Question 5
Transnational actors have increasingly gained power in international politics. They have become strength that cross the traditional boundaries which set up by nation states and gradually shifted the focus in international politics from old school thoughts of state actors to a much more discursive range of concerns about considerable number of potential actors. This kind of transnational actor is including transnational corporations (TNCs), individuals, international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), and international governmental organizations. The emergence of transnational actors is not new and played a role for centuries, but came into power recently after Second World War. The reason can be attributed to the diminishing concern of traditional military security conflicts and threats among states, instead of growing new types of threat. Besides, the complexity of domestic interests also makes different actors seeking for their own power in international negotiation.
In brief, the shared trait of all the transnational actors is that interactions among different actors are much free. It is no longer relied on the traditional way between governments which state government becomes the headquarters dealing with all international affairs. Instead, actors from society of one country can directly interact and communicate with both government and society of another country. And sometimes it is not necessarily to go through the procedure of its own government.
Transnational Corporations
Specifically to see, for the TNCs, it is an expansion of domestic company to an international level by having subsidiaries in other countries in the desire of exploring cheap labor force, natural resources, or new market and so on. The ...
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Conclusion
I think all of these transnational actors should have more influence than before. Because they are unlikely to the governments sometimes cannot deal with problem if it is not fit for their interests. And in the globalization era, single government will not have enough resources and power to solve some problems that have external factors. Therefore, it is necessarily to have these transnational actors. However, there is also negative effect such as in the coffee crisis that giant coffee roaster companies in terms of TNCs using their advantage to take arbitrage from developing countries via lower cost of purchasing coffee beans. It results in the poverty of coffee farmers and threatening their basic living standard. Hence, in my opinion, it is undoubtedly that transnational actors also need certain levels of limitation and regulation.
Transnational Corporations (TNCs) are firms that have the power to coordinate and control operations in more than one country, even if they do not own them. Many of the overseas branches of TNCs are located in less developed countries (LDCs), including newly industrialised economies (NIEs), recently industrialised economies (RIEs) and least developed economies. Generally, the socio-economical, environmental, cultural and political impacts brought by TNCs are more positive in more developed LDCs such as NIEs and some RIEs than other countries, mainly least developed countries.
Shiraev, Eric B., and Vladislav M. Zubok. International Relations. New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.
In no field other than politics does the justification for action often come from a noteworthy event and the true cause stays hidden behind the headlines. The United States’ transformation from a new state to a global superpower has been a methodical journey molded by international conditions (the global terrain for statecraft), the role of institutions and their programmed actions, and ultimately, the interests of actors (the protection of participants in making policy’s items and i...
A Transnational Corporation (TNC) is a company which works in at least 2 countries. Some of the well-known TNC’s that you may know are Toyota, Vodafone, Volkswagen, Nestle, Apple and the famous Nike. TNC’s operate very hierarchical with the headquarters, research and development often located in the mother country.
International organizations such as NATO and the UN are essential not only for global peace, but also as a place where middle powers can exert their influence. It is understandable that since the inception of such organizations that many crises have been averted, resolved, or dealt with in some way thro...
