Example research essay topic: The Importance Of Interdependence And International Cooperation - 1,627 words

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We are not a nation alone in the world. We do not make up the beliefs, developmental status, and environment of the entire globe. To act as if there is no interdependence within states is not only ridiculous, but also dangerous. Professor Squibwells draws attention to this issue, and while his views may be a little extreme in the statement that the world functions as a single integrated unit, he is accurate in suggesting that we collaborate with other states, strengthen international organizations, and support the humanitarian and educational activities of international civil society.

International relations are dictated, to a large degree, by a set of norms. While some states may, at times, disagree on what actions should be considered normal, the majority of nations recognize the mutual benefits that can be attained through cooperation on generally accepted rules. Some examples of norms include peaceful settlement of disputes and respect of national borders. These expectations are adhered to by most state leaders and are somewhat institutionalized by international organizations (IOs) such as the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Whether they be humanitarian, economic, environmental, or any other form of focal group, each of these organizations is in charge of regulating different standards of behavior. With anywhere from 2 to 100 members, IOs would not exist if there was not a need for nations to lean on each other for a regulation of norms or assistance.

The creation and ongoing existence of such groups proves that Professor Squibwells call for the collaboration of states is valid. Another trend in world politics that gives legitimacy to Professor Squibwells viewpoint is the importance of trade. Annually, close to $ 5 trillion of trade takes place internationally, making up 15 % of the globes economic activity. (Goldstein, 351) While mercantilists take the standpoint that it is not the pl. ace of international organizations to set up plans for mutual gains in terms of trade, liberalist's hold more practical views on the issue. They believe that states should not be looking at their own, short-term gain as if in competition with the rest of the world, but instead that states should find ways in which to fulfill the long-term, mutual gain of nations. International trade inherently benefits at least two states.

An individual actor does not have the ability to produce all the goods it needs. It therefore must produce the items for which it has a comparative advantage and trade those goods for those that another country had a comparative advantage for producing. While each nation may be working for his own gain in trade, there is also a concern for the overall gains of all states. Mercantilism may have worked in the past, but in todays world it is important to create strong foundations for the future. Selfishness and personal gain is not doing anything of value in the world. Interdependence is also furthered economically with the importance of multinational corporations (MNCs).

These mostly private institutions conduct business in more than one state concurrently and are located mainly in the worlds leading industrialized states. MNCs are important to states in that they generate new wealth. For the most part, they are industrial corporations that sell products made in factories all over the world to consumers in different states. Also under the heading of MNCs are service corporations. These include chains of restaurants, hotels, airlines, and other businesses that operate by providing services. Financial corporations are also considered multinational corporations.

With most of the worlds banks being Japanese or European and money moving across borders as much as $ 1. 5 trillion each day (Goldstein, 423), banks and other financial corporations make up some of the most integrated institutions of the world. Since stockholders in MNCs are of various nationality and citizenship, there is not necessarily a sense of loyalty between the state and the corporation. However, MNCs do rely on governments to keep a stable international atmosphere. Many international agreements, regimes, cartels and organizations exist today that focus on cooperation to further promote postive outcomes in trade.

Your stance must be one that is current with world affairs. To take an anti-integration position would be denying that these groups which are very real are working towards their own perfection have validity. It is indisputable that the economic happenings of the world have furthered international integration, and the creation of these groups shows the cooperation that has grown and will continue to grow from it. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was formed in 1994 to remove tariffs from goods being traded between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is the worlds most successful cartel, keeping oil prices high enough to gain their own profits. This is a prime example of states cooperating for mutual benefits, and OPEC does so by having eleven member states that together control half of the worlds oil, putting quotas on production.

The European Union (EU) can be cited as the most successful example of the process of integration (Goldstein, 440), so you should probably focus on that while creating your policy on integration and cooperation. In brief, the EU was created for the promotion of free trade and a coordination of economic policies throughout a continent with some of the most contesting nations of the world. According to neo functionalist scholars as well as common sense, these economic ties between nations further political cooperation. If several countries are working closely together, there must be political coordination so that operations are effective. Political coordination is a very important aspect of todays world, and many people are seeing its urgency on a more global plane, the environmental plane. The decisions and actions of one state have profound effects on the rest of the international community because each state shares the collective goods of the earth.

Taking care of the environment includes technical, scientific, and ethical aspects that must be contributed to by each state. In order to decide who has to contribute what, we all have to cooperate and work closely together politically to create laws and regulations that will supersede conflicting interests. There is specific interest, since the UNs 1992 Earth Summit, in sustainable economic development. The exponential growth of energy use, population, industry, and usage of natural resources has provided a scare due to the shock it can put on the earth. Those who are optimistic about the environment, as you should be, believe that with hard work new technologies will allow unabated economic growth to occur, minimizing stress on the environment by moving towards methods of production that focus on energy and resource conservation. How does the international community go that route, instead of the alternative (which would cause living standards to planet and have immeasurable negative effects on the environment)?

Through cooperation in regimes and epistemic communities. Countries must come together to find agreement on who needs to do what in order to stop and perhaps even reverse damage to our atmosphere, biodiversity status, rain forests, and oceans. Political leaders need to see the importance of sacrifice and communication in order to work for the long-term benefits of improving the environment. Taking a strong stand on the interdependence related to the environment would be a wise move at this time. Less-developed countries, underdeveloped countries, and developing countries also need attention at this time. These states, mostly located in the global South, are experiencing starvation, malnutrition, epidemics and other effects of abject poverty.

Northern countries, which are mainly industrialized and far more wealthy than nations in the South, should be focusing on improving the lives of the near-billion people in utter poverty if not for humanitarian reasons, to minimize the conflict that occurs from the gap between North-South economic differences. If industrialized nations come together to support the LDCs, Udc's and developing countries, there would be less danger of revolutions in the South aimed at the North. One suggested action that could have a positive effect on the gap existing between industrialized nations and lesser-developed nations is the aforementioned foreign investment. Multinational corporations, while in the past have created a certain amount of fear in third world governments, can improve economic conditions in poorer nations. With joint ventures, MNCs can own part of their company and a local firm or host country government can own the other part. This minimizes the fear of the corporation imposing its values on the population.

You should stress the importance of cooperation on the issue of the North-South gap towards a more equal playing field in the international arena. Another type of international integration that cannot be ignored is the communication and information roles that are creating supranational relationships. Telecommunications have advanced so much in recent history, and is advancing further as we speak. These improvements are bringing people in different states, cultural groups, and mindsets together more closely than the world had ever imagined. While there are still great rifts in beliefs and cultures, common people are able to quickly and easily hear the voices of the people from whom they are so incredibly dissimilar. A sort of global culture is beginning to emerge.

Supporting integration of this form would not be putting down the notion of diverse cultures, but rather be adding a sense of understanding and the identification of individuals as human beings as well as members of national groups. As you can see, interdependence is a fact of political, economic, and living life. The world now needs to cooperate to solve pressing problems. With communications and political coordination abilities of todays global society, it is necessary to take a forward stance on issues, bringing states together in order to relish in the vast benefits that are available to all of us.

Research essay sample on The Importance Of Interdependence And International Cooperation