World Politics

The difference between international relations and world politics

Global politics (which is also known as world politics) is the study of political and environmental relationships in the world. As the world increases in interconnectedness, it is imperative that we explore its significance.

It is important to note that global politics is not the same as international relations. International relations is the study of the relationship and interplay between different nations including economic and social relationships. International relations make up one aspect of global politics.

The term global politics may seem like a large topic to wrap your head around. After all, we are talking about politics on a global scale. There are multiple features that make up global politics. Therefore, to help ground your understanding of global politics, this article will explore just three key areas which will be important topics. These three areas are:

1. The nation-state.

2. The globalisation of world politics.

3. International organisations and global governance.

This overview will help you approach other topic areas related to global politics, such as globalisation or regionalism.

The nation-state

In terms of global politics, the role and influence of nation-states go hand in hand. States are sovereign, governed and represented by a national government of a country. Each nation-state has its own laws, principles and national cultures. These nation-states have a stand-alone influence on global politics, for instance through their use of foreign policy and economic policy they shape the norms and values of our global political system. Additionally, nation-states also play a key role in global politics as member states in international organisations.

Fig. 1 - Map of United Kingdom

Power and influence of nation-states

While the UK is just one example of a nation-state that has an influence on the global political system, it is important to note that the level of influence and power over global politics varies on a state by state basis. The perception of power and influence of each nation-state can be determined by a number of indicators. These include:

• Military strength
• Economic stability
• Diplomatic strength

Examining the power and influence of nation-states is particularly important in our study of global politics. This is because the power of a single country on a world scale can influence how other countries are run and possibly affect their sovereignty.

The nation-states which dominate and have the greatest influence over global politics are often described as superpowers.

Superpowers that have a dominant and influential position globally usually use a mix of hard and soft power. Hard power includes military and economic power and soft power includes diplomatic and cultural power. The US, for example, uses a combination of these. So does China, as an emerging superpower.

The globalisation of world politics

When considering global politics, it is important to look beyond simply nation-states and consider which other actors or trends influence the global political system we live in. Globalisation is an example of how non-state actors such as private companies or the behaviours of individuals can impact global politics.

The process of globalisation is not new and can be identified across human history. However, the scale, speed, and effects of globalisation have dramatically increased over the last 50 years and we will explore this through methods of modern globalisation like global corporations.

Globalisation seeks to create and strengthen relationships across the world, increase connectivity and the ability to trade goods and services, and has broken down cultural and trade barriers. But it has also been said to give power to those who are not elected by the citizens of the state which has, in turn, become problematic especially when these un-elected officials disregard local customs.

International organisation in world politics

Finally, international organisations are significant actors in global politics. You may already be familiar with some of the biggest international organisations such as the United Nations or the World Health Organisation.

Fig. 2 - Logo of the United Nations

International organisations provide a framework for state and sometimes non-state actors to come together to come up with the rules, laws, and practices which shape our global political system. These organisations have a global reach and take action on significant political matters which can have widespread impacts. Examples could include:

• Preserving international peace and security.

• Defending human rights.

• Protecting our environment.

When considering just how large these political issues are, it might leave you scratching your head thinking about how these international organisations tackle these mammoth tasks. The answer relates to governance.

International organisations and global governance

Governance is the combined activities of the government including enforcing the law, making policies, and public services. Good governance can be regarded as when the government is legitimate and is democratically elected and bad governance is regarded as when a government is illegitimate and/or services are corrupted.

Global governance explores this concept on an international scale. Global governance helps us to understand the key roles of international organisations in world politics. There are many ways that international organisations establish global governance and affect world politics. These include:

• Political governance

• Economic governance

• Environmental governance

Political governance

Firstly, let's explore political governance. As the name suggests, political governance uses political and diplomatic channels to influence world politics.

Economic governance

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank are examples of economic governance.

The IMF was created in 1944 in the wake of the worldwide Great Economic Depression of the 1930s. This international organisation has created an international framework to encourage economic cooperation. Made up of 190 nation-states, these states work together to fulfil the key aims of the IMF. These include:

The World Bank is an international organisation, established in 1944. With 189 member states, this organisation aims to end poverty and boost prosperity for the world's poorest people. An example of the work of the World Bank includes providing loans and grants to low-income and middle-income countries to help reduce poverty.

Environmental governance

This particular form of governance is rapidly rising in importance as a result of climate change.

There are multiple applications of environmental governance. The ways that international organisations influence global environmental practices could include:

• Policy initiatives

• Scientific or social research

• Financial mechanisms

• International laws

For example, the UN hosts climate change conferences, where representatives around the world join together to discuss how each country can individually and collectively help the environment. This will shape the norms of environmental practice worldwide and influence the nature of environmental legislation in the different nation-states.

The future of world politics

As we've discovered, there are a lot of different actors which help influence global politics. Global politics is shaped by nation-states, international organisations, and agents of globalisation, such as private companies or the behaviour of individuals. However, looking ahead, you find yourself wondering what will the future of global politics look like.

There are a number of positions proposed by political scientists on this matter. You may wish to consider the theories below and decide for yourself which you think is the most plausible, or whether you foresee a mix of both positions shaping our future global political system.

Greater economic globalisation

Some political scientists¹ propose that large multinational companies will continue to increase their power and influence over global politics. This increase in power is partly said to stem from the buying and spending habits of individuals from all over the world. Additionally, the power of multinational companies may increase as nation-states rely more heavily on private companies to provide essential goods and services, such as healthcare or security, to their citizens.

Rise of regional international organisations

As we've already explored, the prominence of international organisations is particularly important in shaping global politics.

Since the twentieth century, international organisations with a specific focus on regional cooperation have been established. This is a political trend often referred to as regionalism. Examples of such regional international organisations include the European Union (1993), the North American Free Trade Agreement (1994), the African Union (2002), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (1967). There are a variety of reasons why states join together, such as a shared culture, language or religion to name a few.

These organisations have also helped the process of globalisation as they make it easier to connect with the world politically, culturally, and economically. For instance, member states of the European Union have open borders to allow the citizens of all EU countries to travel and work across the region.

These forms of international organisations continue to shape our global political system, creating large alliances which influence global political, economic, and cultural trends.