Theme 1- Whitham, B. and Heywood, A. (2023). Global Politics. 3rd Edition.
London: Bloomsbury UK. (Chapter 1). GV 324 HEYWOOD.
Aim of the Book
• Introduction: The book aims to provide an up-to-date and forward-
looking introduction to global politics.
• Genuinely Global: It seeks to be genuinely global while acknowledging
the importance of the international dimension in world affairs.
• Complementary Perspectives: It argues that 'the global' and 'the
international' complement each other rather than being in conflict.
Global politics encompasses politics at all levels, from worldwide to
subnational.
• Key Actors: Despite global interconnectedness, states remain key actors
in world politics.
Changes in World Politics
• Shift from the International Paradigm: The traditional international
paradigm, focusing on relations between states, may no longer be
sufficient to understand contemporary world affairs.
• Significant Changes: Notable changes in recent years include:
• Emergence of New Global Actors: New actors beyond traditional
nation-states play crucial roles.
• Growth of Interdependence: Global politics is marked by increased
interdependence and interconnectedness.
• Erosion of Domestic/International Divide: Clear boundaries
between domestic and international issues are blurring.
• Rise of Global Governance: Global governance mechanisms are
gaining prominence.
Defining Global Politics
• Two Meanings of 'Global': The term 'global' has two meanings:
• Worldwide Significance: In one sense, it refers to worldwide,
having planetary significance, focusing on global-level politics.
• Example: The United Nations (UN) and the World Trade
Organization (WTO) are organizations with near-universal
memberships that deal with global issues like the
environment and the economy.
, • Comprehensive View: In the second sense (used in the book),
'global' means comprehensive, including all elements within a
system.
• Example: This approach acknowledges that political
interactions occur at the global level but rejects the idea
that it has transcended politics at other levels. It
doesn't mean discarding international politics.
• Challenging the Indivisible Global Whole: It's important to challenge
the notion that politics has been completely absorbed into an
indivisible, global whole.
• Example: The book argues against the idea that interconnectedness
negates the importance of politics at the national or local
levels.
Understanding World Politics Conventionally
• International Relations Emergence: The term 'international relations'
was coined by Jeremy Bentham in the late 18th century, reflecting a
shift in politics from territorial-based units to more clearly national
entities, making their interactions 'international.'
• Statehood as the Enabler: In the modern context, states, possessing
statehood rather than nationhood, are effective actors on the global
stage. These states have specific qualifying properties.
Defining the State and Sovereignty
• Properties of a State: According to the 1933 Montevideo Convention on
the Rights and Duties of States, a state must have:
• Defined territory.
• Permanent population.
• Effective government.
• Capacity to engage in relations with other states.
• State-Centric Approach: States are considered key actors on the world
stage, and the traditional view of world politics is state-centric,
often stemming from the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which established
sovereignty as a defining feature.
• Sovereignty Defined: Sovereignty refers to supreme and unquestionable
authority within a state's territory. It involves external sovereignty,
where states act independently globally, and internal sovereignty,
referring to supreme power within the state.
, • Changing Views on Sovereignty: Sovereignty is evolving with concepts
like 'economic sovereignty' and 'food sovereignty' emerging. It's
adapting to new circumstances, such as 'pooled sovereignty' and
'responsible sovereignty.'
Challenges to the State-Centric Model
• Rising Non-State Actors: The state-centric approach faces challenges
because states are no longer the sole significant actors on the global
stage. Non-state actors, like transnational corporations (TNCs), non-
governmental organizations (NGOs), and other groups, exert influence in
different ways.
• Mixed-Actor Model: Pluralist theorists advocate a mixed-actor model of
world politics, acknowledging that states and national governments are
just one category of actor among many.
• Continued Importance of States: Despite the emergence of various
actors, states often remain the most important ones due to their
coercive power and military capabilities.
• Changing Global Imaginary: The traditional 'billiard ball' model, where
states are viewed as discrete entities interacting with each other, is
becoming less sustainable. New perspectives, such as 'complex
interdependence,' suggest that international relations are complex
social relations and not solely controlled by the state.
Interdependence in Global Politics
• Defining Interdependence: Interdependence refers to a relationship
where decisions made by one party affect the other, implying mutual
influence and vulnerability. It often leads to cooperation and
integration.
• Complex Interdependence: The concept of 'complex interdependence'
highlights several changes:
• States are no longer autonomous actors.
• Economic and non-military issues are prominent.
• Military force is less reliable.
• Challenges to State's Special Status: While the state is considered
unique in its role as the entity waging war and maintaining law and
order, this uniqueness is being questioned. Examples include the rise
of private military and security companies (PMSCs) and the
privatization of policing and prisons.
