The often abstract sounding term called ‘the international’ could be made better sense of if it is to be conceived of as a system. As such, it functions because socially organized entities (currently nation-states) are affected by mutual social interaction on political, socio-cultural, economic and technological levels. This kind of interaction among those entities, or more precisely, the seeds of current social order, can be traced back to pre-modern times, when agriculture facilitated settlement and communities formed as a consequence (Bromley and Brown, 2004, p. 3).
A key event in specific communal organisation is the rise of the sovereign nation-state, an outcome – most are convinced – of the Peace Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. This development was so successful that the sovereign social organisation of communities is still the most common form, and up to this day determines relations at all levels within the international system (Bromley and Brown, 2004, p. 3).
While the nation-state can claim authority to regulate domestic political life and social interaction, it lacks a comparable authority in the international realm. Any interactions – be they social, political or economic - among nation-states are therefore taking place in an anarchic, as opposed to a hierarchic, environment. In order to be able to analyse interaction among states, or simply put, international politics, a framework can be modeled that is informed by observations and abstractions, which are derived from actual and perished societies, represented as the “problematic of the international” (Bromley and Brown, 2004, p. 3). The problematic of the international also includes the studying of interaction of various socially organized entities (not merely nation-states) – so-called geopolitics - and so reveals agents, transforming characters and processes that are entangled with them within specific social orders (Bromley and Brown,2004, p. 12).
Various academic traditions approach the problematic of the international from different starting points, by assigning more or less importance to certain levels of interaction among socially organized communities. [...]
Table of Contents
1. No End in Sight: state, class and the international system in the Information Age
Objectives and Themes
This essay critically examines the impact of globalization and modern International Communication Technologies (ICTs) on the international system, questioning whether these factors fundamentally alter or replace the traditional nation-state model. Through the lenses of Neo-Realism, Marxism, and Globalization Theory, the work assesses whether the emergence of a global network society signifies a genuine structural transformation or merely a continuation of existing power dynamics and capitalist processes.
- The role of ICTs as agents of system transformation versus tools for existing power structures.
- A comparative analysis of Neo-Realist, Marxist, and Globalization theoretical perspectives on international order.
- The relationship between state sovereignty, network organizations, and the persistence of capitalist property relations.
- The impact of "uneven and combined development" on global political and economic structures.
- The use of modern communication technologies in political activism, exemplified by the 'Occupy' movement.
Excerpt from the Book
No End in Sight: state, class and the international system in the Information Age
The often abstract sounding term called ‘the international’ could be made better sense of if it is to be conceived of as a system. As such, it functions because socially organized entities (currently nation-states) are affected by mutual social interaction on political, socio-cultural, economic and technological levels. This kind of interaction among those entities, or more precisely, the seeds of current social order, can be traced back to pre-modern times, when agriculture facilitated settlement and communities formed as a consequence (Bromley and Brown, 2004, p. 3).
A key event in specific communal organisation is the rise of the sovereign nation-state, an outcome – most are convinced – of the Peace Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. This development was so successful that the sovereign social organisation of communities is still the most common form, and up to this day determines relations at all levels within the international system (Bromley and Brown, 2004, p. 3).
While the nation-state can claim authority to regulate domestic political life and social interaction, it lacks a comparable authority in the international realm. Any interactions – be they social, political or economic - among nation-states are therefore taking place in an anarchic, as opposed to a hierarchic, environment. In order to be able to analyse interaction among states, or simply put, international politics, a framework can be modeled that is informed by observations and abstractions, which are derived from actual and perished societies, represented as the “problematic of the international” (Bromley and Brown, 2004, p. 3). The problematic of the international also includes the studying of interaction of various socially organized entities (not merely nation-states) – so-called geopolitics - and so reveals agents, transforming characters and processes that are entangled with them within specific social orders (Bromley and Brown,2004, p. 12).
Summary of Chapters
1. No End in Sight: state, class and the international system in the Information Age: This chapter introduces the problematic of the international, evaluating the conflicting claims of Globalization Theory against Neo-Realist and Marxist frameworks regarding the impact of technology and networks on state sovereignty.
Keywords
Globalization Theory, Neo-Realism, Marxism, Nation-State, International System, ICTs, Network Society, Sovereignty, Capitalism, Uneven and Combined Development, Political Activism, Power Dynamics, Social Interaction, ICANN, Global Order
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic work?
The work focuses on whether modern International Communication Technologies (ICTs) and global networks are causing a fundamental transformation of the international system or if they are merely tools reinforcing existing structures.
What are the primary theoretical frameworks discussed?
The author evaluates the arguments through the lenses of Globalization Theory, Neo-Realism, and Marxism to explain the nature of international order.
What is the central research question?
The essay explores whether the rise of a "global network society" truly displaces the traditional nation-state or if it remains subordinated to capitalist processes and state-centric power dynamics.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author utilizes a critical analytical approach, contrasting different academic traditions and historical observations to assess the transformative claims of Globalization theorists.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The text covers the role of ICTs in society, the 'Occupy' movement, the historical development of capitalism, the influence of ICANN, and the persistence of the anarchic international system.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
Key terms include Globalization Theory, Neo-Realism, Marxism, ICTs, Network Society, and Nation-State.
How does the author characterize the 'network society'?
The author argues that while networks facilitate communication, they often mimic the competitive structure of capitalist corporations rather than providing a radical alternative to the state.
What role does ICANN play in the author's argument?
ICANN serves as a case study to demonstrate how supposedly independent network organizations remain subject to state control and capitalist interests, undermining the idea of a borderless digital space.
What conclusion is drawn regarding the transformation of the state?
The author concludes that the nation-state remains the dominant form of social organization and is not being dissolved by networks; thus, the transformation of the international system is not substantiated.
- Quote paper
- Christian Scheinpflug (Author), 2012, No End in Sight: state, class and the international system in the Information Age, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/199311
