A Project Work In International Relations on

“SIGNIFICANCE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATION IN 21 ST

CENTURY ”

Submitted to: Dr. B. K. Mahakul (Faculty Political Science)

Submitted by: Swapnil Rathore

Section B

Roll No.-160

Semester- V, B.A.L.LB. (Hons.)

Hidayatullah National Law University

Raipur, Chhattisgarh

Date of Submission- 24th August, 2015

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Certificate of Declaration

I hereby declare that the project work entitled "Signifance of International Relations in 21 st

century" submitted to HNLU, Raipur, is record of an original work done by me under the

knowledgeable guidance of Dr. B.K. Mahakul, Faculty Member, HNLU, Raipur.

-Swapnil Rathore

BA.LLB (Hons.)

Semester- V

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Contents

Declaration…………………………………….…………………………….………….… 2

Introduction...………………………………………………………………………….….. 4

Overview of Literature……………………………………………………………………. 6

Objectives…………………………………………………………………………….….... 7

Methodology…………….………………………………….............................................. 7

Type of actors………………………………..………………............................................ 8

Globalization……….…………..…….……………………………………………............8

Importance of International Relation………………………...................……………..... 10

Important International treaties in 21st century…….………………………………….....11

Challenges in 21st century…..…………………………………………………………...13

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………..16

Reference………………………………………………………………………………….17

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INTRODUCTION

International relations (IR) is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of States, Inter- governmental Organization (IGOs), International Non- governmental Organization (INGOs), Non-governmental Organization (NGOs) and Multinational Corporations (MNCs). A strict definition of International Relations would confine itself to the relationships between the worlds national governments, conducted by politicians at the highest level. However, this is a far too simplistic and narrow perspective of international relations.

International Relations is not just a field of academic study, we all participate in and contribute to International Relations on a daily basis. Every time we watch the news, vote in an election, buy or boycott goods from the supermarket, recycle our wine bottles, we are participating in International Relations. The decisions we make in our daily lives have an effect, however small, on the world in which we live.

At the same time, IR has a significant impact on our lives. Our daily lives are increasingly international in their focus, improvements in communications and transport technology mean we are constantly coming into contact with people, places, products, opportunities and ideas from other countries. The study of International Relations enables us to explain why international events occur in the manner in which they do and gives us a greater understanding of world in which we live and work.

The international system refers to the structure of relationships that exist at the international level. These include the roles and interactions of both state and nonstate actors, along with international organizations (IO), multinational corporations (MNC), and non-governmental organizations (NGO).1States make foreign and national security policy against this external environment. Opportunitiesfor both conflict and cooperation arise within this framework. The international community has tried for years to maintain order and prevent conflict using international institutions like the United Nations and international legal regimes like the Geneva Conventions.

The international system frames the forces and trends in the global environment; it also frames the workspace of national security policy and strategy makers. As they work through the formulation process, with an understanding for the interests and objectives of any actors in a given situation, those involved in the business of policy and strategy making must be able to account for the associated state and nonstate actors present in the international system. In addition, it has become particularly important that they be able to assess the competing values

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associated with the global actors, both state and nonstate, especially in relation to the Global War on Terror. Also, given the criticality of being able to call upon other nation-states and international or multinational organizations for support, the strategist or policymaker must know which alliances and coalitions are stakeholders in the issue in question. Another related element of the international system is the economic condition, as influenced by both the positive and negative components of globalization, that helps determine the amount of power actors can wield in the system. It is also important to be able to identify the international legal tenets and regimes that bear on the situation. Finally, the 21stcentury policy and strategy maker must be able to understand the threats to order in the international system represented by both conventional and transnational entities. If the policymaker or strategist can accurately assess all these factors, he might be able to determine friends and enemies, threats and opportunities, and capabilities and constraints inherent in the contemporary world.

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OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE

Literature Review is the documentation of a comprehensive review of the published and unpublished work from secondary sources of data in the areas of specific interest to the researcher. It is an extensive survey of all available past studies relevant to the field of investigation. It gives us knowledge about what others have found out in the related field of study and how they have done so.

After an extensive survey of available past studies relevant to the field of investigation, it has been tried to accumulate the knowledge about what others have found out in the related field of study and how they have done so. They have helped immensely in gaining background knowledge of the research topic, in identifying the concepts relating to it, potential relationships between them and identifying appropriate methodology, research design, methods of measuring concepts and techniques of analysis, and also in identifying data sources used by other researchers.

