KEY CONCEPTS OF CIVIL SOCIETY, THE STATE AND POLITICS Presented by: Gerald William C. Paragas Ph.D....

KEY CONCEPTS OF CIVIL SOCIETY, THE STATE AND POLITICS

Presented by:

Gerald William C. Paragas

Ph.D. Candidate in Business Administration

“Today many things indicate that we are going through a transitional period, when it seems that something is on the way out and something else is painfully born. It is as if something were crumbling, decaying, and exhausting itself, while something else, still distinct, were arising from the rubble.” – Vaclav Havel

The concept of State:

State is an organized political entity with a permanent population, a well defined territory, and a government; it is synonymous with nation – state. (Kegley, 2012)

The earliest record of such states come from ancient Mesopotamia.

Two dozen of rival city – states flourished on the flood plains between Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

The first civilization began in Sumeria, the region south of Mesopotamia which borders the coastline of the Persian Gulf.

Evidences of:

First wheel and plow;

First use of writing and metallurgy;

First legal codes and business contracts;

First production of beer with 19 varieties. (Barber and Riggs, 1998)

A typical Sumerian city – state is made up of high mud brick walls to protect it from various attacks in 2500 BCE.

Reasons for conflicts:

Over water rights;

Grazing lands;

Trade routes.

King Lugal – Zaggisi of Umma defeated Lagash (2350 BCE).

As a result:

He sacked the city;

Massacred many Lagash citizens;

Placed statues of the Gods of Lagash in bondage.

The latest war in Mesopotamia / Iraq is when U.S. launched a military campaign against Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Resulting to the “first digital war”.

Resulting to precision air strikes.

Comparison between the Sumerian war and U.S. led attack:

Sumerian – fighting occurred at close quarters whereas U.S. – Commanders could monitor the attack from hundreds of miles away.

Sumerian – scouts for intel of enemy’s defences whereas U.S. uses predator drones or the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) planes.

Sumerian uses volley of arrows when closing with the enemy whereas U.S. uses cruise missiles, stealth fighter, and heavy bombers.

Concept of Politics:

Is the exercise of influence by competing individuals and groups to affect the allocation of values and distribution of resources.

Political Scientist Harold Lasswell defines politics as the process of determining “who gets what, when, how and why.”

Concept of Politics:

What is the lesson learned from the Sumerian war and U.S. led attack in Iraq (Mesopotamia)?

Kegley (2012) states that politics among territorial states is a mixture of continuity and change.

As a result of the shift from crude to sophisticated warfare. We owe to advances of technology and innovations.

Continuity and change in the world politics:

What will be the new world be like?

Will humanity be better off in the years ahead or will it suffer?

Which international events will echo past patterns?

Which international events will provide revolutionary changes?

The agents of continuity and change in politics:

Actor – Dramatis personae on the global stage. An individual, group, state, or organization that plays a major role in world politics.

Individual people – behaviours on issues of:

investment scams; health benefits; K to 12; waste recycling; immigrate to another country, etc.

The agents of continuity and change in politics:

People exert more influence in an organization.

Aristotle – human beings are political animals.

They join groups to enhance their security and welfare.

Political organizations such as bands, tribes, chiefdoms and states.

End result: Collaborate for mutual benefits amidst the scarce resources.

The emergence of nation – state system:

Actors – plays a major role in world politics.

Nation – state system – born with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. End of the Thirty Years’ War.

Thirty Years’ War was marked by chaotic cultural, political, and economic issues in Europe.

Clash between Catholics and Protestants.


The creation of the nation – state system – functions as a unitary whole.

In politics, the system is composed of states that interact regularly.

Sovereignty – embodied the exclusive rights of states to make, enforce, and adjudicate laws within their domains.


Nation – state is a convergence between territorial states and the psychological identification of people within them.

Nation is a group of people who feel a common identity due to a shared language, culture and history.

Multination state – Ex: Nigeria composed of Yoruba, Ibo, Hausa Fulani nations (ethnic groups)

Multistate nation – Ex: Kurds in Iran, Iraq and Turkey.

