Session 20: Transnationalism and IR

In contemporary times, the societies are coming in contact to each other at a faster pace than they have in the history of humankind. Hence, in this scenario, an inquiry into the global relationships between societies becomes ever significant. Joseph Nye and Robert Keohane describe this phenomenon of global interactions and its implications for understanding the realm of international relations.

They argue that inter-state system that has been predominant in the thinking of IR scholars since the inception of the field is greatly affected by the existence of transnationalism. One believes that the most crucial effect they point out is the flow of finance between the state boundaries and the formation of large multinational corporations in the countries other than the home countries of these enterprises. The reason to mention this effect is, that state governments are largely becoming dependable on these corporations for economic growth in their countries, and when these companies make profits they re-invest their capital in these countries. Hence, the economic cycle persists.

Another aspect of their argument about transnationalism that is striking is how ideas, beliefs, and value-systems of particular countries flow into other countries; the people may accept this interchange of ideas and norms and adopt them into their lives. They also mention that some values become universal in that international organizations adopt them and work for their promotion. What this means is that transnationalism has provided a force to the movement of ideas and beliefs. Hence, this fast interchange is making possible for people to contact tightly to each other's norms and lifestyle. However, one must mention that developed states are usually successful in making their domestic norms universal through international organizations, and their ideas are more predominant and readily acceptable in the international arena.   

Hence, one agrees with the authors that with the changing world conditions it seems plausible to shift our thinking from the conventional paradigms of IR and provide ourselves with new tools to explore the complex relationships between state and non-state actors.