CHAPTER 14 SUMMARY NOTES

1. System

Ø Theory debates needed to look at world with framework.

Ø Liberalism ascendancy among scholars, but not universal.

2. Lessons

Ø "While it is important to be aware of past events, it is a mistake to rely on them to the exclusion of their factors."

Ø Don’t ignore past, but don’t rely on it as change has occurred (technology has evolved , and global processes have changed)

3. Integration

Ø Book discusses convergence and divergence.

Ø Convergence = increasing independence of states, growth of NGOs, travel, etc.

Ø Divergence = conflict between states, poor and rich gap, tech haves and tech have-nots

Ø NO ONE SOLUTION, BOTH COEXIST

4. States obsolete?

Ø Borders porous in face of weapon tech, internet, trade, travel and finances.

Ø Multinational orgs have sprung up eg NATO, UN, ASEAN

Ø Still no alt to diplomacy and states.

Ø Sovereignty of state has not eroded to a point where we are stateless.

5. Military

Ø Economic coop more imp that economic competition.

Ø Although $$$ is imp some states value weapons and military capabilities.

6. Conflict management

Ø The problem with war is that it involves a variety of relationships between states.

Ø Shift to intrastate conflicts from interstate.

Ø Arms controls a failure.

Ø Need to control weapons, and have done little to control prevent or stop war.

7. How can we stop weapons?

Ø Create International bans on weapons like Canada has done with landmines.

8. International Economy

3 suggestions in book :

Ø 8.1 States turn into mercantilist practices based on economic nationalism.

Ø 8.2 Liberal free trade with barriers falling. E.g. WTO

Ø 8.3 Markets are becoming divided into boxes which may compete against each other.

9. Int orgs powerful?

Ø Key manifest of coop in international affairs.

Ø Often ignored, poorly supported and faced with hostility and suspicion.

Ø Orgs showing sign of decay, while some struggling to adapt new international environments or reduced $$$.

10. Environmental issues

Ø Has exploded into public.

Ø Orgs helping, but we're still failing e.g. water resources are being depleted.

Ø Economic and environmental concerns collide.

Ø Will remain an issue in politics.

11. Info revolution

Ø Massive increase in knowledge.

Ø Promises improved communication BUT will also separate rich and poor.

Ø If knowledge is power, info tech can be empowering.

Ø Used for crime propaganda and war.

12. Migration

Ø We see generosity and also restrictive immigration policies and exploitation of migrant workers.

13. Gap b/w 1rst and 3rd world

Ø Widening economic and political gap.

Ø Canada has decreased $$$ support for third world countries.

14. Aid strategies

Ø Two methods : Liberal approach & Dependency theory approach

Ø Neither is uncontroversial.

Ø Perhaps sustainable dev and women rights will help poor areas.

Ø New approaches favour small scale improvements, gender analysis, culturally and environmentally appropriate tech.

Ø Large economic and human stakes.

CONCLUSION

Ø Theoreticians struggling to make sense of past. Must treat all systems equally according to book as both share same history.

Ø Must be willing to change views.

In our interdependent world we remain "stranded between old conceptions of political conduct and a wholly new conception, between the inadequacy of the nation-state and the emerging imperative of global community"(Kissinger, 1975)

“DECISION MAKERS MUST THINK GLOBALLY.” WE NEED KNOWLEDGE TO FIX THE PROBLEMS WE FACE