Session 20: Do non state actors create interstate relations?

As seen earlier, Ir theories and analysis ascribes the relations between countries to diplomacy and soldiers but what these theories disregard is the fact that non-state actors actually constitute a considerable proportion of foreign relations. Transnationalism with the trajectory of time has become exceedingly relevant in the world today due to the melting phenomena of culture and the widespread ideals of capitalism leading to an integrated and globalised world arena. The concept of transnationalism and the effect of non-state actors came as a sort of a shock to international relation theorists, who revalued the state as the main concern of the global political arena, and disregarded the effect of non state actors on the global political AND social sphere.

Nye and Keohanne's managed to transform the discourse of international relations, by clearly pointing out the adverse effects of non state actors on a states foreign and domestic policy. In their piece 'Transnational Relations and World Politics: An Introduction', Nye and Keohanne's main focus was on transnational relationships, composed of transnational interactions and transnational organisations. It was especially interesting to see the effect that mass communication and capitalism have had on transnational interactions, as the scope of interchangeable inter-state values have had a detrimental effect on intra-state relations. There existed a common misconception that nationalism was the feeling of belonging to a specific area or territory. Trans-nationalism challenges this notion, as entities such as Taliban and ISIS have furthered their reach for people united for a common cause all over the world through the use of mass media and communication. Institutions such as the IMF also play a major part in remoulding state relations, introducing the concept of strategic interdependence. IMF plays a crucial role in paving a states economic policy, which directly go on to affect a states foreign policy as a strong economy is the basis of a strong government, and a strong government means power.

Owing to my previous knowledge of transnationalism from a sociological and economic lens, Nye and Keohanne's piece '' , just furthered my understanding and the interest i have in studying and analysing the actions of non state actors, and how these actions can change international relations as a whole. One may not realise it, but non state actors such as the Taliban and ISIS influence the decision of millions all over the world, something which would not have been predicted by post-modern era international relation theorists.