Primary Actors in International Society

After the end of World War II, two nations remained dominant: the United States and the Soviet Union. From roughly 1945 to 1990, The U.S. and the Soviet Union did not engage in direct military conflict, but they prepared for it. After massive military build-ups and periods of mounting tensions, the Cold War subsided as Communist regimes collapsed and Germany became whole again. Since then, emerging actors have joined states to collectively impact international society, and an important question to ask is: Are non-state actors becoming more important than state actors? Although non-state actors, such as terrorists and region states, have become increasingly important in the modern world, states remain the primary actors since they influence non-state actors, and ultimately provide order in the international society.

Due to fast-spreading information and technology, globalization is rapidly affecting states. The end of the Cold War heralded a change in hierarchical structure so that states no longer the primary actors in international politics. Non-state actors are not new to the international system; rather, they have just grown in number and strength since the 1950s. These actors include transnational organizations, which are organizations that transcend state boundaries and operate across many different states.

Transnational organizations also include non-government groups, such as terrorist. Currently, any individual can become empowered by technology and efficiently produce innovations that will affect many. Osama bin Laden is one such individual who manipulated information and proved that the state is not all-powerful. Bin Laden created doubt in a bureaucratic government where bits and pieces of information...

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... the most powerful entity. Citizens expect their state legislature to make laws and enforce them; they do not expect for terrorist groups or multinational corporations to dictate rules. In addition, Bull also references rules called "rules of coexistence" that are established by states in an anarchic society (66). These rules are kept in order to promote peace among states and established restrictions of violent actions. Without them, the stability of states would be threatened and a peaceful coexistence of states not possible.

Works Cited

Bull, Hedley. The Anarchical Society: A study of Order in World Politics. 3rd Ed. New York: Columbia University Press, 2002.

Friedman, Thomas. "Microchip Immune Deficiency." The Lexus and the Olive Tree. © 1999.

Ohmae, Kenichi. "The Rise of the Region State." Foreign Affairs. © Spring 1993.