The rise of non – state actors:

Nonstate actors – refers to International Government Organizations (IGOs) whose members are states.

Refers to Non – Governmental Organizations (NGOs) whose members are individuals and private groups from more than one state.


Billiard Ball Model – States as the sole movers of global affairs.

Behaviour as unitary responses to external threats.

Little importance to domestic sources of foreign policy.

Predict the outcome of collision – geographic location, policy direction of states.


Richard Haas (2008), a former staff of the U.S. National Security Council – nation-states are no longer the only significant actors on the world stage.

Because of:

regional and global organizations;

militias;

NGOs.


Examples:

IMF and WTO;

Hezbullah and Taliban;

Greenpeace;

Doctors Without Borders.

How perceptions shape interpretation of world politics:

Heuristics – judgemental shortcuts used to compensate for limited information about complicated problems.

Rely heavily on available data.

Biases are created.

Limited information = limited understanding.


Schematic reasoning – new information is interpreted by comparing it to generic concepts stored in memory.

Humans are “categorizers”.

Matching the world with images in their memories.

Distorted understanding.


Cognitive dissonance – the tendency to deny or rationalize away discrepancies.

Minds select, screen and filter information.

Non realization of the truth.

Use of framework in analyzing world politics:

Three (3) levels of Analysis:

Individual level – refers to the distinctive personality traits, experiences and behaviours of people making foreign policy decisions.

A leader’s political beliefs, attitudes and opinions.

Example: “Ronald Reagan won the Cold War by being tough on the Communists” – Patrick Glynn.



State level – the process on how the internal attributes of states influence their foreign policy behaviour.

Types of governments, levels of economic development and characteristics of the society.

Example: “Soviet militarism destroyed its economy and hastened the self destruction of the Soviet empire” – Fred Charles Ikle.



Systemic level – refers to the alliance of networks and, level of economic interdependence among state and non-state actors.

Existence of alliances and the extent of trade.

Example: “The U.S. and our allies deserve great credit for maintaining the military and economic power to resist and turn back the Soviet aggression” – Richard Nixon.

Theories of world politics:

What is a theory:

A theory is a set of statements that explains a particular phenomenon.

Realism, liberalism and constructivism explain international relations.


Realist theory:

Realism views the nation – state as the most important actor on the world politics / stage.

States are sovereign; answers to no political authority.

Supreme power over territory and populace.


Under the realist picture:

The rivalry between the U.S. and Soviet Union.

The expansion of Cold War between the struggles of East and West.


Limitations of realism:

National power is exhibited by arms race.

Alliances threaten counter-alliances.

Promotes lesser evil in decision making.

Struggle for power and prestige.


Liberal theory:

Believes in reason and the possibility of progress.

Emphasize ethical principle over power.

Emphasize institutions over military.

Struggle for consensus and mutual gain.


Limitations of liberal theory:

International institutions cannot provide timely and muscular responses to aggression.

Not paying attention on the differences of low and high politics.

low – economic, social and environment.

high – military and security.


Constructivist theory:

The social structure of a system makes actions possible by constituting actors with certain identities and interests.

Limitations:

Pursue change but without support of material and institutional events.

Ideas without practice / realization.

Comparison of theories of world politics:

A Comparison of Realist, Liberal and Constructivist Theories Feature Realism Liberalism Constructivism Core concern Self interested states survive in

an environment where they are uncertain about the intentions and capabilities of others

Coordinate their behaviours through rules and organizations in order to achieve collective gains

Ideas and identities shape world politics

Key actors States States, international institutions, global corporations

Individuals, NGOs, transnational networks

Central concepts Anarchy, self help, national interest, relative gains, balance of power.

