World Politics and International Organizations
World Politics, also called world political economy, refers to both the field which studies the economic and political patterns of the world and also the politics. In the middle of this field are the various processes of global politics in relation to issues of global socio-economic power. The study of world politics as an academic discipline has been going on since the start of the twentieth century. There have been many theories developed on world politics and one such theory is the realism approach which postulate that politics and economics are deeply intertwined.
However, a major challenge to this view is provided by the phenomenon of International Relations. International Relations is a branch of world politics in which nations become involved in regular conflicts over national interests. Nations often have conflicting national interests when they find themselves in situations of constant war or when they are required to interact with external entities like other nation-states or the international organizations. Such situation sometimes results in the isolation or partition of a nation-state and also the rise of a new international organization (such as the UN) or the creation of a new international political order (such as the World Trade Organization).
As has already been said earlier, the theories of world politics and international relations are interwoven together. For instance, the theories of world politics suggest that human beings are organizing themselves through a system of comparative politics. In order to explain the emergence of such a world system, comparative political economy tries to explain how humans relate to each other. It explains this process by drawing on a number of disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, history, and political science. Comparative political economy is therefore essential to the understanding of world politics.
Another challenge to the view that international relations is purely a matter of domestic politics arises from the use of state-sponsored media and diplomacy. The existence of a “world” within the meaning of political theory indicates that the globe is not entirely static and that it is possible for some nations to engage in state-sponsored diplomacy and military activities against other nations, even if these activities do not have adverse consequences on the domestic populace. For example, Iran’s long-standing support for terrorist organizations, its missile tests, and its sponsorship of international terrorism raise questions about the nature of the Iranian population and the country’s commitment to the peace and security of the world. Without a comparative political theory, it would be hard to determine whether or not Iran’s behavior is consistent with the principles of international relations and international law.
Moreover, the emerging global context and the fluidity of borders make it difficult for students to gauge the impact of past actions on present-day events. This is especially true for students who are planning to enter the world politics major as early as possible. Without a comparative analysis of world politics and its relationship to various economic, technological, and geo-political factors, it would be hard for students to prepare themselves for the changing world that lies ahead.
Comparative political theory also helps prepare students for how different countries and entities relate to one another. For instance, it analyzes how different nation-states interact with one another. Also, it examines how different political entities (state, local government, and advocacy groups) interact with international organizations like the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. Finally, world politics is intimately connected to the environment, and this aspect requires us to expand our thinking beyond our nation-state borders. Thus, it should be emphasized to students who wish to pursue a career in international politics.