How International Relations Influences the World
International relations is closely related to globalization, which refers to the process of integration and interaction among governments, companies, and people across various nations (Jackson & Sørensen, 2016). Globalization has significantly impacted culture, environment, economic development, prosperity, political systems, and the wellbeing of people (Jackson & Sørensen, 2016). The same effects resulting from globalization are because of international relations among countries. Additionally, governments have negotiated terms with others to reduce barriers to commerce leading to establishment of international agreements that promote trade and investment. As investors and governments take advantage of opportunities presented to them, they try as much as possible to gain from such agreements. Companies in different countries have established marketing and production arrangements with other partners (Roach, Griffths & O’Callaghan, 2014). The financial and industrial business structure is an important feature that defines globalization. Therefore, an understanding of how these features of globalization and international relations influence the world forms the basis of this essay.
International relations and globalization are controversial. Baylis et al. (2013) argues that globalization and good international relations allow developing nations to benefit economically and raise the living stands of their citizens. On the other hand, most developed countries benefit from such relationships at the expense of common people, local cultures, and local enterprises in the developing world (Baylis et al., 2013). As a result, resistance to international relations has developed to take control of the flow of goods, capital, labor, and ideas.
Technology remains a major driving force of international relations and globalization. According to Jackson and Sørensen (2016), advancement in information technology has led to dramatic economic transformations. Information technology gives consumers, businesses, and investors a tool for pursuing and identifying viable economic opportunities. Information technology also enhances fast and well informed analyses of trends around the world.
In the past few decades, technological and policy developments have led to increase in international migration, investment, and trade. For instance, since 1950, world trade by more than 20 times (Baylis, Smith & Owens, 2013). In the current world, globalization is much deeper, faster, and cheaper than before. The current high rate of globalization is driven by international policies that open economies both internationally and domestically. After the Second World War, most governments have encouraged free-market systems, which have vastly increased their productivity. Such international policies have also created new opportunities for such countries to invest and trade with others.
Effects of Globalization on International systems
Globalization has been a major topic of concern in international relations for several years. Roach et al. (2014) assert that most aspects of the modern world are influenced by globalization in various ways. Globalization is also referred to as intensification of interdependence between different countries and cross-border interaction leading to major changes in the involved countries. A good understanding of the definition of the term globalization allows individuals to understand the relationships between nations. Countries are now greatly dependent on each other because the impacts of changes made in one country affect others.
Moreover, most international organizations have become quite significant in today’s world due to globalization. Roach et al. (2014) also note that before globalization, most countries were looking for ways of promoting individual national interests. Such countries laid more emphasis on internal safety than ways of dealing with problems affecting people at an international level. In the recent past, difficulties and issues affecting countries have become global. This means that states can only protect their citizens by dealing with international problems by taking collective measures with other nations.
Further, states give sovereignty to a large body that is governed by decisions and rules agreed by member states. This shows that such countries comply with majority decision which determines their internal operations. Being governed by an international body means that a member state is dependent on the decisions made by others (Mingst & Arreguin, 2013). However, there are times that a country will have to sacrifice its individual interest so that it may agree with the rest.
Many countries have become dependent on each other through implementing free-trade and opening their borders to others. Baylis et al. (2013) state that globalization makes it easy for companies to establish production sites and other branches in other countries, which favor them by making mutual agreements with the foreign country. Competition increases among countries so as they can also benefit from establishment of foreign industries. Such countries benefit through generation of revenue and getting commodities at a cheaper price. Free-trade is meant to create suitable conditions to enable member states to trade freely and offer each other with equal opportunities for growth (Gilpin, 2016). However, such conditions do not favor all member states because some countries have cheaper exportation costs than others which reduce the chances of them being trade-partners. Some countries also implement trade quotas and tariffs so that they may protect their local industries (Jackson & Sørensen, 2016). At times, a country may not be able to trade particular commodities because doing so will bring detrimental effects on its economy.
Similarly, because of the integrated global economy, countries do not have sole power to control their economy; they mostly depend on international bodies such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to determine the situation of their financial market (Jackson & Sørensen, 2016). This type of dependence allows member states to benefit from protection in case they face financial constraints. Interconnectedness of countries could also lead to an economic crisis. Interconnectedness of nations increases the chances of member states affected by a common crisis (Jackson & Sørensen, 2016). A problem may start-off with just two countries but may increase the risk of others being affected with time.
Globalization has also led to major changes to international relations by increasing interconnectedness and interdependence. Baylis et al. (2013) posit that countries no longer live as separate nations but form agreements on different levels. Since problems affect several nations, solutions to such challenges are also arrived at by taking collective action as opposed to individual responses. Some products of globalization such as global financial institutions, private sector bodies, and intergovernmental organizations have taken collective measures to solve global problems affecting them and creating an international economy and market. Such actions bring member states together, making them interdependent.
