Marxist approach to International Relations

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The Marxist approach to the study of international relational is unconventional, as it insists on the need for change, unlike the realist and liberals. It is not status-quoits and stands for radical change of the existing international/world order. Liberals and Realist theories hold that power is organized vertically, reflecting the division of the world into independent states, Marxism advances a theory of horizontal organization based on international class. Marxist agrees that the social world must be viewed and analyzed in totality. They insist that understanding one without knowledge of the other is not possible because the social world can only be studied as a whole. Another key element of the Marxist approach is the materialist conception of history. Economic development serves as the motor of history. The central dynamic that Marx identifies is tension between means of production and relations of production that together form the economic base of a given society. The legal,...
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Discuss the impact of globalization on the internal functioning of a state (IGNOU/UPSC/STATE EXAMS)

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 Globalization is the free movement of people, goods, and services across boundaries. In this era of globalization, several changes have been taking place in the functions of the state. 

DEMOCRATIC DECISION MAKING: With the emergence of neo-liberalism, it has led to retreat of states creating more space for civil society and competitive markets. The Active intervention by agencies like World Bank and IMF lead to Structural Adjustment Programs and development projects, and trade sanctions, aid, military imports etc., has grave implications for democratic decision-making. 

There is a change in the traditional notion of 'consent', which is an important core of democratic theory. The earlier notions of a social contract and electoral democracy based on the use of ballot box which leads to participatory democracy based upon a community of free and equal persons is no longer valid.

DECREASE IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OF STATE AND ROLE OF STATE IN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY: The process of liberalization- privatization has acted as a source of limitation on the role of the state in the economic sphere. Public sector and enterprises are getting privatized and state presence in economic domain is shrinking.

The emergence of free trade, market competition, multinational corporations and international economic organizations and trading blocs like European Union, NAFTA, APEC, ASEAN and others, have limited the scope of the role of state in the sphere of international economy. 

DECLINE OF STATE SOVEREIGNTY: Increasing international inter-dependence has been compelling each state to accept limitations on its external sovereignty. Each state now finds it essential to accept the rules of international economic system, the WTO, the World Bank and the IMF. The role of MNC/TNC has also been growing in national and local politics as they play a significant role in shaping the state decisions and policies. Their key objective behind influencing the state decision and policy-making is to promote their vested interests.

INCREASING ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND TREATIES: Several international conventions and treaties have placed some limitations upon all the states. All the states are now finding it essential to follow the rules and norms laid down by such conventions. The need to fight the menace of terrorism and rogue nuclear proliferation as well as the shared responsibility for protecting the environment and human rights, have compelled all the states to accept such rules and regulations as are considered essential for the securing of these objectives. Thus, Globalization and several other factors have been together responsible for influencing a change in the role of State in contemporary times. 

ETHNIC RESURGENCE: Since the early 1980's, there have been ethnic movements not only in the developing world but also in the economically advanced countries like Canada. Scholars like Anderson have pointed out that identities could be 'invented' or 'imagined'. This meant they were no longer rooted in blood relationship, language or culture, but could be constructed by social or political action.

There are three kinds of assertions taking place within states. Firstly, the belief that cultural identity and economic prosperity can be maintained by breaking away from the existing state e.g. USSR. Secondly, those asserting that nationalist aspiration cannot be achieved without full independent statehood e.g. Yugoslavia. Thirdly, the state does not adequately look after a the interest of a distinct ethnic group which has remained backward and marginalized e.g. dalits in India.

The principle of nationalism which created the state in the nineteenth century, is no longer able to hold states together. 

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