The Global Interstate System
GE TCW. THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD
Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, learners are expected to:
identify the elements of contemporary interstate system;
discuss competing views on interstate system;
elaborate the changes in the construct of the state,
sovereignty and territory;
explain the emergence and impact of non-state actors;
and
evaluate the impact of globalization on the global
interstate system
The Interstate System
System
Requires the existence of units
There is interaction among units
the units are the states, and their interactions
include war, diplomacy, and cooperation
The Interstate System
Interactions are structured according to
ordering principles
The contemporary interstate system is founded
on the principles of sovereignty, territoriality, and
non-interference
The Interstate System
“Interstate” vs. “international”
History of contemporary interstate system:
Thirty Years’ War
Before 1648: feudal lords and Holy Roman
Empire
Feudal lords did not necessary have allegiance
to the monarch
There was obscure concept of what the state is,
what it is composed of, who represented it, and
who it represented
The present interstate system is a result of
political and economic factors: wealth and
coercion
Capital and Coercion
“The state makes wars,
Money in
and war makes the state.”
Economy
- Charles Tilly
Capitalist
Class Money Tax collection; Army
security money
Monarchs Bureaucracy
European monarchies successfully challenged
both the Church and feudal entities
It precipitated in the Thirty Years’ War which
formally ended with the signing of the Treaty of
Westphalia (composed of the Treaty of Munster
and the Treaty of Osnabruck) in 1648
This treaty recognized the principle of sovereign
statehood; hence, the emergence of the
Westphalian interstate system
Theories of Interstate Relations
competing explanations and interpretations
on the character of the interstate system and
the nature of interstate relations
include realism, liberalism, constructivism, and
Marxism
Realism
Suspicious of any long-term possibility of peace
States as rational actors: cost-benefit calculating
International system as anarchy – absence of
central authority
Self-help system
Realists emphasize the role of power
May be in the form of military capabilities, strong
economy, internal stability, and foreign alliances
Distribution of power and stability
Unipolarity
Bipolarity
Multipolarity
Liberalism
Subscribes to realist assumptions:
Rationality of states
Anarchy in the international system
But optimistic for long-term peace, through:
International organizations
Economic interdependence
Democracy
Case Study 1: Philippine
Membership in the United Nations
The Philippines became a
member of the United Nations
in 1945 when it signed the UN
Charter in San Francisco.
Carlos P. Romulo (seated)
became Chief of the
Philippine Mission to the
United Nations. He eventually
became the first Asian
President during the 4th
General Assembly.
What explains the absence of wars between
major powers post Cold War?
Regimes – principles, norms, rules, and decision-
making procedures
Mechanisms
Examples: nuclear non-proliferation regime;
trade regime; human rights regime; etc.
Constructivism
Breaks with the assumption that states have
fixed interests, identities, and preferences
Anarchy is not an inherent condition, but
“anarchy is what states make of it”
States may change the way they interact
Marxism
History is one of class struggle
Capitalism the world is divided among the
core, semi-peripheral and peripheral countries
States are poor because they have a role to
play in the world system
Marx’s prediction: capitalism to socialism to
communism
A few states underwent transition, but started
with agricultural Russia
Perpetuation of capitalism: hegemony
Core capitalist countries: create structures that
ultimately protect capitalist interests
Creation of WB, IMF, and GATT
Policies of free trade, privatization, deregulation
State, Sovereignty, and Territory
Centrality of the constructs of state, sovereignty,
and territory
Absolutist state 7th C vs. liberal states 19th-20th C
Sovereignty pre and post French Revolution
Armed territories in 1st half of 20th C vs. soft
boundaries in the latter half on
Case Study 2: West Philippine Sea
Disputes
In 2012, a naval stand-off between the Philippine forces and the
Chinese forces happened in the disputed waters of the West Philippine
Sea. The Philippine forces withdrew as part of an American-mediated
deal in which both sides were to pull back while the dispute was
negotiated. Chinese forces remained, however, and gained control.
Four years later, in 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which heard
the case filed by the Philippines, gave a verdict claiming that China has
no legal basis or historic claim on the so-called Nine-dash line and
asked the Chinese government to abide by international laws. China
refused to participate in the arbitration, stating that several treaties with
the Philippines stipulate that bilateral negotiations be used to resolve
border disputes.
Philippine Diplomatic Missions
GE TCW. THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD
Asia
Bahrain ROK ROC
Bangladesh Kuwait Thailand
Brunei Laos Timor-Leste
Cambodia Lebanon Turkey
PRC Malaysia UAE
India Myanmar Vietnam
Indonesia Oman
Iran Pakistan
Iraq Qatar
Israel Saudi Arabia
Japan Singapore
Jordan Syria
Africa
Egypt
Kenya
Libya
Nigeria
South Africa
Europe
Austria Norway
Belgium Poland
Czech Republic Portugal
France Russia
Germany Spain
Greece Switzerland
Holy See UK
Hungary Denmark
Italy
Netherlands
North America
Canada
Mexico
US
South America
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Oceania
Australia
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Non-State Actors
Another transformation: growing number of non-
state actors
Examples: intergovernmental organizations
(IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
multinational corporations (MNCs)
Examples of IGOs: EU, ASEAN, NATO
IGOs: help govern a wide range of issue-areas,
including security, economy, human rights, etc.
NGOs: Human Rights Watch, Transparency
International, Greenpeace
Case Study 3: The Philippines and
the Korean War
In 1950, the Philippines was among the
UN member states to send military
troops to Korea after the North Korean
invasion. The sending of troops, known
as the Philippine Expeditionary Force to
Korea (PEFTOK), came after the UN
General Assembly passed the Uniting for
Peace Resolution that called upon UN
member-states to unite against the
attack by North Korea. A total of 7,420
combatants was deployed; 112 were
killed in action, while 229 wounded.
Case Study 4: CSOs and Natural
Resource Governance
Non-state actors such as civil society
organizations (CSOs)help provide
governance across a wide range of
issue-areas. Images show
representatives from various civil society
organizations in the Philippines
discussing opportunities and challenges
to natural resource governance. These
organizations advocate for
transparency and accountability in the
extractive industry.
Impact of Globalization
Another transformation: growing number of non-
state actors
Examples: intergovernmental organizations
(IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
multinational corporations (MNCs)
