Global Politics

Kevin Bloor

Description

‘Global Politics’ aims to ensure that students become more engaged with the dynamic character of international relations. In order to achieve this, ‘Global Politics’ explores several relevant and insightful concepts such as sovereignty, global governance and complex independence. The book also recognizes that most concepts are firmly embedded within a theoretical context. In terms of geographical scope; ‘Global Politics’ covers every region of the world from the Americas to Oceania. It also includes theoretical perspectives that move beyond the two dominant paradigms of realism and liberalism (e.g. constructivism, feminism and Marxism). There are also a range of prominent theorists included within ‘Global Politics’ to ensure the reader becomes more informed about the insights available. This essential guide should therefore provide a firm basis for your studies. Created by an experienced teacher, examiner and author; ‘Global Politics’ provides everything you need to comprehend this fascinating subject matter.

Sujets

• Politique
• International Relations
• Political Science
• Géographie
• Géographie
• Géographie
• Géographie

Informations

• Publié par: AuthorHouse UK
• Date de parution: 09 mars 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9798823080996
• Langue: English

Extrait

GLOBAL POLITICS
 
 
 
 
KEVIN BLOOR
 
 
 
 

 
AuthorHouse™ UK
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© 2023 Kevin Bloor. All rights reserved.
 
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
 
Published by AuthorHouse 03/07/2023
 
ISBN: 979-8-8230-8100-9 (sc)
ISBN: 979-8-8230-8099-6 (e)
 
