CA International Political Actors Discussion

What is International Politics?

International politics is the struggle of who gets what, when, where, how, and why throughout the globe.

International politics is sometimes viewed not a completely global matter, but as struggles between two global superpowers (ex: USA and USSR during the Cold War), struggles between superpowers and great powers, and regional struggles between two or more countries in close geographic proximity to one another.

The key here is that international politics focuses exclusively on what happens outside the borders of any single country.

Why are International Politics important?

International politics are important for three reasons:

1. First, international politics can set the range of actions international political actors can take on the global stage.
2. Second, international politics shapes the motives and behaviors of governments, businesses, influence trade, immigration, humanitarian assistance, environmental efforts, and shape international norms, customs, laws, and cultures. International politics is complex, as we will explore later, so we acknowledge it’s macro effects on governments, businesses, and people, as well as its micro effects on individuals and communities throughout the world.
3. Third, international politics can spillover beyond the traditional gates of government and military channels to shape domestic dialogues, instigate domestic events, and drive domestic actors to react. In other words, international politics can affect domestic matters in observable and less observable ways.

What International Political Actors shape International Relations?

Group 1: Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

• “OPEC is a permanent intergovernmental organization of 13 oil-exporting developing nations that coordinates and unifies the petroleum policies of its Member Countries. OPEC’s formation by five oil-producing developing countries in Baghdad in September 1960 occurred at a time of transition in the international economic and political landscape, with extensive decolonisation and the birth of many new independent states in the developing world. ” (OPECLinks to an external site.)

Group 2: China

• “China’s historical civilization dates from at least 1200 B.C.; from the 3rd century B.C. and for the next two millennia, China alternated between periods of unity and disunity under a succession of imperial dynasties. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Chinese Communist Party under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China’s sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, MAO’s successor DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically but political controls remain tight. Since the early 1990s, China has increased its global outreach and participation in international organizations.” (CIA World FactbookLinks to an external site.)

Group 3: European Union

• “The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe.[11] Its members have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 km2 (1,634,469.0 sq mi) and an estimated total population of about 447 million. The EU has developed an internal single market through a standardised system of laws that apply in all member states in those matters, and only those matters, where members have agreed to act as one. EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services and capital within the internal market;[12] enact legislation in justice and home affairs; and maintain common policies on trade,[13] agriculture,[14] fisheries and regional development.[15]” (WikipediaLinks to an external site.)

Group 4: International Monetary Fund

• “The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 189 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. Created in 1945, the IMF is governed by and accountable to the 189 countries that make up its near-global membership. The IMF’s primary purpose is to ensure the stability of the international monetary system—the system of exchange rates and international payments that enables countries (and their citizens) to transact with each other. The Fund’s mandate was updated in 2012 to include all macroeconomic and financial sector issues that bear on global stability.” (IMFLinks to an external site.)

Group 5: Russia

• “Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy was able to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding principalities. In the early 17th century, a new ROMANOV Dynasty continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific. Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia. Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 contributed to the Revolution of 1905, which resulted in the formation of a parliament and other reforms. Devastating defeats and food shortages in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the overthrow in 1917 of the ROMANOV Dynasty. The communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Iosif STALIN (1928-53) strengthened communist rule and Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. After defeating Germany in World War II as part of an alliance with the US (1939-1945), the USSR expanded its territory and influence in Eastern Europe and emerged as a global power. The USSR was the principal adversary of the US during the Cold War (1947-1991). The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the decades following Stalin’s rule, until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize communism, but his initiatives inadvertently released forces that by December 1991 led to the dissolution of the USSR into Russia and 14 other independent states.” (CIA World FactbookLinks to an external site.)

Group 6: United Nations

• “The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945. It is currently made up of 193 Member States.  The mission and work of the United Nations are guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter. Due to the powers vested in its Charter and its unique international character, the United Nations can take action on the issues confronting humanity in the 21st century, such as peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, human rights, disarmament, terrorism, humanitarian and health emergencies, gender equality, governance, food production, and more. The UN also provides a forum for its members to express their views in the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and other bodies and committees. By enabling dialogue between its members, and by hosting negotiations, the Organization has become a mechanism for governments to find areas of agreement and solve problems together. The UN’s Chief Administrative Officer is the Secretary-General. 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.” (UNLinks to an external site.)

Group 7: North Atlantic Treaty Organization

• “Security in our daily lives is key to our well-being. NATO’s purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. POLITICAL – NATO promotes democratic values and enables members to consult and cooperate on defence and security-related issues to solve problems, build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict. MILITARY – NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military power to undertake crisis-management operations. These are carried out under the collective defence clause of NATO’s founding treaty – Article 5 of the Washington Treaty or under a United Nations mandate, alone or in cooperation with other countries and international organisations.” (NATOLinks to an external site.)

Group 8: World Bank

• “With 189 member countries, staff from more than 170 countries, and offices in over 130 locations, the World Bank Group is a unique global partnership: five institutions working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development; International Development Association; International Finance Corporation; Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency; and International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes” (World BankLinks to an external site.)

Instructions

Step 1: Select International Political Actors

• Select two International Political Actors that most intrigue you.

Step 2: Explain your Selected International Political Actors

Explain the two International Political Actors you selected. You can use the following questions to help explain your choice:

• Which two International Political Actors most interest you and why?
• What is at least one trade-off in focusing on two International Political Actors versus all the International Political Actors?
• What is at least one benefit of using two International Political Actors versus using just one International Political Actors?
• What is the membership structure of one or both of the International Political Actors?