Although UN faces myriad challenges when get states together to follow UN’s norms and “blueprints”, it becomes progressively geared towards its ‘utopian’ goal ,during the time that the UN struggle to coordinate the states’ action and keep the international community in peace. Neo-liberalists are also argued that the international organisations like UN represent a liberal self-understanding and a liberal vision of the role which has shaped the international order in terms of decolonisation, human rights, environmental protection and international law. Neo-liberalists highlighted the significance of the cooperation between UN and regional organizations, as these regional organisations become inseparable in the process of international diplomatic predicting, “the international community will increasingly direct itself towards combined action of the universal Organization with regional bodies.” (Cassese: 2005: 338) This Link can be found between the UN and other regional organizations such as the European Union, Association of South East Asian Nations, the African Union, the Arab League and so on. This is widely regarded by neon-liberalists as they believe IOs are able to reformulate the behaviour of States. It is also proved the failure of neorealism that who underestimate the utility and wide influence of international organizations,. Further discussion about their motivations to how IOs influence States conduct by both promoting cooperation amongst members whilst at the same time putting the leash on those with non-cooperative behaviours, like trade sanctions. Navari argue that once cooperation amongst States is institutionalised, States would be cautious to leave it, because they fear of the uncertain consequences. (Navari: 2009: 39) European Union is a good example, as once European countries take part in the formal membership they have been
Corporations are large companies around the world that are legally recognized as people. Because corporations are legally people, we can consider them to be like the modern plantation owners; the plantation consisting of the planet, and the workers being synonymous to slaves. We citizens, as consumers, are indentured to corporations; we “need” the goods they provide in order to meet our basic, and not-so-basic, needs. Everything we own has been tainted by a corporation - the food is imported, the goods are shipped internationally, the energy that is used to drive cars, and so forth; it is all provided by a corporation. According to the source, workers are 'insecure' and live in a constant state of fear from their
In today’s international politics, many factors play a part in the decisions states make. One might think those factors were all intergovernmental, but that is not always the case. The factors that will be discussed in this paper are MNCs, IGOs, and NGOs. MNCs, or Multinational Corporations are privately owned corporations whose headquarters are in one state, but make deals and produce goods in other states as well. IGOs, or Intergovernmental Organizations, are organizations like the UN whose main purpose is to build bridges and keep peace between states. NGOs, or Nongovernmental Organizations, are groups that use funding to solve international issues, but don’t have an obligation to a state.
Willetts, P. (2011), 'Transnational actors and international organisations in global politics' in Baylis, J., Owens, P. and Smith, S. (eds.) The Globalization of World Politics: An introduction to international relations. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Globalization and the increasing role of non-state actors have shifted the position of states, the traditional “main players” in global governance. However, whether this change undermines states is debatable. In one sense, states’ roles have somewhat diminished: Non-governmental entities – namely transnational corporations (TNC), but also global non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others – have an increasing voice in global policy debates, which may lessen states’ influence in governmental affairs. But in several other key ways, states’ retain their powerful role. For example, states remain the key negotiators and entities in major global governance entities. Additionally, states retain compulsory power over their subjects or constituents, a form of control that new players in global governments have generally not obtained.
While some may argue that a state-centric international system is apt for non-state actors, since to attain a foreseeable future, they need to comprehend the state system and how to operate within it. This structure is weakening as non-state actors are increasing their influence in conflicts and challenging the international order founded upon the power of states. The openness of commercial markets and the weakening territorial sovereignty has limited the state’s monopoly of power asserted by structural realists. In Structural Realism After the Cold War, Kenneth Waltz alleges that, “If the conditions that a theory contemplated have changed, the theory no longer applies.” Theories and traditions in international relations must become more comprehensive if society intends to tackle the conflicts of the 21st century more effectively in the future.
The international system is an anarchical system which means that, unlike the states, there is no over ruling, governing body that enforces laws and regulations that all states must abide by. The International System in today’s society has become highly influential from a number of significant factors. Some of these factors that will be discussed are Power held by the state, major Wars that have been fought out in recent history and international organisations such as the U.N, NATO and the W.T.O. Each of these factors, have a great influence over the international system and as a result, the states abilities to “freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development”.
This essay will describe the characteristics of the modern nation-state, explain how the United States fits the criteria of and functions as a modern nation-state, discuss the European Union as a transnational entity, analyze how nation-states and transnational entities engage on foreign policy to achieve their interests, and the consequences of this interaction for international politics.
There is an undeniable fact that there has been a rise in globalization. It has become a hot topic amongst the field of international politics. With the rise of globalization, the sovereignty of the state is now being undermined. It has become an undisputed fact that the world has evolved to a new level of globalization, the transferring goods, information, ideas and services around the globe has changed at an unimaginable rate. With all that is going on, one would question how globalization has changed the system that is typically a collection of sovereign states. Do states still have the main source of power? What gives a state the right to rule a geographically defined region? It is believed by many that due to the introduction of international systems and increasing rate of globalization, the sovereignty of the state has been slowly eroded over time. My paper has two parts: First, it aims to take a close look at how globalization has changed the way the economy worked, specifically how it opened doors for multinational corporations to rise in power. Second, to answer the question, is it possible for it to exist today? And even so, should it?
Al-Rodhan, Nayef. Definitions of Globalization:A Comprehensive Overview and a Proposed Definition. Geopolitical Implications of Globalization and Transnational Security . Geneva: GCSP, 2006.