 
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
DEDICATION
To my cherished magpie … you know who you are.
CONTENTS
Introduction
Chapter 1The Americas
Chapter 2Europe
Chapter 3Africa
Chapter 4The Middle East
Chapter 5Russia and Central Asia
Chapter 6China and the Far East
Chapter 7South Asia and Oceania
Chapter 8Theoretical perspectives
Chapter 9Key thinkers
Bibliography
INTRODUCTION
Politics is, at heart; a contest of ideas and personalities. From a humble school election to the grand game on the global stage; politics is shaped by ideologies and people. To understand any event of significance within the global arena (such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine) demands analysis of the clash of characters and worldviews among the key actors. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin’s persona gravitates towards a radically different worldview to his opponents ranging from Zelenskyy to the European Union. Although various theoretical perspectives offer a particular nuance towards this; the fundamental observation remains as salient as ever.
I wrote this book with a desire to address a barrier to learning that educators of all forms have surely noted. We increasingly exist in a world in which boundaries are carved out by ‘big tech.’ Those tasked with learning face a multitude of distractions dominated by clickbait, instant gratification and post-truth. A world of ‘butterfly minds’ cries out for an objective and fact-checked source of knowledge. To achieve this goal requires an offline environment characterised by the rigours of careful deliberation and a civilised disagreement with those who challenge us. The cultural critic Marshall McLuhan gave us the phrase “global village” - and like all villages - it sustains itself on conflated gossip and half-truths. In our tribal world (Chua, 2018) we are increasingly choosing our version of ‘reality’ and shouting our ‘truth’ whilst ignoring all others. We seem to be losing the ability to listen and the reasoning skills that go with it at an alarming rate. Let us recognise the profound truth of having one mouth and two ears. We ultimately need to restore the dignity of difference.
Continuity and transformation
International Relations is a contradictory landscape of continuity and transformation. Given the dynamic character of events, global politics is akin to a game of multi-dimensional chess in which each contestant must make the best of their hand. The ‘winner’ is the player who successfully anticipates the moves of others whilst making optimal use of what they have at their disposal. It is a competition that tests the mind to the full and determined by a combination of brain, brawn and chance. There is a time for nuanced diplomacy and there is a time for brutality. There is a time to make peace and a time to fight.
Changes need time to become embedded within the subject matter and it is my contention that we are currently undergoing a shift in the balance of power away from the West. This inexorable pivot towards China and a number of authoritarian regimes alters the conversation and comprehension of IR. Fortunately, there are theoretical and conceptual frameworks that give context towards our understanding. These are absolutely integral to providing a firm grounding within the subject matter. Equally, there is much that remains constant. Global politics is - and always has been - analogous to a race in which actors jockey for status. There is for instance a recognised degree of hierarchy within the field of international relations mirrored in the classification of powers. In this game of snakes and ladders, those who rise make the best of their lot and those who fall are often beaten by their own culpability.
Structure
Each Chapter considers the various regions within the realm of international relations beginning with the Americas. Having said this, the delineation of the geographical boundaries is not an exact science. In such cases, there has been a conscious decision to place each country in the relevant sphere of regional politics. For instance, Türkiye is located within the section on the Middle East because 97% of its territory lies outside of Europe. In order to counterbalance this, the tensions between Türkiye and Greece over the Cypriot dispute is included within the European section. Equally, the Arab Republic of Egypt is placed within the Middle East due to the orientation of its foreign policy. Whilst the country lies in north Africa, Egypt has been and remains a player within the political dynamics of the Middle East. There is also the need to distinguish certain sections of a continent. Over a quarter of all countries within the world are African and this inevitably requires a geographical distinction to be made within the mother continent. It is hoped these and other distinctions are viewed as necessary and do not detract from the overall themes.
Secondly, each section seeks to consider a relevant case study given its overall political salience. The opening section on the Americas considers the extent to which Washington satisfies the criterion of a hegemonic power. Subsequent Chapters attempt to analyse the mindset of policy-makers within countries of significance like Russia and China. There are also a number of case studies that warrant our attention including the European Union, the conflict in Kashmir and tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East. The penultimate Chapter seeks to place such events in an appropriate theoretical context. Although the main focus is rightly on the dichotomy between liberalism and realism, a number of alternative theories are also considered. The final Chapter considers the key thinkers within IR.
Shift in the balance of power
The dividing line in global politics exists between liberal democracy and authoritarianism. The former encompasses a broad (rather than literal) litany of Westernised countries with the United States as their indispensable leader. The latter consists of nuclear powers such as members of the P5 alongside a group of middle-ranking powers. The ideological contest that shapes global politics is essentially that between a liberal-democratic approach and an autocratic path. The former champions values in the external realm such as intervention on humanitarian grounds. Autocracies however seek to concentrate power into the hands of an elite with little respect for liberal values. The world is becoming an increasingly binary place with two competing ideologies fighting it out for ascendancy. Although the vast majority of people live in the democratic world, the momentum is very much behind authoritarian politics. The inexorable rise of China and the resurgence of the Taliban provide weighty evidence for this argument. The penchant for populism also suggests the winds of change are firmly on the side of the latter (Rachman, 2022).
If the West was a patient visiting a doctor, it might be diagnosed with early signs of physical decline. Its willingness to fight for its beliefs (however vaguely defined) and the certainty of its posture no longer defines it. The concept of democracy so synonymous with the West is in decline. We are shifting away from a world dominated by American unipolarity and western-dominated institutions towards a system based on multilateralism. The whole landscape of global affairs is built on shifting sands. Whilst this has always been the case academia and its broader narrative can often be slow to catch-up. The westernised focus has yet to properly reflect the shift away from liberal rationality and the falsehoods implicit within it. This perceptible shift in the balance of power away from the West holds profound implications for international relations and International Relations.
CHAPTER 1 THE AMERICAS
Introduction
D espite mounting claims to have lost its title as global hegemon, the United States remains the most significant actor in international relations. In military terms, this is very much a given as the commander-in-chief has the capacity to impose fire and fury like the world has never seen (Woolf, 2018). Whilst the ‘war on terror’ exposed the limitations of its military might, all actors need to be mindful of what the United States has at its disposal. Even the implicit threat of military action is enough to exert decisive pressure on those that might be tempted to stray from the line favoured by Washington. Similarly, the United States is capable of throwing its financial muscle around like no other. Economic sanctions, import tariffs and trade embargoes can cause serious lasting damage to a rogue state.
In diplomatic circles, the voice of Washin