International Affairs Midterm Flashcards
Definition of Globalization
A process of increasing interactions, interconnectedness and unity in the world
What are Steger’s 4 dimensions of globalization?
Economic, political, ecological and cultural
Political
supranational institutions, global governance
Economic
economic interdependence, cross-movement of resources, goods, services and capital
Cultural
transmission of ideas, values, and ways of making meaning
Ecological
global response to environmental issues
Global citizenship
the rights and responsibilities conferred on all who are part of humanity
Sernau’s 3 forces of globalization in the modern era
Capitalism, Imperialism, Industrialism
Capitalism
profit-driven system, capital dominated
- private accumulation and reinvestment drives world economy
Imperialism
military dominance, political control, and extraction of resources
Industrialism
science, energy, labor for economic production, consumption
- harnessing non-animal energy sources to drive productive machinery
Schools of thought on globalization (4 perspectives)
Globalizers, Rejectionists, Skeptics, Modifiers
Globalizers
significant transformative processes that move us into new phase of human history
Rejectionists
does not believe in the significant of the processes of globalization
Skeptics
significant but more limited economic phenomenon
Modifiers
historical process, not recent
Peace of Westphalia (1648)
Creation of our modern nation state system and the framework for modern international relations
- state sovereignty as main principle of international system
- anarchy: no global government
Main actors
states, INOs, INGOs, TNCs/MNCs, municipal and provincial governments, individuals and networks of individuals
Global governance
- international cooperation without world government
- supra-national and supra-territoral
- INOs/IGOs
Examples of International Organizations (INOs)
United Nations, World Health Organization, World Bank, International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court, NATO, EU
Political globalization
political interconnections and interdependencies
- interaction of states, non-state actors and individuals
- among IGOs, governments, NGOs, TNCs, and INGOs
Complex Interdependence
1) multiple channels of interaction
2) absence of hierarchy in interstate issues
3) reduced relevance and effectiveness of military options
Interstate
informal ties between governmental elites
Transgovernmental
informal ties among non-governmental elites
Transnational
multinational banks or corporations
Adam Smith
Father of modern economics and capitalism
“Wealth of Nations”
- believed laissez faire and free market
- invisible hand: if everyone is after their own self-interest, an “invisible hand” will benefit everyone in the economy
- division of labor: division of production allows focusing on specific task, greater efficiency
- rational self-interest –> competition –> growth –> wealth
Karl Marx
Father of Marxism/ communism
“Communist Manifesto”
- bourgeoisie vs proletariat
- historical materialism: history is a series conflicts with material interests at their core
- Feudalism –> capitalism –> socialism (–> communism)
- call for international labor to unite and oppose bourgeoisie
Wallerstein’s world systems theory
1) core countries (industrialized free)
2) semi-periphery countries (serve core, developing)
3) periphery countries (underdeveloped, dominated by core + semi-periphery)
Examples of MNCs/TNCs
Apple, McDonalds, Citibank, Coco-Cola, Nestle, Nike
What are MNCs/TNCS
Major role in global economy
- influence significantly the decisions of governments and international organizations
- profit maximizing goal
The work of MNCs
transnational production and distribution chain and division of labor
- core, non-core, global distribution network
Positive Impacts of MNCs
job opportunities, paying taxes to host country, building infrastructure, technology transfer
Negative Impacts of MNCs
often poor and exploitative working conditions, tax avoidance through loopholes, extraction of resources, environmental degradation
Sweatshops
difficult or inhumane working conditions for laborers, often children
- anti-sweatshops movement: against child labor, higher minimum wage, improvement of working conditions
pro-sweatshop: worse alternatives, path to long-term development
Global Supply Chain
the different stages of manufacturing that involve raw materials and labor for several locations
- can be very complex for products that require several different materials
- there is a marketplace for finished goods and component parts
Free Trade
promoted by international financial institutions
- largest exporter: China, largest importer: US
- increased productivity for some nations
- increased inequality with and between countries
- uneven and unfair profit distribution
Bretton Woods system (1944)
- reversed protectionism
- expanded international trade
- created international financial institutions and a stable monetary enhance system
- “controlled capitalism” balance between government control and social expenditures