Collective security, international regimes, complex interdependence, transnational relations

Ideas, shared knowledge, identities, discourses

Approach to peace Protect sovereign autonomy and deter rivals through military preparedness

Democratization, open markets, and international law and organization

Activists who promote progressive ideas and encourage states to adhere to norms of appropriate behaviour

Global outlook Pessimistic: great powers locked in relentless security and competition

Optimistic: cooperative view of human nature and a belief in progress

Agnostic: global prospect hinges on the content of prevailing ideas and values


Radical Critique:

Karl Marx (1818 – 1883) – Communist Manifesto is the history of class struggles. Socialism focuses on class conflict.

Capitalism:

Ruling class or bourgeoisie – owns the means of production.

Subordinate class or proletariat – sells its labor with little compensation.


Feminist Critique:

Feminist theory is against:

Exclusion of women in discussions about international affairs.

Injustice of women.

Unequal treatment of women.


Can behavioral science advance the study of world politics?

Behavioralism uses hypotheses and other quantitative methods to explain world politics.

Max Weber (1864 – 1920) – social scientists understand the reasons for such actions. A qualitative approach.

Physical science versus human intentions.

Non-state actors and the challenge of global governance:

Two principal types of non state actors:

Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) – institutions created and joined by states’ governments, which give them authority to make collective decisions to manage particular problems.

Example:

World Trade Organization (WTO).

Non-state actors and the challenge of global governance:

Two principal types of non state actors:

Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) – transnational organizations of private citizens that include foundations, professional associations, MNCs, or groups in different countries joined together to work toward common interests.

Example:

Toyota Motor Corporation.

A simple classification of IGOs:

A simple classification of IGOs Geographic scope of

membership Multiple Purposes Single Purpose

Global United Nations World Health Organization World Trade Organization International Labor

Organization UNESCO International Monetary Fund Organization of the Islamic

Conference Universal Postal Union

Regional European Union European Space Agency Organization for Security and

Cooperation in Europe Nordic Council

Organization of American States

NATO

Organization of African Unity International Olive Oil Council League of Arab States International North Pacific

Coffee ASEAN African Groundnut Council

A simple classification of NGOs and IGOs:

NGOs IGOs 176 (1909) 37 (1909) 1,255 (1960) 154 (1960) 7,628 (2009) 249 (2009) Span is political, social, economic, science, healthcare, culture, theology, law, security, defence

Created by states to solve shared problems. Ex: NATO – military alliance OAS – economic development

Independent of governments Dependent on governments that created them 1,000 NGOs consult with various agencies of the United Nations

Hold parallel conference with NGOs

Pursuit of common policies and programs Pursuit of common policies and programs

Global IGOs:

The United Nations:

The United Nations is the best known global organization.

It has universal membership distinct from other IGOs.

U.N. membership: 51 states (1945) and 192 states (2010).

The changing membership of the U.N.:

STATES YEAR

51 1945 61 1965

120 1985 150 2005 192 2010

The changing membership in the U.N.: Trend is increasing.

Purposes and agenda of the U.N.

Based on Article 1 of the U.N. Charter states:

Maintain peace and security.

Develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self determination of peoples.

Purposes and agenda of the U.N.

Based on Article 1 of the U.N. Charter states:

Achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all.

Function as a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends.

The U.N. Has been used by rich and developing countries to promote their respective foreign policy objectives.

The U.N. faces challenges of the changing and growing agenda of all of its member countries across the globe.

The following are set of global problems addressed by U.N.: AIDS Economic development Climate change Energy shortages Dwindling fresh water supplies Human rights abuses Internationally organized crime

Below is a map of the U.N. Headquarters and global network:

Organizational Structure of the U.N.

General Assembly – main deliberative body. Security Council – deals with threats of international peace and security. Economic and Social Council – coordinates social and economic programs. Trusteeship Council – suspended operation in 1994 when the last remaining territory gained independence. International Court of Justice – oversee disputes between states. Secretariat – performs administrative functions. Sec. Gen. Ban Kai – moon.

Organizational Structure of the U.N.

Three other prominent IGOs:

World Trade Organization (WTO) – a full fledged intergovernmental organization with a formal decision – making structure.

