International Relations
Content
Why Rapid Changes is dangerous?
The world is a dangerous place and with the speed the changes are taking place, it is becoming more and more dangerous. Rapid changes are hazardous because leaders are unable to grab the implications of what is happening and therefore are unlikely to realize the sources and consequences of the threats they face; and as a result apply inappropriate methods to deal with them. Expectations are violated; old friendships weaken; new adversaries emerge; and new dangers appear. Rapid change is also dangerous because there is less time for global leaders to respond constructively in the face of imminent disaster. This, many observers regard global warming as having reached a critical stage. Yet, leaders have done little to limit the release of greenhouse gases that produce global warming or to change the energy-intensive habits of citizens. If those who believe that global warming poses imminent environmental deterioration and weather changes are correct, the failure of statesmen to take account of it and change course means a future of melted icecaps, flooded coast lines and even submerged island states.
Issues of Global Warming
1. Poverty is the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live in absolute poverty today. The supply of basic needs can be restricted by constraints on government services such as corruption, debt and loan conditionality and by the brain drain of health care and educational professionals. Today, poverty reduction is a major goal and issue for many international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank. 2. Infectious diseases, also known as transmissible diseases, and include communicable diseases, comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism. Infectious pathogens include some viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, multicellular parasites, and aberrant proteins known as prions and are the cause of disease epidemics, in the sense that without the pathogen, no infectious epidemic occurs. 3. Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife. It is defined as any change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be deleterious or undesirable. The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction defines environmental degradation as “The reduction of the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological objectives, and needs”.
4.
Overpopulation in poor countries that contributes to feminine, diseases like AIDS, land hunger, political unrest, and large scale migration to rich countries with aging and shrinking populations.
5. Genocide; any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life, calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group children of the group to another group." 6. A weapon of mass destruction is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans (and other life forms) and/or cause great damage to man-made structures (e.g. buildings), natural structures (e.g. mountains), or the biosphere in general. The scope and application of the term has evolved and been disputed, often signifying more politically than technically. Coined in reference to aerial bombing with chemical explosives, it has come to distinguish large-scale weaponry of other technologies, such as chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear. The spread of these WMD to countries like Pakistan, India and North Korea and the prospects of terrorists acquiring them are a growing concern for the world. 7. Terrorism refers to as violent acts which are intended to create fear, are executed for a religious, political or, ideological goal; and deliberately target or disregard the safety of civilians. Suicidal terrorisms are directed against innocent civilians in order to create mayhem and cause maximum death and damage. 8. Transnational organized crime is organized crime coordinated across national borders. Transnational organized crime [TOC] is widely opposed on the basis of a number of negative effects. It can undermine democracy, disrupt free markets, drain national assets, and inhibit the development of stable societies. In doing so, it has been argued, national and international criminal groups threaten the security of all nations. 9. Resource depletion is an economic term referring to the exhaustion of raw materials [natural gas, petroleum] within a region. 10.The collapse of state and the spread of chaos in selected regions such as Syria, Palestine, Libya. 11.The growing resistance of the United States to working with international organizations or to participate in multilateral ventures to respond to global problems.
Potentials of Global Politics
1. The growing accumulations of human knowledge; information revolution and the accessibility of new technology make us comfortable about the future. 2. Growing economic productivity globally owning to the introduction, spread and improvement of computer-based technologies, the spread of giant MNCs and the mobility of global capital. 3. The development of renewable resources derived from the sum, wind and biomass. 4. Rapid economic development, especially in China and India, that augers an overall reduction in global poverty. 5. The spread of democracy and democratic institutions beyond North America =, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand. 6. The continued authority of global institutions such as World Trade Organization and World Health Organization that coordinate national policies and enforce global norms and practices. 7. The proliferation and networking of nongovernmental organizations that lobby for global cooperation in dealing with global dangers, provide technical information and humanitarian aid, and foster links among people and different societies. 8. The regulation of key issues by informal groupings of nongovernmental groups, international institutes and governmental bureaucracies. 9. A decline in interstate warfare. 10.The proliferation of international law protecting the individuals, codifying human rights, and spreading norms of racial and gender equality.
Key definitions
1. Smart Power: a term in international relations defined as "the ability to combine hard and soft power into a winning strategy." Smart power "involves the strategic use of diplomacy, persuasion, capacity building, and the projection of power and influence in ways that are cost-effective and have political and social legitimacy" – essentially the engagement of both military force and all forms of diplomacy. The term gained notice when New York Senator Hillary Clinton used it frequently during her Senate confirmation hearing on January 13, 2009, for the position of Secretary of State under the administration of President Barack Obama. We must use what has been called smart power — the full range of tools at our disposal — diplomatic, economic, military, political, legal, and cultural — picking the right tool, or combination of tools, for each situation. With smart power, diplomacy will be the vanguard of foreign policy.—Hillary Clinton
2. Human capital flight, more commonly referred to as "brain drain", is the large-scale emigration of a large group of individuals with technical skills or knowledge. The reasons usually include two aspects which respectively come from countries and individuals. In terms of countries, the reasons may be social environment (in source countries: lack of opportunities, political instability, economic depression, health risks, etc.; in host countries: rich opportunities, political stability and freedom, developed economy, better living conditions, etc.). In terms of individual reasons, there are family influences (overseas relatives), and personal preference: preference for exploring, ambition for an improved career, etc. Although the term originally referred to technology workers leaving a nation, the meaning has broadened into: "the departure of educated or professional people from one country, economic sector, or field for another, usually for better pay or living conditions". 3. Humanitarian intervention "refers to a state using military force against another state when the chief publicly declared aim of that military action is ending human-rights violations being perpetrated by the state against which it is directed.” 4. The term failed state is often used by political commentators and journalists to describe a state perceived as having failed at some of the basic conditions and responsibilities of a sovereign government. In order to make this definition
more precise, the following attributes, proposed by the Fund for Peace, are often used to characterize a failed state: a. loss of control of its territory, or of the monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force therein, b. erosion of legitimate authority to make collective decisions, c. an inability to provide public services, and d. An inability to interact with other states as a full member of the international community. 5. A buffer state is a country lying between two rival or potentially hostile greater powers, which by its sheer existence is thought to prevent conflict between them. Buffer states, when authentically independent, typically pursue a neutralist foreign policy, which distinguishes them from satellite states. The conception of buffer states is part of the theory of balance of power that entered European strategic and diplomatic thinking in the 17th century. In the 19th century, the manipulation of buffer states like Afghanistan and the Central Asian emirates was an element in the diplomatic "Great Game" played out between the British and Russian Empire for control of the approaches to strategic mountain passes that led to British India. 6. The Nordic model or The Swedish model refers to the economic and social models of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland). This particular adaptation of the mixed market economy is characterized by "universalist" welfare states (relative to other developed countries), which are aimed specifically at enhancing individual autonomy, ensuring the universal provision of basic human rights and stabilizing the economy. It is distinguished from other welfare states with similar goals by its emphasis on maximizing labor force participation, promoting gender equality, egalitarian and extensive benefit levels, large magnitude of redistribution, and liberal use of expansionary fiscal policy. The Nordic Model however is not a single model with specific components or rules; each of the Nordic countries has its own economic and social models, sometimes with large differences from its neighbors. 7. A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their native country and regain power.
8. The Group of Eight (G8) is a forum for the governments of eight of the world's largest economies. The forum originated with a 1975 summit hosted by France that brought together representatives of six governments: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, thus leading to the name Group of Six or G6. The summit became known as the Group of Seven or G7 the following year with the addition of Canada. In 1997, Russia was added to group which then became known as the G8. The European Union is represented within the G8 but cannot host or chair summits. 9. A multinational corporation (MNC) or multinational enterprise (MNE) is a corporation enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has defined an MNC as a corporation that has its management headquarters in one country, known as the home country, and operates in several other countries, known as host countries. Some multinational corporations are very big, with budgets that exceed some nations' gross domestic products (GDPs). Multinational corporations can have a powerful influence in local economies, and even the world economy, and play an important role in international relations and globalization. 10.The Organization of Islamic Cooperation is an international organization consisting of 57 member states. The organization attempts to be the collective voice of the Muslim world (Ummah) and attempts to safeguard the interests and ensure the progress and well-being of Muslims. The OIC has a permanent delegation to the United Nations, and is the largest international organization outside of the United Nations. The official languages of the OIC are Arabic, English, and French. It changed its name on 28 June 2011 from the Organization of the Islamic Conference to Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The world is a dangerous place and with the speed the changes are taking place, it is becoming more and more dangerous. Rapid changes are hazardous because leaders are unable to grab the implications of what is happening and therefore are unlikely to realize the sources and consequences of the threats they face; and as a result apply inappropriate methods to deal with them. Expectations are violated; old friendships weaken; new adversaries emerge; and new dangers appear. Rapid change is also dangerous because there is less time for global leaders to respond constructively in the face of imminent disaster. This, many observers regard global warming as having reached a critical stage. Yet, leaders have done little to limit the release of greenhouse gases that produce global warming or to change the energy-intensive habits of citizens. If those who believe that global warming poses imminent environmental deterioration and weather changes are correct, the failure of statesmen to take account of it and change course means a future of melted icecaps, flooded coast lines and even submerged island states.
