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| international system | |
|---|---|
| Name | International system |
| Caption | Global diplomatic networks among states and institutions |
| Region | Global |
| Established | Treaties and historical norms |
international system The international system is the network of relations among states, international organizations and non-state actors that shapes global interactions among sovereign states, United Nations institutions and regional blocs such as the European Union and African Union. It encompasses formal arrangements like the Treaty of Westphalia, United Nations Charter and Norms codified in treaties including the Geneva Conventions and the North Atlantic Treaty, while also involving influential actors such as the United States, People's Republic of China, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and Japan.
Scholars define the international system using concepts from Realism, Liberalism and Constructivism, referencing institutions like the United Nations Security Council, World Trade Organization and International Monetary Fund and actors such as NGOs including Amnesty International and Red Cross. The scope covers diplomatic practice exemplified by the Congress of Vienna, dispute settlement mechanisms like the International Court of Justice, and economic regimes such as the Bretton Woods system and General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
Realist approaches cite thinkers like Hans Morgenthau, Kenneth Waltz and events such as the Peloponnesian War and Cold War to explain balance-of-power dynamics, while liberal theorists referencing Immanuel Kant, Woodrow Wilson and institutions such as the League of Nations emphasize cooperation through regimes like the World Health Organization and International Criminal Court. Constructivists drawing on Alexander Wendt and cases like the Anti-Apartheid Movement stress norms and identity formation shaped by actors including European Commission and Commonwealth of Nations.
The system evolved from medieval arrangements involving entities like the Holy Roman Empire and treaties such as the Treaty of Tordesillas to the modern order shaped by the Peace of Westphalia, the Congress of Vienna, and twentieth-century milestones including the Versailles Treaty, United Nations Conference on International Organization and the Yalta Conference. Decolonization after World War II and liberation movements exemplified by Indian independence movement and the Algerian War expanded membership in organizations like the United Nations General Assembly and regional bodies such as the Organization of American States.
Core actors include major powers like the United States, China and Russia, allied structures like NATO, and economic institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Non-state actors include multinational corporations like Royal Dutch Shell, humanitarian organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières and transnational networks such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Subnational and supranational entities include the European Union, Scottish Parliament and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region arrangements, while legal venues like the International Criminal Court and Permanent Court of Arbitration adjudicate disputes.
The system facilitates diplomacy practiced at venues like United Nations General Assembly and treaties such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty, manages conflict through mechanisms like United Nations Peacekeeping and alliances such as Warsaw Pact and Quad, regulates trade via the World Trade Organization and handles finance through the Bretton Woods system institutions including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Norm development occurs through conferences exemplified by the Paris Agreement and legal codification in instruments like the Geneva Conventions and Rome Statute.
Shifts arise from power transitions involving actors such as China and India challenging post-World War II dominance of the United States and Soviet Union, technological change driven by firms like Microsoft and Google, and crises ranging from 2008 financial crisis to pandemics such as COVID-19 pandemic. Structural transformations are evidenced by expansion of organizations like the United Nations and creation of new forums like the G20 and trade arrangements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Critiques from scholars including Noam Chomsky and movements like Alter-globalization argue the system privileges powerful states and corporations such as Chevron and Apple while marginalizing voices from the Global South and indigenous movements like Idle No More. Debates focus on legitimacy of institutions like the United Nations Security Council, reform proposals invoking models from the European Union and contentious issues such as humanitarian intervention in cases like Rwanda genocide and Kosovo War.