Evolution of world politics

Evolution of World Politics

International Relations

Or

World Politics

Regarding the International System:

The notion that the world is more than just the sum of its parts (countries)

and

World politics is more than just the sum of the individual interactions among those parts

What does this mean?

Distribution of Power

Patterns of action among actors in World Politics

System: a group of independent but interrelated elements comprising a unified whole

?

Mid to late 15th century began:

integration and disintegration

Treaty of Westphalia,1648

18th century -- early 20th century:

Popular sovereignty

Westernization

Culmination of multipolarity

The times they are a changin’

Each dot represents 1 million people

Uranium or mine?

Across the pond in a

speedy 10 days

Deterrence Theory argues that fear of retaliation would serve as a deterrent to conflict

=

World Peace

The United Nations

A new polar system?

Weakening Western orientation of the system?

Challenge to authority of the state?

Fall of Soviet Union

A new polar system?

Hegemon: Dominant regional/world power(s)

Hegemony: Exercise of said power

Uni-polar

Multi-polar

Modified Multi-polar

Weakening Western orientation of the system?

Challenge to authority of the state?

Forces splintering states into fragments (jihad)Others merging states into an integrated McWorld

If Jihad prevails: “grim prospect of a retribalization of large swaths of humankind by war and bloodshed: a threatened balkanization of nation-states in which culture is pitted against culture, people against people, tribe against tribe.”On the other hand: melding of “nations into one homogenous global theme park, one McWorld tied together by communications, information, entertainment and commerce.”

We are “caught between Babel and Disneyland….the planet is falling precipitously apart and coming reluctantly together at the very same moment.”

Security

11 million people killed in wars of 20th century

New and greater forms of international security

Multilateral Arms Regulation and Disarmament Agreements

1925 Geneva ProtocolAntarctic TreatyAPM Convention (Mine-Ban Convention)Bangkok TreatyBWCCCWCCelestial BodiesCFECluster MunitionsCTBTCWCENMODInter-American ConventionInter-American Convention on TransparencyNPTOpen SkiesOuter Space

Partial Test BanPelindaba TreatySea-Bed TreatyTreaty of RarotongaTreaty of TlatelolcoTreaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia

International Security Forces

UN Peacekeepers

“NATO has helped to end bloody conflicts in Bosnia, Kosove and head off a civil war in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Today, NATO-led forces are helping to bring about stability to Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq and Darfur.”

--NATO Website

Human Rights

Evolving concept?

Global Environmental Sustainability

An issue of national security?