifying the structure of an interdependence system. Some scholars suggest that being independent is a source of power. For instance, if there are two interdependent parties, but one of them is less dependent, then the less dependent party holds more power. Additionally, being neutral in interdependence may have both negative and positive impacts.

A typical example illustrating negative and positive views is that of neo-liberalism and neo-realists. Neo-liberalism believes that interdependence is likely to lead to improved cooperation among states, whereas the neo-realists suggest that interdependence will lead to instability and potential conflicts. The global welfare is likely to be higher if there was the development of a more elaborate division of labor, but this would place states in positions, which make them closely interdependent. This means that increased interdependence of states means that some states will experience vulnerabilities associated with greater interdependence. In addition, some states choose to control what some organizations depend on or eliminate their degrees of their dependency.

However, some studies suggest that interdependence in the international political economy will likely to generate conflicts, which may lead to instability. In addition, the growing economic interdependence between states suggests less effective political exploitation through an economic blackmail. The advantage of each party in an interdependent system relies on the actions of other members of the community suggests that all the parties, including the members are vulnerable to threats and promises made by others (Kehoane, 1984). This further makes it apparent that increasing interdependence will increase the need for institutional arrangements to influence the mutual interference as well as provide members of the system. However, in some instances, the involved parties and members can use some pressure against violators of the rights of an institution.

Non-state Actors in World Politics

Nation-states are the primary actors in global politics, but they are not the only actors. In the international system, it includes nation-states, international organizations and the private actors. The increasing levels of economic, political, social, and cultural transactions between states, societies and individuals, have led to large numbers of international organizations. This might seem as a good thing, but the growth of various non-state actors will challenge and to some extent weaken the "state-centric" notion of international politics by replacing it with a "transnational" system in, which constitutes complicated relationships. Additionally, these numerous international organizations serve as a challenge because they alter the international environment (Kegley and Wittkopf, 1990).

In addition, the emergence and rapid growth of non-state actors has led to perceptions that states are declining in importance, instead, the non-state actors are gaining substantial status and influence. Therefore, some scholars have developed new theories of international theories, for instance, the "complex interdependence" aiming at explaining new developments. The theory comments that as the globe grows smaller, there is increased mutual dependence between nation-states and other transnational political actors. In reference to the traditional classification, non-state actors comprise of two categories, which are (IGOs) and (NGOs).

IGOs

The government has documented IGOs and NGOs. The NGOs are a group of non-state international actors established by a certain group of individuals such as businesspersons or other societal forces. This group does not have legal bonds with the nation-states, which makes them completely transnational. On the other hand, IGOs refer to voluntary associations comprising of sovereign states created to pursue numerous goals, which the involved states desire to cooperate through a type of formal structures that states are not able to achieve individually. Stronger states create IGOs because they want to protect their interests. Decisions made by IGOs are the results of conciliations between the assigned governmental representatives. Generally, it is not idealism, but the need of states, which incline them to cooperate with other states in line with IGOs.

Classification of IGOs are classified by scope and by function, and they are extras of nation-states and play important functions by providing mediums of cooperation and numerous guides of communication among states in sectors where cooperation and communication offer advantages for all or most states (Miller, 1994). The main functions of IGOs include rule making, setting agendas, and gathering information. Additionally, IGOs decrease the uncertainty between states and search for solutions to global challenges. They also monitor principles, norms, and rules of global institutions and international regimes in nation-states. They also decrease the costs involved in collecting information, which many poor and small countries will afford.

However, the effectiveness of IGOs varies from one issue to another, one regime to the other, one state to the other, and one period to another. The powerful states face less constrains by principles of IGOs compared to those who are relatively weak. Additionally, the influence of IGOs is dependent on the ability of governments of member nations to execute their provisions. In addition, most of the governments face serious constraints confining their capacity to apply the provisions of regimes to areas and activities under their jurisdiction. Although powerful nation-states utilize international organizations, they make a difference in international interactions and have evident influence on the renowned powerful state on earth, the United States (Karns and Mingst, 1990).

NGOs

Non-governmental organizations refer to institutions established by non-state actors, or at least one side of the organizations does not comprise of the state. There are numerous types of NGOs including transnational, government organized, government regulated and confined, business and industry, donor-oriented, organizations run by people, operational, others fight for advocacy, social movements, quasi, and NGOs against the government. The NGOs increased which made them effective for transnational politics and became more important in the recent past. They have gained vitality in the global policy making process, and they have the capacity to mobilize global networks by developing transnational organizations, collecting information through global contacts, alert global supporters to urgent situations, creating emergency response around the globe, and mobilizing external pressure (Brown, 1995).

NGOs also take part in IGO conferences by mobilizing transnational social movements' organizations around developing issues in IGOs. It is evident that NGOs carry out various types of activities within states such as connecting to local partners, connecting to transnational social movements with contemporary skills, working in national arenas to bring together state policies, offer humanitarian help, and safeguarding people in danger (Mingst, 1999). They also foster the participation of the public within states by reminding the government delegates that they are being watched; enhance public understanding, increasing transparency of international negotiations and organizations, and thereby provoking the public to protest.

Notably, numerous NGOs that operate at transnational level have become important contributors when it comes to foreign policies of nation-states. In addition, NGOs lobby at global and transnational levels. It is also important to note that, human rights advocates, gender activists, religious movements, developmentalists and indigenous people have attacked the territory of nation-states. As commented in an early study, most of the countries in the globe have become interdependent, it has become a common place for non-governmental groups representing the same societies in their different countries to monitor closely their policies and to constitute or reconstitute themselves as international non-governmental organizations (Haynes, 2001).

Methodology

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