Promoting Internationalism

Promoting Internationalism

SS 20-1 – Chap 13

Issues for Discussion

• In what ways can organizations promote internationalism?

• How can the work of organizations affect the global community?

• To what extent do organizations promote internationalism?

The 3 Elements!

• State, civil society and business influence our lives nationally and internationally

• Relationships between these 3 must be balanced so that one does not empower the others

• What are the implications if an imbalance occurs?

State

Business(Market)

Civil Society

Civil Society

• This describes the collective actions of people based on shared interests

• When people take collective action, they often choose to form organizations

• Examples-community groups, NGO’s (non gov’t organizations, trade unions, etc.

What are international organizations?

• These go beyond international borders• They can empower and broaden the perspectives of

people within numerous nations• They play a significant role in creating a global civil

society (remember from the last slide?)• Organizations are of 2 types:

-intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)-international non-governmental

organizations (INGOs)

IGOs

• Best known is the United Nations• Like other IGO’s, it was set up by formal

agreements• Individual nations interests are represented,

but so are the collective interests of all nations• All nations benefit when they help to avoid a

war in a region, or when a pandemic is contained due to international cooperation

INGO’s

• Not established by governments• Are non-profit, non-religious and pacifist

organizations• Tend to have missions that are clearly limited

to solving a specific problem – ie – famine, human rights, disaster relief, etc.

• Examples include Oxfam International, World Vision, Amnesty International, Red Cross

Promoting Liberal Internationalism• The belief that greater interaction and cooperation

between societies will result in a better world• Peace and prosperity through humanitarian actions• Liberal internationalist organizations can be IGOs and

INGOs -Red Cross helps victims of wars and

disasters (INGO)- Arctic Council Nations (Canada, Russia, Denmark,

etc.) meet to discuss the well being of the Arctic (IGO)

Hegemonic vs Anti-Hegemonic Internationalism

• Hegemonic – promoting internationalism and interdependence

• World Trade Organization (WTO) – seeks to lower trade barriers and establish legal rules for trade and commerce

• International Monetary Fund (IMF) –purpose is to ensure stability of the international monetary system

• Critics are concerned that these 2 organizations have too much financial control in the world and that they undermine the best interests of developing countries

• Anti-Hegemonic-the idea to counter hegemonic internationalism by encouraging people to take action in their own country

• Council of Canadians- works to promote Canadian independence in areas such as trade, the environment, energy use, health care, etc.

• Protest groups – at gatherings such as G8 meetings protest against what they see as global economic control by the world’s 8 wealthiest nations

Promoting Revolutionary Internationalism

• Refers to the encouragement or support of radical change for peoples who are oppressed or disadvantaged by their governments

• Methods can include civil disobedience, general strikes and protests

• Includes IGOs and INGOs such as US AID, National Democratic Institute and Freedom House

• Is it OK to interfere in the political affairs of another country?

Affecting the Global Community• Supranationalism involves nations coming together for the

good of the collective• As a force, the European Union (EU) is very powerful when it

comes to economics -this benefits its members in many ways – through increased trade, financial support, etc.

• The EU also involves itself in other parts of the world through humanitarian efforts and its development assistance program (3rd largest in the world)

• The drawback is that member nations give up some of their sovereignty to enjoy the benefits that the EU has to offer