Promoting Internationalism
SS 20-1 – Chap 13
Issues for Discussion
• In what ways can organizations promote
internationalism?
• How can the work of organizations affect the
global community?
• To what extent do organizations promote
internationalism?
The 3 Elements!
State
Business
(Market)
Civil
Society
• State, civil society and
business influence our
lives nationally and
internationally
• Relationships between
these 3 must be balanced
so that one does not
empower the others
• What are the implications
if an imbalance occurs?
Civil Society
• This describes the collective actions of people
based on shared interests
• When people take collective action, they often
choose to form organizations
• Examples-community groups, NGO’s (non
gov’t organizations, trade unions, etc.
What are international organizations?
• These go beyond international borders
• They can empower and broaden the perspectives
of people within numerous nations
• They play a significant role in creating a global
civil society (remember from the last slide?)
• Organizations are of 2 types:
-intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)
-international non-governmental
organizations (INGOs)
IGOs
• Best known is the United Nations
• Like other IGO’s, it was set up by formal
agreements
• Individual nations interests are represented,
but so are the collective interests of all nations
• All nations benefit when they help to avoid a
war in a region, or when a pandemic is
contained due to international cooperation
INGO’s
• Not established by governments
• Are non-profit, non-religious and pacifist
organizations
• Tend to have missions that are clearly limited
to solving a specific problem – ie – famine,
human rights, disaster relief, etc.
• Examples include Oxfam International, World
Vision, Amnesty International, Red Cross
Promoting Liberal Internationalism
• The belief that greater interaction and cooperation
between societies will result in a better world
• Peace and prosperity through humanitarian actions
• Liberal internationalist organizations can be IGOs and
INGOs
-Red Cross helps victims of wars and
disasters (INGO)
- Arctic Council Nations (Canada, Russia, Denmark,
etc.) meet to discuss the well being of the Arctic
(IGO)
Hegemonic vs Anti-Hegemonic
Internationalism
• Hegemonic – promoting internationalism and
interdependence
• World Trade Organization (WTO) – seeks to lower trade
barriers and establish legal rules for trade and
commerce
• International Monetary Fund (IMF) –purpose is to
ensure stability of the international monetary system
• Critics are concerned that these 2 organizations have
too much financial control in the world and that they
undermine the best interests of developing countries
• Anti-Hegemonic-the idea to counter
hegemonic internationalism by encouraging
people to take action in their own country
• Council of Canadians- works to promote
Canadian independence in areas such as
trade, the environment, energy use, health
care, etc.
• Protest groups – at gatherings such as G8
meetings protest against what they see as
global economic control by the world’s 8
wealthiest nations
Promoting Revolutionary
Internationalism
• Refers to the encouragement or support of
radical change for peoples who are oppressed or
disadvantaged by their governments
• Methods can include civil disobedience, general
strikes and protests
• Includes IGOs and INGOs such as US AID, National
Democratic Institute and Freedom House
• Is it OK to interfere in the political affairs of
another country?
Affecting the Global Community
• Supranationalism involves nations coming together for
the good of the collective
• As a force, the European Union (EU) is very powerful
when it comes to economics -this benefits its members
in many ways – through increased trade, financial
support, etc.
• The EU also involves itself in other parts of the world
through humanitarian efforts and its development
assistance program (3rd largest in the world)
• The drawback is that member nations give up some of
their sovereignty to enjoy the benefits that the EU has
to offer