Basic Concepts
International Relations
Chapter – 3
Table of Contents
STATE AS AN ACTOR IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- The concept of the state is central to the study of International Relations (IR), traditionally focused on interactions among independent sovereign states.
- A state consists of a defined geographical territory, people who are politically organized, and who obey its authority.
- The modern idea of the nation-state emerged from the Treaty of Westphalia (1648), organizing European political units based on language.
- A modern state has basic components: territory, people, government, sovereignty, and additional features:
- Legal continuity of national society
- Institutionalized agencies and social changes
- Law-enforcing agencies
- Defense against external and internal threats
- Economic sustenance for its population.
- The state exercises sovereignty over its territory and people and is recognized by other states globally.
- The state remains the primary political unit in international affairs despite globalization.
- The international system is a pattern of behavior among states following certain rules and mechanisms.
- States differ in their influence in the international political sphere, with the most powerful nations exerting significant influence.
- Great Powers possess strong economies, military, territory, and infrastructure, shaping international order through economic and political means.
- Before World War II, European states like Britain, France, Germany, Holland, Spain, and Portugal were considered Great Powers.
- Post-WWII, the US and Soviet Union emerged as superpowers, shaping the world through ideological and political rivalries during the Cold War.
- The collapse of the Soviet Union ended the Cold War, leaving the US as the only superpower with economic and military dominance.
- In the post-Cold War period, the US remains the prime controlling power in international politics.
- Today, the world economy is dominated by a few wealthy states, with GDP dominance by the US, Japan, France, Britain, China, Germany, and Russia.
- The concentration of economic power leads to political clout, with these states influencing global politics.
- Besides Great Powers, medium and small powers also play significant roles in world politics.
- The interdependence and interplay of all states ensure the smooth functioning of the international system.
- Despite challenges from scientific and technological developments, globalization, multinational companies, and non-government organizations, the state remains a key actor in contemporary international politics.