Effects of International Relations on Culture
Cultural values subconsciously determine how countries think regarding world affairs. Such beliefs affect the tools used by nations to determine their national image and how to value developments, freedom and peace. As people and nations adapt to international changes, politicians, diplomats, international communities, and national representatives should meet to discuss the issues to come to a common agreement (Fierke & Jorgensen, 2015). Diplomacy is implemented in various forms such as field experience, constitutions, and peace talks.
International relations and globalization have significantly changed the culture of individuals and nations. Mingst and Arreguin (2013) are of the opinion that cultural alterations have both been negative and positive. It is worth noting that globalization has led to technological advancements in developing nations and effective communication among countries. Most countries also consume similar popular products as a result of international trade. For instance, there are different types of fruits and foods that are exported from the developing world to developing nations. Some of the locally consumed food in such regions may a culture to them. Such a culture is passed to other regions due to exportation and tourism. International companies start branches in other countries thus providing services and products they offer in their country of origin (Mingst & Arreguin, 2013). With time, such products and services may influence the culture of individuals in a foreign country.
In addition, globalization links international relations and cultures socially, economically, and politically. Mingst and Arreguin (2013) note that countries use globalization as a tool to understand different cultures. International relations determine how organizations, countries, and people interact. A deep understanding of globalization, culture, and international relations is vital for the future of businesses, people, survival of people, and governments.
Over time, traditional cultures have clashed because of international relations leading to formation of other cultures. Upcoming issues and situations influence cultures both negatively and positively. According to Fierke and Jorgensen (2015), culture takes on different contexts and meanings in various fields such as mathematics, arts and biology among others. It can be noted that cultures adapt to other thriving cultures. With the ongoing globalization, understanding culture is easy due to the increased level of interconnectedness and interdependence. Arts, foods, and languages are different in various continents. International relations between countries have led to cultural exchange (Fierke & Jorgensen, 2015). Moreover, developing countries are well known for preserving their traditional culture. However, developed nations have led to significant changes in local cultures of developing nations leading to extinction of indigenous cultures.
Nevertheless, struggling to make peace requires cultural changes. Longstanding customs and traditions are losing values as new ones get enforced. Globalization makes diplomacy easy through increased negotiations between countries (Mingst & Arreguin, 2013). Even though most countries have a collective role of coming up with solutions, most world issues and problems remain unsolved.
Globalization leads to increased interdependence and connectivity of businesses and world’s markets. Many governments and people make different interpretations about the meaning of globalization. Globalization also brings both negative and positive impacts on countries because of international relations. For instance, developed nations such as France, United States of America, Canada, and United Kingdom experience satisfaction of globalization. Moreover, availability of reliable and highly advanced telecommunications and internet connections contribute to stable household, governments, and economies in developed nations (Fierke & Jorgensen, 2015). Effective, fast, and easy communications leads to increased interactions through traveling and conducting business internationally.
Despite its benefits, globalization shows that certain nations, governments, and people are exploited by developed countries for resources. International relations are a double-edged sword that causes both positive and negative impacts. Globalization connects some cultures but ignores other cultural boundaries. For instance, the western cultural beliefs and lifestyle is adapted in other parts of the world thus ignoring rare cultures especially in developing countries (Mingst & Arreguin, 2013). Most countries in the third world have adapted foreign cultures due to international trade and interactions thus neglecting local traditions.
Moreover, globalization emphasizes on corporations and capitalism as opposed to socialistic and business ideals. International relations and globalization tend to favor the influential, powerful , and rich people hence ignoring dependants. Globalization is a balance between poor and developed nations (Fierke & Jorgensen, 2015). Such a relationship does not create harmony or equality among the interacting nations.
Furthermore, representatives of nations and diplomats make efforts to preserve national heritage and communities using different strategies such as drafting peace talks and issuing passports. International relations demonstrate the benefits of interdependent economies and governments. Globalization has generally made international relations powerful and strong. Even though international relations benefits strong cultures and nations, it makes it challenging for others to compete globally (Mingst & Arreguin, 2013). The most popular cultures benefit most people worldwide by creating solutions to problems facing people.
International Relations and Security
According to Murphy (2013), the issue of security is now of major concern in all nations. When considering for holiday or business trip destinations, people have to ensure that such places are secure. Security checks are also taken seriously in most regions such as country borders and at the entrance of major commercial premises. People are screened for possession of firearms, which are a major security threat.