Mandated to manage trade conflicts among members.

Given authority for enforcing trading rules and settling trade disputes among its 153 member states.

During the past decade, an average of 20 disputes per year for WTO’s resolutions.

World Trade Organization (WTO):

Its goal is to transcend (change) the existing free trade between two countries and replace with a comprehensive world wide system of liberal/free trade.

Undermines traditional rule of law that prohibits interference in states’ domestic and economic affairs.

WTO was developed as an agreement among states that they will surrender some of their sovereign decision making freedom and pooling of sovereignty will entail gains than losses.

Target of criticisms since its policies are orchestrated by some of its powerful members.

The World Bank (WB):

Created in July 1944 at the UN Monetary and Financial Conference held in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire attended by 44 countries.

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to support reconstruction efforts in Europe after the WWII.

Shifted from reconstruction to developmental assistance.

Assisted Global south countries of their economic growth by loans with lower interest rates and longer repayment plans.


By 2009, WB has provided loans amounting to US$639 Billion. Hence, the most influential IGO for combating poverty in the Global south.

185 member countries headed by a Governor who is also a member of the country’s finance ministry.

Board of governors meet annually in Washington D.C. To discuss policy directions and administrative functions.

WB’s largest shares of capital stocks are vested in U.S., Germany, Japan, France and U.K.


The President of WB is always an American since U.S. and Western Europe possesses majority control over the board of governors.

Insisted on political reforms on countries as a condition for economic assistance.

It has been criticized of favouring the middle income rather than the impoverished countries.

International Monetary Fund:

IMF was created by the U.S. at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference since before WWII the international community lacked mechanisms to manage the exchange of money across borders.

A global institution designed to maintain currency – exchange stability by promoting international monetary cooperation and orderly exchange arrangements.

A lender of last resort for countries experiencing financial crises.


Specialized agency of the U.N. System. Daily business is conducted by a 24 member executive board chaired by a managing director – head of 2,000 employees.

Operating funds come from the 187 member states.

Operates like a credit union that requires members to contribute to a common pool of funds from which it can borrow.

Voting is weighted based on the member’s contribution. Larger voice to wealthier states.


Criticizes of forcing debtor countries to cut on social programs spending.

Makes political demands in terms of privatization.

IMF conditions weakens domestic groups denouncing international capitalism.

Director Dominique Straus – Kahn has reforms to distribute loans faster with fewer conditions.

Regional IGOs

European Union – cooperation among powerful states.

EU – an example of peaceful international cooperation with a single economy and a common currency - Euro Dollar.

Principal institutions: Council of the European Union European Commission European Parliament Court of Justice European Central Bank

Regional IGOs

European Union:

Shifted from nation states to single integrated European Federation.

EU as the United States of Europe.

EU is a pooled sovereignty – legal authority granted to an IGO by its members to make collective decisions regarding specified aspects of public policy made by each sovereign government.

Regional IGOs

European Union’s challenge:

Greece’s budget deficit stood at 127% of its GDP.

Public debt reached 113% of its GDP.

The EU Stability Growth Pact – deficit is < 3% of GDP.

Greece is on the verge of default on maturing $23 Billion of its bonds. If not refinanced, default spreads to Portugal, Ireland, Italy and Spain.

Regional IGOs

European Union’s challenge:

EU unveiled a $1 Trillion bailout plan for indebted members.

Challenge: How to improve fiscal discipline among members.

Create a council of the Eurozone – a new economic decision making body – a threat to European Central Bank’s political independence.

Illiquidity or insolvency?

Regional IGOs

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) – a military alliance created in 1949 to deter Soviet Union in Western Europe.

28 member states.

Mission to promote democratization and combat terrorism outside its territory within Europe.

Regional IGOs

The Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU) established in 1964 to promote trade and economic integration among its 10 members.

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) established in 1967 to promote regional economic, social and cultural cooperation.

Created a free trade zone among its 10 members in 1999.

