WEEKLY READING MEMOS FOR POS 160
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WEEKLY READING MEMOS FOR POS 160
MEMO #1:
Global politics encompasses the relations, conflicts, dynamics, and political interactions
between international organizations and institutions. It examines how different countries and
nations interact individually and collectively. A plethora of international relations theories were
developed in Western countries such as Europe and the United States, hence why many of these
theories are biased. Eurocentrism is seen throughout international relations theories, it is the idea
that Western values are the norm therefore neglecting the perspective and values of non-Western
societies; this then limits the voices and experiences that can be heard or expressed throughout
global politics.
International relations theories and politics are not necessarily a global body of knowledge.
The Western world and its colonial histories have influenced global politics as a whole, so much
so that their economy, culture, and religion are seen as the dominant. Although global politics
should include the viewpoints of all nations, due to bias and skewed powers it fails to do so.
Despite the changing global political landscape, western dominance is still an overwhelming
factor in international relations theories.”The danger of Western bias is that it shuts out those
alternative perspectives. Limiting the diversity of theory we consider in the field of international
relations limits the truth we can generate and taints what knowledge we do produce.” (Young,
p.9). This is a significant problem for the West and the rest of the world. When Western powers
dominate global politics, less applicable solutions to world problems are created; global
challenges are framed in a Western context overlooking those of the non-Western world.
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Source: Harvard International Review, SUMMER 2014, Vol. 36, No. 1 (SUMMER 2014), pp.
29-31 Published by: Harvard International Review
MEMO #2
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International Relations Theory is a field of study that focuses on predicting the behavior
of states and other actors in world politics. There are many schools of thought in IR but the three
most prominent theories are realism, constructivism, and liberalism. Realism essentially is the
theory that all nations work to increase their own power. With this theory, the interest of a nation
should be self-preservation and gaining social, political, and economic power. Homeland defense
and foreign policy are at the forefront of realism due to the want and need to improve the global
power of the nation. Russia and China may be viewed in IR theory as realism-centered countries
because despite human rights issues they have aggressive foreign affairs policies. Constructivism
is quite different from realism, it is the idea that international relations are socially constructed.
What does this mean? Well, it is the theory that relationships between countries are made
through social interactions, rather than based on value. Constructivism does not think that the
most important actors are states, but rather organizations and people that influence behavior.
Organizations like Amnesty International may be an example of constructivism, as they are the
actors pushing for human rights within countries. Liberalism per IR theory is the belief that we
can reach global peace and world order through international cooperation. Liberalism upholds
that ensuring rights for the people should be the utmost priority of the government of a nation,
therefore governments rooted in liberalism often limit military power and the power of citizens.
International Relations theory provides us with a framework for understanding the
behavior of actors within global politics and helps how countries will, or are, interacting with
each other. When international events occur, such as wars, IR theory can be used as a way to find
and identify the underlying causes of the event; it can also help approach issues such as trade and
security. IR theory is a tool used to navigate the complexities of global politics and relations.
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MEMO #3
There are several institutions and organizations that play a significant role in global
politics. They shape the way that countries interact with each other, address issues, and maintain
security and peace. The United Nations (UN) is an example of a global, intergovernmental
organization that shapes global relations. The UN promotes good governance and promotes
democracy, while also acting as a peacekeeper between countries. They also support the
economic development of countries and work to settle disputes between nations; the
International Court of Justice or” World Court” is a part of this.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is also immensely important when it comes to
global politics. International trade allows countries to expand their markets and access
goods/services that they may not be able to domestically, it is also a large part of most countries'
economies. The WTO deals with the rules of trade between nations, the goal is to help producers
of goods and services trade between nations. They deal with trade agreements and
intergovernmental negotiations. Without the WTO it would be much harder and more costly to
trade goods internationally, if at all; this is significant because without trade there would be no
globalization either.
Health is another critical aspect of global politics, the health of citizens is what keeps
nations going. Disease prevention and healthcare systems are at the forefront of the World Health
Organization (WHO), a specialized agency within the UN that focuses on global health. We just
saw in the past few years how important organizations like the WHO are for every nation in the
world. The Covid-19 pandemic took over the globe, affecting every country economically,
socially, and politically. Without organizations such as WHO, the virus could have been even
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worse than it already was. Global politics are shaped by organizations like the UN and the WTO
because without them it would not be possible to maintain international cooperation.