Issues of Global Warming
1. Poverty is the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live in absolute poverty today. The supply of basic needs can be restricted by constraints on government services such as corruption, debt and loan conditionality and by the brain drain of health care and educational professionals. Today, poverty reduction is a major goal and issue for many international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank. 2. Infectious diseases, also known as transmissible diseases, and include communicable diseases, comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism. Infectious pathogens include some viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, multicellular parasites, and aberrant proteins known as prions and are the cause of disease epidemics, in the sense that without the pathogen, no infectious epidemic occurs. 3. Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife. It is defined as any change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be deleterious or undesirable. The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction defines environmental degradation as “The reduction of the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological objectives, and needs”.
4.
Overpopulation in poor countries that contributes to feminine, diseases like AIDS, land hunger, political unrest, and large scale migration to rich countries with aging and shrinking populations.
5. Genocide; any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life, calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group children of the group to another group." 6. A weapon of mass destruction is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans (and other life forms) and/or cause great damage to man-made structures (e.g. buildings), natural structures (e.g. mountains), or the biosphere in general. The scope and application of the term has evolved and been disputed, often signifying more politically than technically. Coined in reference to aerial bombing with chemical explosives, it has come to distinguish large-scale weaponry of other technologies, such as chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear. The spread of these WMD to countries like Pakistan, India and North Korea and the prospects of terrorists acquiring them are a growing concern for the world. 7. Terrorism refers to as violent acts which are intended to create fear, are executed for a religious, political or, ideological goal; and deliberately target or disregard the safety of civilians. Suicidal terrorisms are directed against innocent civilians in order to create mayhem and cause maximum death and damage. 8. Transnational organized crime is organized crime coordinated across national borders. Transnational organized crime [TOC] is widely opposed on the basis of a number of negative effects. It can undermine democracy, disrupt free markets, drain national assets, and inhibit the development of stable societies. In doing so, it has been argued, national and international criminal groups threaten the security of all nations. 9. Resource depletion is an economic term referring to the exhaustion of raw materials [natural gas, petroleum] within a region. 10.The collapse of state and the spread of chaos in selected regions such as Syria, Palestine, Libya. 11.The growing resistance of the United States to working with international organizations or to participate in multilateral ventures to respond to global problems.
Potentials of Global Politics
1. The growing accumulations of human knowledge; information revolution and the accessibility of new technology make us comfortable about the future. 2. Growing economic productivity globally owning to the introduction, spread and improvement of computer-based technologies, the spread of giant MNCs and the mobility of global capital. 3. The development of renewable resources derived from the sum, wind and biomass. 4. Rapid economic development, especially in China and India, that augers an overall reduction in global poverty. 5. The spread of democracy and democratic institutions beyond North America =, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand. 6. The continued authority of global institutions such as World Trade Organization and World Health Organization that coordinate national policies and enforce global norms and practices. 7. The proliferation and networking of nongovernmental organizations that lobby for global cooperation in dealing with global dangers, provide technical information and humanitarian aid, and foster links among people and different societies. 8. The regulation of key issues by informal groupings of nongovernmental groups, international institutes and governmental bureaucracies. 9. A decline in interstate warfare. 10.The proliferation of international law protecting the individuals, codifying human rights, and spreading norms of racial and gender equality.