Regional IGOs

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) established in 1973 as a common market to promote economic development among its 15 country and territory members.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) established in 1975 to promote regional trade and economic cooperation among its 15 members.

The Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) established in 1980 to promote and regulate free trade.

Regional IGOs

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) established in 1985 to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation among its 7 members.

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum established in 1989 and with a current 21 members, plans to establish free trade and open trade in the region for developing countries by 2020.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) established in 1992 to promote regional economic development among its 14 members.

Nongovernmental Organizations:

“You cannot engineer global changes all by yourself...” (Kegley, 2012)

By joining NGOs, people can lobby more effectively for causes they support.


NGOs – international actors whose members are not states, but instead of people that are drawn from populations of two or more societies who have come together to promote their shared interests.

35,000 NGOs worldwide tackling global issues from environmental protections to human rights.

Pursue objectives that are highly respected and hence not much opposition.


NGOs with widespread popular support:

International Chamber of Commerce Red Cross Save the Children World Wildlife Federation Greenpeace Amnesty International

Hezbollah – a controversial NGO.


NGOs matter because of the power of ideas for Constructivist side.

Sets political agendas Promote normative change Energize constituencies (people) to support the policies they promote World politics is not only the interaction of sovereign states but involves networks of people.


Movements as other actors of world politics:

Ethnopolitical group – people whose identity is defined by their sharing of common ancestral nationality, language, cultural heritage and kinship ties.

Example: Kurds in Iraq, Iran and Turkey.



Indigenous people – the native ethnic and cultural inhabitant populations within countries ruled by a government controlled by others.

Fourth World

Example: Aetas of the Philippines



Religion – creates identities and loyalties that transcend national boundaries.

Natural force for global harmony.

Many died in the name of religion.

Examples: The Crusade – battle of Christians and Muslims in the 11th and 14th Centuries.


Multinational Corporations – business enterprises headquartered in one state that invest and operate extensively in other states.

Wal – Mart attracts over 100 million customers every week to its stores worldwide. Annual revenues of $408 Billion with 2 million employees.

MNCs account of 2/3 of the world’s exports and 1/3 of the stock of all foreign direct investments (FDIs).


Multinational Corporations:

MNCs were headquartered in U.S., Europe and Japan.

Its plants, sales corporations and mining operations located in the Global south countries.

Old practice: 80% of all MNCs employees worked in developing countries due to cheap labor.

New practice: Thomson, a Canadian media company – 97.8% of assets, 96.6% of sales, 97.3% of jobs outside Canada.


Multinational Corporations:

Embraer Brazil for jet assembly – 95% sales outside Brazil.

Mexico’s Cemex for concrete – 4/5 of revenues from outside Mexico.

India’s Tata Motors and China’s Hisense Electronic.


Transnational Banks – the world’s top banking firms, whose financial activities are concentrated in transactions that cross state borders.

TNBs help to reduce the meaning of political borders by transferring capital through international loans and investments.

Increasing global economic interdependence.

Example: Bank of America.


Strategic Corporate Alliances: Cooperation between MNCs and foreign companies in the same industry, driven by the movement of MNC manufacturing overseas.

IBM CEO Samuel Palmisano states that, “MNCs are globally integrated enterprises to reflect how their many components from back office to manufacturing to product development are dispersed around the planet in a vast network.”

50% of revenues of IBM, P&G, ExxonMobil, DuPont originates overseas!

Issue Advocacy Groups / Global Civil Society:

Greenpeace – focuses on preventing pollution, maintaining bio-diversity through education programs, lobbying, and non – violent protest demonstrations.

Total income of approximately $250 Million from individual donations and foundation grants.

Thank you and God Bless........

KEY CONCEPTS OF CIVIL SOCIETY, THE STATE AND POLITICS Presented by: Gerald William C. Paragas Ph.D....

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Transcript of KEY CONCEPTS OF CIVIL SOCIETY, THE STATE AND POLITICS Presented by: Gerald William C. Paragas Ph.D....