MEMO #4
When looking at how conflict and (in)security interact with global politics we should first
examine how they interact with each other. It is like conflict is the cause and insecurity is the
effect, or vice versa. Conflict causes us the security and insecurity of a nation to waver, when
there is a war or a global epidemic for example the insecurity of a nation increases. They both
play a significant role in shaping global politics. Anything from a large war, to a disagreement
between two nations can be considered conflict. Conflict can arise from a variety of political,
economic and cultural factors and they usually result in diplomatic negotiations or international
interventions. The security of a nation is absolutely critical, “Every country is threatened. These
dangers can be psychological, such as hostility from a neighboring country, infiltration by a
terrorist organization, or changes in the world economy that harm the well being of the country.
Threats can also be natural, like hurricanes or pandemics of a particular virus. Any threat
compromises a country's authority and jeopardizes its stability.”(longdom.org). Conflict,
whatever it may be, threatens a counrtry’s securitry. In global politics the stability and security of
a nation are important; security concerns are what drive nations to making certain decisions such
as alliances like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO. NATO was established
because of the threat the Soviet Union posed in the mid to late 1900’s, it was meant to secure
peace and it works now as collective security. Security and conflict concerns can also alter power
dynamics across nations which is why collective security across governments and the resolution
of conflict is a priority. Insecurity can also influence and disrupt the global economy affecting
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trade and resource availability. Economic consequences because of conflict and insecurity can be
dire and can influence global political strategies. Comprehending the nterrelationship among
conflict, (in)security, and global politics is imperative for governments and international
organizations. Effectively handling conflicts and advancing security are vital to securing stability
and cooperation on the global stage.
Longdom Publishing SL: Open access journals
. Longdom. (n.d.)
https://www.longdom.org/
MEMO #5
What are the economics behind global politics?
There are a plethora of factors involved with the economics behind global politics that
shape and influence the behaviors of nations across the globe. In the realm of global politics,
economics is heavily influenced by intimidating actors, including power, international
organizations, and political dynamics. Economic strength and influence plays a role in a
country's geopolitical power. To exemplify, the United States is economically one of the most
powerful countries and the U.S. dollar bill is currently the most traded form of currency. How
does this have an effect on global politics? Well, the United States has the resources to shape
international institutions and influence the behavior of other countries because of the economic
power it holds. “As a superpower, the United States has much more leeway to choose where,
how, and on what issues it wants to involve itself.” (tufts.edu). The economic power that the
United States has gives them the ability to choose where they want to be politically, like who
they want to assist with a war or how much they want to spend on national security. Other
countries do not have that power.
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The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an example of an international organization that
influences economics on a global scale. The WTO works to create rules and regulations for
global economic interactions, thus leading to policies and negotations that shape economic
policy and trade between nations. “Trade linked the two empires. Luxurious Chinese silk and
elegant porcelain found their way to the Roman Empire…(Pomeranz, p. 4). International trade is
a driver in global politics as well as in economics; it links nations together and contributes to
their ability to gain economic development and thus power. Trade, which is often regulated by
the WTO, is a part of global politics and the global economy. Trade also promotes economic
growth by allowing countries to specialize in the production of specific goods and services,
which aids in diplomatic cooperation between nations.
China: Pomeranz, K., et al. (2013) “East Asia: Global Economic Empires”,
Thinking Globally
,
1st ed., University of California Press, p. 372
.
Why the United States is the only superpower. Tufts Now. (2019, November).
https://now.tufts.edu/2019/11/21/why-united-states-only-superpower
MEMO #6
What is the role of international law and human rights in global politics?
International law and human rights are absolutely crucial in global politics, they hold
countries accountable for upholding and protecting human rights, environmental protections,
peace, law and peace. “This global ethic is the basis for the global movement for human
rights—a sentiment and a series of statements and organizations that promote the idea that there
are standards of decency in humans’ treatment of one another that are shared by all people.”
(Micheline, p.1). Human rights protect people, especially more vunerable populations such as
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migrants and refugees. International law created guidelines so that the treatment of these groups
by nations is humane and provides them with an avenue to live in their new environment, for
example people who are granted asylum are given certain protections from deportation.
Intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations are dedicated to making sure
that citizens, migrants, environments and nations are pledged to protecting peace and promoting
international order. “The organizations and movements for human rights that have been
established since the 1948 UN Declaration are dedicated to making certain that governments
abide by the principles once they agreed upon them.” (Micheline, p.4). In global politics it is
critical that governments abide by the regulations that are out into place, such as those for
environmental protections are human rights. War crimes are an example of this, when a nation or
nations are at war they must follow international law; crimes against humanity, such as genocide
are prosecutd in International Criminal Court. Maintaining a healthy environment is of the
utmost importance for all countries and governments therefore, treaties and sustainable practices
that address environmental issues due to climate change or pollution are a major part of global
politics as well.
Micheline, I., et al. (2013) “The Global Movement for Human Rights”
Thinking Globally,
1st
ed., University of California Press