Thus the following literature has been reviewed:

• V. N. Khanna, International Relation (2013), Vikas Publication. The author of the book, while retaining the original overview of the 20th century international relations, has also introduced the theoretical aspect of the study.

• Peu Ghosh, International Relations (2013), PHI Learning Private Limited. The author dwells on the multidimensional aspects of international relations, taking into account the present undergraduate and postgraduate curricula of different universities. Divided into 20 chapters, the book gives a panoramic view of international relations.

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OBJECTIVES

• To study about the importance of international relation.

• To study about the challenges of international relations in 21st century.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This project has been pursued on the basis secondary sources of information. This includes books, textbooks, and articles from newspapers and downloaded from WebPages. The project is based on descriptive study.

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TYPES OF ACTORS–STATES AND NON STATES ACTORS

The central actor: the state• (a)A state is composed of a defined territory demarcated by specific boundaries,(b) a defined population residing in that territory,(c) an integrated set of institutions that is capable of making and enforcing laws over this population (internal sovereignty), and(d) The recognition by other states of the sovereignty of that state (external sovereignty).

Non-state Actors• Actors that (a) share some but not all of the characteristics of states (sub-state actors), or(b) incorporate two or more states in a new entity (e.g. international organizations)•Non state Actors can be categorized on: – International Organizations – Multinational Corporations – Non-governmental Organizations

International Organizations •Institutions with formal membership and procedures. Only states are members. Membership can be limited or universal• Purpose may be broad or narrow

GLOBALIZATION

The term “globalization” has acquired considerable emotive force. Some view it as a process that is beneficial – a key to future world economic development –and also inevitable and irreversible. Others regard with hostility, even fear, believing that it increases inequality within and between nations, threatens employment and living standards thwarts social progress. This brief, offers an overview of some aspects of globalization and aims to identify ways in which countries can tap the gains of this process, while remaining realistic about its risks.

Globalization also refers to increasing global connectivity, integration and interdependence in the economic, social, technological cultural, political and ecological spheres. Globalization is an umbrella term and perhaps best understood as unitary process inclusive of many sub-processes (such as enhanced economic interdependence, increased cultural influence, rapid advances of information technology, and novel governance and geographical challenges) that are increasingly binding people and biosphere more tightly into one global system.

The 20th Century saw unparalleled economic growth, with global per capita GDP increasing almost five-fold. But this growth was not steady the strongest expansion came during the second half of the century, a period of rapid trade expansion accompanied by trade and typically somewhat later, financial-liberalization.

The world increasingly is confronted by problems that cannot be solved by individual nation states acting alone. Examples include cross-boundary air and water pollution, over-fishing of oceans and other degradation of the natural environment, regulation of outer-space, global

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warming, international terrorist networks, global trade and finance, and so on. Solutions to these problems necessitate new forms of cooperation and the creation of new global institutions. Since the end of the WW II, following the advent of the UN and the Bretton Woods institutions, there has been an explosion in the reach and power of multinational corporations and the rapid growth of global civil society.

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IMPORTANCE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

• To avoid world wars- The 20 century witnessed two world wars which was very danger in their destruction of man and material. It is feared that a third world war would wipe out the human race on earth if it comes. The study of IRS helps us to analyze and aims of the states in the world affairs, the methods adopted for that attainment of these objects and the factors which ultimately lead to their success or failure. The international understanding helps us to analyze helps the all states to live boldly and confidently in the world of diversity with peacefully.

• To understand defects of nationalism- Interest of nationalism was one of the major causes of 1 world war. Because each state thinks of the entire problem in its own national interest and forgot the wider international interest. But IR teaches that the nations must learn the basic factors of mutual trust and good will in order to stop any possible conflicts.

• Nation sovereignty Out Of Date-The 21 century IR becoming more and more complex. Today each country has become dependent upon the other states for one or the other things. In this interdependent world we cannot think of any states having an isolated life. The concept of national sovereignty has now outdated in the context of international co-existence. Therefore each nation state has to surrender at least some of its nation sovereignty. If it is not done international co-operation is impossible.

• Educative values- Today the modern weapons of warfare have become very sophisticated and too much danger in a matter of few hours they can wipe out millions of population by their atom bombs, germ warfare etc. It warns about the threat to the world peace and need to have precautionary measure. To educate the people in the interest of the very survival of human race.