Consequently, security devices at airports are more sophisticated than they were before. Murphy (2013) also notes that even though security checks are done in most places, people still remain vulnerable. There are security gaps in other modes of transportation such as water. Other places where people are vulnerable to attacks include; buses and trains. There are also cyber risks to military and civilian communications. Such vulnerabilities continue to increase with time due to increased technological advancements and international relations allowing people to migrate from one region to another.
With such challenges, countries join efforts to collectively fight terrorism and war through formation of peace agreements. Diplomats come up with international laws and policies that encourage peace among countries. Additionally, countries also join international bodies so that they may get protection in case of war. For example, the United Nations protects civilians from terrorist attacks (Mingst & Arreguin, 2013). For nations to enjoy the benefit of protection, they must adhere to certain laws and form friendly relationships with other countries.
The efforts made by nations to collectively fight terrorism determine the future of international security. There are increased incidences of war on countries such as Iraq for various reasons such as resources. The United Nations Security Council should come to consensus on the best way to eliminate nuclear weapons in Iraq to ensure that the security of other nations is not compromised. The same should be done to nations such as North Korea (Murphy, 2013). Over the past twelve years, the United Nations has been passing resolutions to demand Iraq to get rid of harmful weapons (Murphy, 2013).
In the late 1990s, there were wars that led to lose of millions of lives in different regions such as Rwanda. However, the United Nations was not able impose acceptable and effective solutions to the consequences of war in Bosnia and Rwanda. Hill and Smith (2011) posit that International organizations should come up with effective strategies of ensuring that countries live in harmony with each other through maintaining peaceful relations.
Additionally, there have been several bilateral relations between countries due to Iraq’s security threat. Nations such as China, the United States, Russia, and Europe have joined efforts to discuss the issue of security (Hill & Smith, 2011). The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) arose as a result of security threats. The opposition by Germany and France to oppose the United States war against Iraq is a major concern of NATO. NATO states that attacks made on a member state of the body means that all members are attacked. Such an international relationship strengthens security among member states (Hill & Smith, 2011). If European countries take individual measures on security issues affecting them, NATO’s relevance would diminish with time.
International Relations on Industrialization
In the past few decades, there have been increased technological advancements which have led to industrialization. Kemp (2014) states that industrialization and advancement in technology have improved commercial activities through increased productivity and efficiency. Countries continue to establish good international relations so that they may have mutual benefits. For instance, the relationship between a developing country and a developed one could be of benefit to both (Kemp, 2014). The industrialized country mainly benefits from its partner through access to natural resources used as raw materials. On the other hand, developing countries benefit from access of already manufactured industrial products.
Increased technological knowhow leads to production of surplus goods. For example, countries having good relationships with the industrialized ones have high chances of getting machinery to aid their production process. Once a country produces surplus products, it finds the need to export such commodities (Roach et al., 2014). Trade relationships among countries encourage interactions between nations so that they may widen market for their products.
The increased peaceful international relations among countries lead to friendly terms of trade. According to Fierke and Jorgensen (2015), countries also come up with collective measures to promote trade amongst themselves by forming international agreements. Such trade agreements are meant to increase the market range for products locally produced. The relations also encourage investors to start businesses in foreign countries. Due to the friendly business environment, governments and businesses feel encouraged to start new businesses.
Conclusion
The world has become a global village due to increased technological advancements. Through enhanced communications, people can freely communicate and interact with each other. Advancement in transportation has increased the ability of people to travel to different continents. Moreover, globalization has a close associated with international relations because it determines how people from different countries interact. Globalization has resulted major impacts on political systems, culture, economic development, environment, and well being of people. Likewise, security issues have also become a major problem in the modern world due to increased interactions between countries. International relations have resulted to both positive and negative impacts on the most nations. Advancement of technology has resulted to production and transportation of sophisticated weapons that pose threat to most countries. International agreements and bodies have been made by governments as collective effort to attain protection.
References
Baylis, J., Smith, S., & Owens, P. (2013). The globalization of world politics: an introduction to international relations. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Fierke, K. M., & Jorgensen, K. E. (2015). Constructing International Relations: the next generation. London: Routledge.
Gilpin, R. (2016). The political economy of international relations. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.
Hill, C., & Smith, M. (2011). International relations and the European Union. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Jackson, R., & Sørensen, G. (2016). Introduction to international relations: theories and approaches. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kemp, T. (2014). Industrialization in nineteenth century Europe. New York: Routledge.
Mingst, K. A., & Arreguín-Toft, I. M. (2013). Essentials of International Relations (6th ed.). New York: WW Norton & Company.
Murphy, M. N. (2013). Contemporary piracy and maritime terrorism: The threat to international security. London: Routledge.
Roach, S. C., Griffiths, M., & O’Callaghan, T. (2014). International relations: The key concepts. New York: Routledge.