Power, Reciprocity, and Identity in World Organization and Integration

Power, Reciprocity, and Identity in World Organization and Integration Allison Brown Introduction to International Relations Professor Taylor 14 May 2020 International relations between different state and non-state actors are constantly evolving with different ideas and policies globally. The challenge of maintaining relations between states completely revolves around the collective goods problem. This problem is how states and other international actors are able to cooperate and work together for the collective benefit of all, or the common good. The collective goods problem is also balanced with the three core principles of international relations; power, reciprocity, and identity. With international organization and integration the collective goods problem and the core three principles, managing and making strides for global progress can be difficult and complex. With different actors having different motives, international organization and integration is often complicated to organize and difficult to put into action globally. Power and dominance over other actors and the global stage are often sought after by states. There will always be a dominant state or corporation internationally, with a hierarchy of other semi-periphery and periphery states following behind. Power on the global stage may force actors to cooperate for the common good and create stability through domination, however, the motivation of the dominating state may be unethical and the oppression and resentment by those under control can lead to instability and further power struggles. Relating to international organization and integration, power and dominance can often lead to struggles with global leadership bodies and jurisdiction in an international state of anarchy. The dominance that ceratin periphery countries feel the need to assert can be challenging for other nations to have a voice and seat at the table where decisions are being 1 made. An example of this would be in the United Nations Security Council. This council within the United Nations is tasked with the responsibility for the maintenance of 1 international peace and security . This council has fifteen representatives from different countries, with five of the members being permanent. The “Powerful 5” is how the permanent members: the United States, Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France are referred to. This is problematic because international resolutions that pass the United Nations general assembly are subject to the veto power of the Security Council and the “Powerful 5” in the council. These 5 nations have more dominance over the Security Council and in effect change what resolutions the UN General Assembly is able to pass, therefore impacting the agency that other nations in the UN have to assert their dominance on the global stage. Reciprocity is essentially what a state receives after helping another, the state reciprocated the action. On the positive, reciprocity can reward and make incentives for the common good but can also cause downward trends as each actor reciprocates negative acts of others. An example of reciprocity within international organization and integration could be a nation, multinational corporation, or a company donating money to an underdeveloped nation with expectations of either return on investment, purchasing of their own goods, or 2 simply just allegiance in the future . This type of reciprocity upsets the world’s international organization because nations who are undeveloped that are inclined to take foreign aid are 1 Taylor, Zachary. “United Nations”, Spring 2020 2 Taylor, Zachary. “Foreign Aid”, Spring 2020 2 later indebted, even though not monetarily, to act in allegiance or buy goods from a certain country. This type of reciprocity takes away a state’s agency on the global stage. Identity is how an actor identifies as part of a larger shared global community and being bound by shared rules and expectations. Identity at its best in this context can encourage cooperation by prioritizing broader group interests instead of states only being concerned with their own political and economic well-being, and at its worst identity can lead to demonizing those outside the community and increase the potential for conflict. An example of identity leading to an increase in the potential for conflict is the IsraeliPalestinian Conflict. Identity between the two populations over decades has led to violence and “demonizing” of the other population. With the Arab world splitting, there is no longer 3 collective leadership and collaboration in the region and identity in the split nation determines one’s wellbeing and life in Israel and the Palestinian territories. This lack of identity in the region leads to larger issues with international organization and integration. Every nation has an identity, and in some cases their nationalism may lead to difficultly in accepting other populations. In conclusion, the three core principles of international relations; power, reciprocity, and identity greatly impact global organization and integration. Moving forward globally, these three principles need to be properly balanced in order to ensure that the collective 3 Dr. Wehrenfennig. “Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict & The Olive Tree Initiative”, 10 March, 2020 3 goods problem is solved the protect the world against threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming climate crisis. 4