•Better World Order- Study of the IR aims at better understanding of problems of the world. Any states which violate international peace should be silenced by collective actions of all the states.

• It avoids international conflicts and ensures international peace – It helps to understand the true importance of collective security and disagreement. These all are making way for the new concept of World village or World Community. By the above all reasons the importance of study of IR is becoming very popular in the present age, because of interdependence of all the nation- states.

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IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL TREATIES IN 21 st CENTURY

May 24, 2002

The United States and Russia sign the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT), limiting their nuclear arsenal to between 1700 and 2200 warheads each.

June 7, 2006

Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development adopted, committing signatories to recognize and act upon the responsibilities of states and civil society in preventing and reducing armed violence, and placing armed violence within a development context. The Geneva Declaration currently has 112 signatories.

June 15, 2007

A United Nations resolution established October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, as the International Day of Non-Violence.

October 2009

Kampala Convention adopted by member states of the African Union, addressing issues of and states’ responsibilities to persons internally displaced by conflict or other causes.

April 30, 2010

Member states of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa signed the Kinshasa Convention, which aims to control the sale and use of small arms in Central Africa.

Global Trends

It is interesting to note that since the beginning of the 21st century, a series of global trend reports, comprehensive and elaborate in nature, have been published. There is also a report on “Global Trend 2025” that indicates both the strategic and non-strategic dimensions of human security in a multi-dimensional format. These trend reports are windows to the challenges that IR will face in the 21st century. The key trends in the post

Cold war eras are:

•Globalization of capitalism.

•The US – from decline to hegemony.

•Russia – reform or decline.

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•China – a regional threat.

•European integration, expansion and paralysis.

•9/11 and after.

•Migration

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CHALLENGES IN 21 st CENTURY

The major challenges that IR faces in the 21st century are:

Emerging New global order Terrorism. Nuclear proliferation Post-Cold War Humanitarian intervention. Inequality Poverty Income Distribution

Emerging New Global Order?

Two questions need to be addressed. First, has a specific pattern of global order emerged in the post-Cold war period? If so, what are its principal constituents? Second, is this order to be defined in terms of globalization?

There is obviously a pattern in the new international politics in the post-Cold war stage as compared to the one that existed prior to the end of the Cold war. The second question enables us to understand whether this contemporary order can be ensconced within globalization. There is a major debate raging on this in order to understand the exact meaning, and on the process of globalization. However, what is beyond doubt is that some kind of transformation is already under way. It, hence, needs to be fathomed as to how it is to be discerned and what this will mean in practice.

Serious study to determine the overall character of the post-Cold war order is still in its infancy. We do not know how it will culminate. It is still not an ‘enclosed’ period with a determinate ending, like in the case of the period between the two World Wars. This makes it difficult to assign particular characteristics while there have been individual aspects of the present order (ethnicity, identity, peace-keeping, humanitarian intervention, globalization, integration, financial instability, terrorism and the war against it, weapons of mass destruction, regime change, etc), there is still a lack of any general evaluation of its essential nature. In the earlier period, the interest in the international order was largely ‘negative’ and lay in ensuring that no threats emerged from it. Today, there is a high level of integration and interdependence and, hence, the interest is ‘positive’ which makes the international order act as a great provider of large numbers of social good. The international order today can deliver information, access to global social movements, economic resources, human rights, interventions, action through non-governmental organizations at both national and international levels, and sharing of cultural artifacts.

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It will be important to state that the new order which is unfolding is being pulled in a number of different directions at one end of the spectrum, it continues to be largely state-centric, concerned with the structure of the balance of power, the polarity of the international system and the current form of collective security. At the other end is a widening agenda of order, which encompasses the relationship between the economic and political dimensions, new thinking about human security, examining the consequences of globalisation, human rights and environmental security.

Hence, it is difficult as of now to determine the characteristics of the contemporary world order because we live in the midst of it, thus, making it hard to get a historical perspective.

Terrorism

Terrorism has emerged as a major challenge to the emerging new world order. Terrorism is characterized, first and foremost, by the use of violence.

Such violence occurs in the form of hostage taking, bombing, hijacking and other indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets. One can observe four different types of terrorist organisations: left wing terrorists, right wing terrorists, ethno-nationalists/separatist terrorists and religious terrorists.