Key definitions
1. Smart Power: a term in international relations defined as "the ability to combine hard and soft power into a winning strategy." Smart power "involves the strategic use of diplomacy, persuasion, capacity building, and the projection of power and influence in ways that are cost-effective and have political and social legitimacy" – essentially the engagement of both military force and all forms of diplomacy. The term gained notice when New York Senator Hillary Clinton used it frequently during her Senate confirmation hearing on January 13, 2009, for the position of Secretary of State under the administration of President Barack Obama. We must use what has been called smart power — the full range of tools at our disposal — diplomatic, economic, military, political, legal, and cultural — picking the right tool, or combination of tools, for each situation. With smart power, diplomacy will be the vanguard of foreign policy.—Hillary Clinton
2. Human capital flight, more commonly referred to as "brain drain", is the large-scale emigration of a large group of individuals with technical skills or knowledge. The reasons usually include two aspects which respectively come from countries and individuals. In terms of countries, the reasons may be social environment (in source countries: lack of opportunities, political instability, economic depression, health risks, etc.; in host countries: rich opportunities, political stability and freedom, developed economy, better living conditions, etc.). In terms of individual reasons, there are family influences (overseas relatives), and personal preference: preference for exploring, ambition for an improved career, etc. Although the term originally referred to technology workers leaving a nation, the meaning has broadened into: "the departure of educated or professional people from one country, economic sector, or field for another, usually for better pay or living conditions". 3. Humanitarian intervention "refers to a state using military force against another state when the chief publicly declared aim of that military action is ending human-rights violations being perpetrated by the state against which it is directed.” 4. The term failed state is often used by political commentators and journalists to describe a state perceived as having failed at some of the basic conditions and responsibilities of a sovereign government. In order to make this definition
more precise, the following attributes, proposed by the Fund for Peace, are often used to characterize a failed state: a. loss of control of its territory, or of the monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force therein, b. erosion of legitimate authority to make collective decisions, c. an inability to provide public services, and d. An inability to interact with other states as a full member of the international community. 5. A buffer state is a country lying between two rival or potentially hostile greater powers, which by its sheer existence is thought to prevent conflict between them. Buffer states, when authentically independent, typically pursue a neutralist foreign policy, which distinguishes them from satellite states. The conception of buffer states is part of the theory of balance of power that entered European strategic and diplomatic thinking in the 17th century. In the 19th century, the manipulation of buffer states like Afghanistan and the Central Asian emirates was an element in the diplomatic "Great Game" played out between the British and Russian Empire for control of the approaches to strategic mountain passes that led to British India. 6. The Nordic model or The Swedish model refers to the economic and social models of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland). This particular adaptation of the mixed market economy is characterized by "universalist" welfare states (relative to other developed countries), which are aimed specifically at enhancing individual autonomy, ensuring the universal provision of basic human rights and stabilizing the economy. It is distinguished from other welfare states with similar goals by its emphasis on maximizing labor force participation, promoting gender equality, egalitarian and extensive benefit levels, large magnitude of redistribution, and liberal use of expansionary fiscal policy. The Nordic Model however is not a single model with specific components or rules; each of the Nordic countries has its own economic and social models, sometimes with large differences from its neighbors. 7. A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their native country and regain power.
8. The Group of Eight (G8) is a forum for the governments of eight of the world's largest economies. The forum originated with a 1975 summit hosted by France that brought together representatives of six governments: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, thus leading to the name Group of Six or G6. The summit became known as the Group of Seven or G7 the following year with the addition of Canada. In 1997, Russia was added to group which then became known as the G8. The European Union is represented within the G8 but cannot host or chair summits. 9. A multinational corporation (MNC) or multinational enterprise (MNE) is a corporation enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has defined an MNC as a corporation that has its management headquarters in one country, known as the home country, and operates in several other countries, known as host countries. Some multinational corporations are very big, with budgets that exceed some nations' gross domestic products (GDPs). Multinational corporations can have a powerful influence in local economies, and even the world economy, and play an important role in international relations and globalization. 10.The Organization of Islamic Cooperation is an international organization consisting of 57 member states. The organization attempts to be the collective voice of the Muslim world (Ummah) and attempts to safeguard the interests and ensure the progress and well-being of Muslims. The OIC has a permanent delegation to the United Nations, and is the largest international organization outside of the United Nations. The official languages of the OIC are Arabic, English, and French. It changed its name on 28 June 2011 from the Organization of the Islamic Conference to Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