• Post-Westphalian Global Order: The expanded role of substate and
private actors in wielding 'war power' and 'police power' suggests that
London: Bloomsbury UK. (Chapter 1). GV 324 HEYWOOD.
Aim of the Book
• Introduction: The book aims to provide an up-to-date and forward-
looking introduction to global politics.
• Genuinely Global: It seeks to be genuinely global while acknowledging
the importance of the international dimension in world affairs.
• Complementary Perspectives: It argues that 'the global' and 'the
international' complement each other rather than being in conflict.
Global politics encompasses politics at all levels, from worldwide to
subnational.
• Key Actors: Despite global interconnectedness, states remain key actors
in world politics.
Changes in World Politics
• Shift from the International Paradigm: The traditional international
paradigm, focusing on relations between states, may no longer be
sufficient to understand contemporary world affairs.
• Significant Changes: Notable changes in recent years include:
• Emergence of New Global Actors: New actors beyond traditional
nation-states play crucial roles.
• Growth of Interdependence: Global politics is marked by increased
interdependence and interconnectedness.
• Erosion of Domestic/International Divide: Clear boundaries
between domestic and international issues are blurring.
• Rise of Global Governance: Global governance mechanisms are
gaining prominence.
Defining Global Politics
• Two Meanings of 'Global': The term 'global' has two meanings:
• Worldwide Significance: In one sense, it refers to worldwide,
having planetary significance, focusing on global-level politics.
• Example: The United Nations (UN) and the World Trade
Organization (WTO) are organizations with near-universal
memberships that deal with global issues like the
environment and the economy.
, • Comprehensive View: In the second sense (used in the book),
'global' means comprehensive, including all elements within a
system.
• Example: This approach acknowledges that political
interactions occur at the global level but rejects the idea
that it has transcended politics at other levels. It
doesn't mean discarding international politics.
• Challenging the Indivisible Global Whole: It's important to challenge
the notion that politics has been completely absorbed into an
indivisible, global whole.
• Example: The book argues against the idea that interconnectedness
negates the importance of politics at the national or local
levels.
Understanding World Politics Conventionally
• International Relations Emergence: The term 'international relations'
was coined by Jeremy Bentham in the late 18th century, reflecting a
shift in politics from territorial-based units to more clearly national
entities, making their interactions 'international.'
• Statehood as the Enabler: In the modern context, states, possessing
statehood rather than nationhood, are effective actors on the global
stage. These states have specific qualifying properties.
Defining the State and Sovereignty
• Properties of a State: According to the 1933 Montevideo Convention on
the Rights and Duties of States, a state must have:
• Defined territory.
• Permanent population.
• Effective government.
• Capacity to engage in relations with other states.
• State-Centric Approach: States are considered key actors on the world
stage, and the traditional view of world politics is state-centric,
often stemming from the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which established
sovereignty as a defining feature.
• Sovereignty Defined: Sovereignty refers to supreme and unquestionable
authority within a state's territory. It involves external sovereignty,
where states act independently globally, and internal sovereignty,
referring to supreme power within the state.
, • Changing Views on Sovereignty: Sovereignty is evolving with concepts
like 'economic sovereignty' and 'food sovereignty' emerging. It's
adapting to new circumstances, such as 'pooled sovereignty' and
'responsible sovereignty.'
Challenges to the State-Centric Model
• Rising Non-State Actors: The state-centric approach faces challenges
because states are no longer the sole significant actors on the global
stage. Non-state actors, like transnational corporations (TNCs), non-
governmental organizations (NGOs), and other groups, exert influence in
different ways.
• Mixed-Actor Model: Pluralist theorists advocate a mixed-actor model of
world politics, acknowledging that states and national governments are
just one category of actor among many.
• Continued Importance of States: Despite the emergence of various
actors, states often remain the most important ones due to their
coercive power and military capabilities.
• Changing Global Imaginary: The traditional 'billiard ball' model, where
states are viewed as discrete entities interacting with each other, is
becoming less sustainable. New perspectives, such as 'complex
interdependence,' suggest that international relations are complex
social relations and not solely controlled by the state.
Interdependence in Global Politics
• Defining Interdependence: Interdependence refers to a relationship
where decisions made by one party affect the other, implying mutual
influence and vulnerability. It often leads to cooperation and
integration.
• Complex Interdependence: The concept of 'complex interdependence'
highlights several changes:
• States are no longer autonomous actors.
• Economic and non-military issues are prominent.
• Military force is less reliable.
• Challenges to State's Special Status: While the state is considered
unique in its role as the entity waging war and maintaining law and
order, this uniqueness is being questioned. Examples include the rise
of private military and security companies (PMSCs) and the
privatization of policing and prisons.
• Post-Westphalian Global Order: The expanded role of substate and
private actors in wielding 'war power' and 'police power' suggests that