During the era of trans-national terrorism, the technologies associated with globalisation by the use of communication technologies, capabilities to use physical technologies to move great distances, communicate and coordinate individual or multiple attacks in different countries simultaneously, ability to retain coordination in the face of tactical setbacks, capacity to obtain advanced weapons to conduct attacks have given a lethal capacity to terrorists across regions and theatres of operation. however, it is not yet clear as to why terrorists have not acquired and used radiological, biological or chemical weapons so far.

Experts believe that the terrorists understand that more lethal attacks would lead to the likelihood that a state or the international community would focus its efforts on hunting them down, and eradicate them. Terrorism, however, seen as the darker side of globalisation, will continue to pose a major challenge to IR in the 21st century.

Nuclear Proliferation

Considerable attention has been paid to the theoretical aspects of nuclear proliferation. The question that has been asked is whether nuclear proliferation refers to a single decision to acquire a nuclear weapon or is it part of a process that may stretch over a period of several years or even decades, consequently leading to the fact that no one identifiable decision can be located.

Post-Cold War Humanitarian Intervention

Humanitarian intervention poses the toughest challenge and test for an international society built on the principles of sovereignty, non-intervention and non-use of force. The society of states has

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committed itself in the post holocaust world to a ‘human rights culture’, which outlaws genocide and mass killing. However, these humanitarian principles can and do conflict with those of sovereignty and non-intervention. Sovereign states are expected to act as guardians of their citizens’ security, but what happens when states behave as gangsters towards their own people, treating sovereignty as a license to kill their own people?

Should ‘tyrannical states’ be recognized as legitimate members of the international society and be accorded the protection afforded by the ‘non-intervention principle’? Or should such states forfeit their sovereign rights and be exposed to legitimate intervention by international society?

Related to this is the question of what responsibilities do other states have to enforce global human rights norms against governments that massively violate them?

Armed humanitarian intervention was not a legitimate practice during the Cold War period. There was significant shift of attitude on this issue during the 1990s, especially within liberal democratic states, which led to the pressing of new humanitarian claims within international society. In the General assembly in September 1999, the United Nations declared that there was a “developing international norm” to forcibly protect civilians who were at risk of genocide and large-scale killing. The character of this new liberal interventionism, its moral limitations and its likely evolution in a post 9/11 world are central questions that will emerge as main challenges to IR in the 21st century.

Inequality

Inequality is growing. It encompasses a number of problems ranging from poverty to unequal income distribution and unemployment.

Poverty

Today 1.2 billion people live on less than one dollar per day, and 2.8 billion on less than two dollars a day. People live on less than two dollars per day account for 75.6% of the total population in Sub-Saharan Africa and 84% in South Asia. The average for developing and transition economies is 56% (World Bank, 2000b).

The collapse the economies of Eastern Europe and Central Asia by itself plunged some 93 million people below the poverty line of two dollars per day in the last 10 years.

Income distribution

Equally disturbing and discouraging, inequality is not only growing but also accelerating. According to unpublished study by the University of Sussex, the relation between the richest and the poorer fifth of the world’s population increased from 30 to 1 in 1960; to 60 to 1 in 1990; and to 74 to 1 in 1997. The income gap increased one point a year between 1960 and 1990 and two points a year since then.

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CONCLUSION

In the end, there is no single answer for why any actor in the 21st century international system behaves the way that it does. There is also no single description for all the actors in the system, as well as no predictable method that any of them will use to interact. In effect, even considering the complexities of the 20th century, the 21st century international system is highly likely to be more complex than ever. Clearly the nation-state will continue to be the primary actor, but it will have increasing competition from the non-state actors that have emerged in the later part of the last century. Advances in communication and transportation, along with the information revolution’s contribution to globalization, have provided both emerging states and nonstate actors a degree of international influence never previously imagined. From the perspective of a 21st century strategic leader, these emerging state and nonstate actors and emerging transnational threats will create numerous challenges and opportunities. These challenges and opportunities will force leaders to address issues like determining the exact threat, assessing the intensity of national interests at stake, deciding whether to employ hard or soft power, and opting to work with alliances or coalitions or to go it alone. Ultimately, understanding these issues and many others dependent on the situation will be critical for the success of any actor in the 21st century international system.

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References

V. N. Khanna, International Relation (2013), Vikas Publication.

Peu Ghosh, International Relations (2013), PHI Learning Private Limited

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