POSC 2200 – New Challenges Russell Alan Williams Department of Political Science

Unit Eight: New Challenges in International Politics Required Reading: Mingst, Chapter 10. Mingst, Chapter 10. Held et al., Globalization, Mingst and Snyder, pp Held et al., Globalization, Mingst and Snyder, pp Outline: 1. Introduction 2. New Policy Challenges 3. Globalization

1) Introduction: Societies more interconnected then in past Societies more interconnected then in past “Post-Westphalian” state system “Post-Westphalian” state system Array of new topics in world politics Array of new topics in world politics Challenge state centric/realist approaches to IR Challenge state centric/realist approaches to IR Challenge existing political architecture Challenge existing political architecture Require unprecedented international cooperation and institutions Require unprecedented international cooperation and institutions

Many challenges require coordination to overcome “collective action problems” Many challenges require coordination to overcome “collective action problems” E.g. Self interested behavior by states fearful of cheating will make problems worse E.g. Self interested behavior by states fearful of cheating will make problems worse Think of nuclear proliferation! Think of nuclear proliferation! Similar dynamics in “new” policy areas.... Similar dynamics in “new” policy areas....

2) New Policy Challenges: i) Disease Does not respect national boundaries Does not respect national boundaries Can be more dangerous then war Can be more dangerous then war Historically? Historically? Bubonic Plague Bubonic Plague Smallpox Smallpox Influenza 1917 (May have killed more then WWI) Influenza 1917 (May have killed more then WWI) Modern? Modern? AIDS AIDS SARS SARS Avian “Bird” Flu Avian “Bird” Flu Ebola Ebola

High need for cooperation – overcome fear that other states won’t “do the job” High need for cooperation – overcome fear that other states won’t “do the job”Responses? 1) Institutional - UN “World Health Organization” (WHO) Malaria, Smallpox and Polio Malaria, Smallpox and Polio However, disease issues highly technical – often include multiple policy areas However, disease issues highly technical – often include multiple policy areas 2) “Epistemic communities”: Transnational community of experts and technical specialists who share beliefs and common approaches to problem solving Impact how states perceive, or “see” problems Impact how states perceive, or “see” problems Promote common policy responses – E.g. Avian Flu Promote common policy responses – E.g. Avian Flu

ii) The Environment: Historically, two views: “Malthusian Dilemma”: Population growth rates increase faster then food production Threatened sustainability of modern society – modernity would overtax natural environment Threatened sustainability of modern society – modernity would overtax natural environment “Demographic Transition”: Higher standards of living ultimately lead to falling birth rates Less population growth then expected Less population growth then expected E.g. Europe E.g. Europe

Modern IR concern about the environment? 1) Finite natural resources Insufficient natural resources to sustain modern civilization Insufficient natural resources to sustain modern civilization E.g. Oil, clean water etc. – New source of conflict? E.g. Oil, clean water etc. – New source of conflict? 2) “Externalities”: Unintended economic side effects that can have negative (or positive) impacts on individuals unrelated to the activity E.g. Pollution and “greenhouse” effect E.g. Pollution and “greenhouse” effect Short term gain for some = long term negative impact for all (collective action problem) Short term gain for some = long term negative impact for all (collective action problem) International environmental externalities require institutions... International environmental externalities require institutions... E.g. Kyoto Protocol E.g. Kyoto Protocol

3) Globalization? Good spot to end an introduction to “international relations”... Good spot to end an introduction to “international relations”... Either: Either: Nature of world is fundamentally changing Nature of world is fundamentally changing =We must abandon our old ways of thinking IR is timeless... IR is timeless... =We should be suspicious of ambitious international projects – keep our eye on national interests and national security

Example: Held et al. “Globalization” “Globalization” ties together all the new policy challenges “Globalization” ties together all the new policy challenges Argue: May have been developing for sometime, but we are in a definitively different era Argue: May have been developing for sometime, but we are in a definitively different era Evidence? Evidence? Societies more diverse then ever, and states losing control over culture Societies more diverse then ever, and states losing control over culture Multilevel governance eroding geographically defined sovereignty Multilevel governance eroding geographically defined sovereignty Security is “multilateral” Security is “multilateral” E.g. Arms production E.g. Arms production Economies more integrated then ever and pressure on for policy “harmonization” Economies more integrated then ever and pressure on for policy “harmonization” Environment... Environment...

Example: Held et al. “Globalization” Implications???? Implications???? Need to do a fundamental rethink of modern political structures Need to do a fundamental rethink of modern political structures Who are “we”? Who are “we”? How do “we” want to exert control over our world? How do “we” want to exert control over our world? Are notions of sovereignty, national security and interstate competition adequate??? Are notions of sovereignty, national security and interstate competition adequate???

Final Exam: Time:Location: Format:Three Sections 1) Multiple Choice 2) Short Answer 3) Essay Similar to mid term – sections will be “weighted”

Essays: