International Relations Studies and Research Programs From

International Relations

Studies and research programs from inter-disciplinarity of sociology have proved that the society is essential to be protected. Social, political, economic and cultural aspects are evidently vital in promoting development and the improvement of life style, which eventually accounts for societal development. From previous projects, the society is a depiction of human life illuminating facets of social life to coax the modern world systems. Various theories have summed up their relationship to the society in terms of ideologies and propositions that assist human beings to understand the society better. Religion, education, family units, economies and their functions, international security, trade and the role of governments are some of the elements that previous projects have assisted in compiling vital aspects of society.

Veto Power and Security

The United Nations arm that deals with international security works under policies decided upon by the members. The UN Security Council consists of five permanent member states, the P5. The nations are the United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Russia and China. The power of the veto was conceived from the outcomes prevalent to the conclusion of World War II. These nations do have the sole veto power. The power of veto enables these nations to address any international security issues and not any adoption of drafts requiring resolutions. In addition, the veto power down-seized on these nations provides final verdict to security issues not considering the other majority international support. Policies from the permanent members and with the power of veto are not affected by the procedural vote rather it can vote against proposed procedural drafts concerning international security.

The veto power is a hindrance to the achievement of international security since it prevents the UN Security Council to confer disputes or situational alerts presented to them (Fassbender, 1998). From this assertion, the permanent members, due to their economy power place issues of international security as self-interests. The P5 have an accord that allows them to take the lead in coming up with post-war global organizations and dominate in their policies. Such a move from the five principle allies intends to excogitate and reinforce their positions as the nations with the highest degree of power. This is based on the assumption that they fought effortlessly in the task of maintaining peace and security. Other smaller nations, in addition, cannot sum up to the P5's populations, territorial richness, intellectual resources, economy and military power (Fassbenber, 1998). The above neither purports for the advocacy of international security hence hindering the search for peace.

Summits convened by the UN Security Council and by the permanent members mainly involve a discussion of prestige from their efforts in the World War II, other that concerning issues of country wars bombarding the Middle East, counter-terrorism and general global security. International relations amid the major and "smaller nations" are not collateral since the latter's say is not considered. The propositions of the majority are overridden by the principle Allies hence placing the search of global peace and security at a vulnerable position. Smaller nations have always opposed the power veto vested upon the P5. This was due to the long-lasting codification of the five member states and the resolution that the veto uses to prevent protection of smaller states. Smaller nations have the believe that security attentions is always intervened by the permanent members, and reforms promised to the reconsiderations is never reached but only there to give a scope of consolation and hope towards achieving security (Fassbender, 1998).

However, the power of veto to the five principle Allies does help in reaching for peace throughout the world. The unanimity is indispensable in re-establishing a global public order. This has constantly assisted in preventing the aggression terrorism, which is the 'common enemy' attacking most economies in the world and the main threat to international security.

Trouble Spots

Several regions of the world still register political unrest even after the implementation of various diplomatic efforts from respective governments. These trouble spots are in nations whereby governments are already overwhelmed and malformed. Similarly, these nations are also prone to collapse after being wrecked by political wars. The notable trouble areas evident from global events of political unrest include Syria, Iran, Somalia, Haiti, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Burundi, Bangladesh, Nepal and among others. Establishment of international bodies and joint alliances from other nations have set up strategies that are essential in helping combat the unrest in these trouble spots. In addition to issues pertaining politics, the worst trouble spots in the world are deluged by issues of environmental pressure, overpopulation, extreme levels of poverty and unemployment (Ragaini, 2011). Most powerful nations are always reluctant in offering aid to the worst trouble spots due to their proneness to high insecurities and danger.

Involving and participating in peace keeping activities in the worst trouble spots in the world is a way of helping reduce the rates of increasing trouble spots. The United States has been at the forefront of sending troops and other military assistance to Iran and Syria among other trouble spots. In addition, the UN Army, African Union Army and other troops from international bodies do also assist though half-heartedly in promoting peacekeeping efforts. These missions are sometimes threatened by horrendous wars or adverse effects of hostility, ethnicity conflicts, and weather. International support is essential since it provides morale of showing the citizens of trouble spots on the importance of doing away with societal instability. In extreme cases, international efforts ought to be induced with force when the trouble spots prove unbecoming. Past incidences from Iran, Afghanistan and Syria, have experienced the use force especially from the United Nations and the United States. In addition, troops from the P5 also assist, particularly since they have high profiled and technologically advanced methodologies and equipment of dealing with trouble spot issues (Ragaini, 2011).

Creating awareness to governments affected by the trouble spots is essential in reducing their presence. Citizens should be given sessions on the importance of maintaining a peaceful society. Efforts of developing a country always begin with joint efforts from the citizens and its governors. Issues such as ethnicity conflicts and terrorism are better handled from the grassroots level; hence assisting the governance to succumb to isolationism. This move also helps the governments concerned to take up responsibility in maintaining rational decisions that maintain a solid status quo. Environmental issues, which are a major concern in trouble spots, can also be dealt with by sensitizing citizens on the importance of maintaining and improving the natural resources rather than deteriorating it (Iandelman and Ethridge, 2009).

Holding peace talks with the opposing forces of conflict is essential in settling issues affecting trouble spots. Recently, the recent trouble spot Syria has undergone various peace talks with officials of the United Nations in trying to come to common ground to deter the suicidal massacres in the country. Such talks are enhanced to discuss and analyze a country's fate and contribution to globalization. A recurrent issue in such discussions highlights the plight of various trouble spots as behind the schedule of globalization. In addition, as third world nations and least developed nations in the world, leaders need to reconsider their position in continued troublesome activities. Research has shown that spread of the economy and political interactions in these trouble spots are below standard (Iandelman and Ethridge, 2009); therefore, dealing with the spots ought to include executive leadership.

International Trade

International trade is a major factor that determines the world economy. It is a trade market that is made of various entities which a mutual relationship. International trade is aimed at producing a medium in which countries from all over the world come together to trade on ideas, goods and services. The fundamental idea in this case being the selling of goods that a particular country does not need to the one that needs it more. The existence of social welfare between countries determines the strength of the trade existence between the countries. There is also the economic aspect that determines the strength of the international trade existing between the various countries. International trade has its advantages as well as disadvantages. The three major advantages of international trade are: it enhances domestic competitiveness it exploits international trade technology, and it extends sales potential of the existing commodities (Al-Suwaidi Ahmed 134).

Domestic competitiveness

International trade encourages domestic competitiveness in countries and continents at large. Many countries producing a common product for export will struggle to be the highest producers in the world market. This calls for competition among the countries. The competition can be continental or regional. Continental competition occurs within a continent with various countries within the continent producing similar commodities for export. Africa is a good example of domestic competition as a result of international trade. Many countries in Africa produce horticultural products and Agricultural goods. The main advantage of these is that countries tend to outshine each other thus producing quality produces in mass quantities. In Africa for instance, East Africa region does not experience much food shortage problems as all countries in this region major on Agriculture as a marketing field in the world market. Domestic competitiveness in this case is a major contributor towards ensuring that there is a greater variety of food and other goods that emerge from Agricultural products is East Africa. The concept of domestic competitiveness applies in many regions around the world.

Exploits international trade technology

Technology is changing drastically and trade is one of the major contributors towards technology advancement. Competition in the world trade market has made various trade entities try and advance their products so as to outshine their competitors who are probably producing similar commodities (Al-Suwaidi Ahmed 135).

As this takes course, technology keeps on advancing with people viewing different commodities time after time. A good example is China, Japan and Germany. They are the two major exporters of world motors, for example, the Mercedes Benz. The Mercedes Benz brand has kept of advancing with the advancement in technology. This is advantageous to the consumer as they get to have goods that suit their desires. The global market creates a large environment for trade thus existing commodities are easy to trade due to a variety of goods and a high demand of products. It is due to this that international trade is advantageous than domestic trade. Goods in the international market are easily distributed, and satisfaction of demand is easy to meet.

International trade has several disadvantages. One of the major disadvantages is that it could usher about rapid depletion of exhaustible natural resources. As countries continue to raise their production levels, the natural resources reduce thus depleting the minimal resources that might be available at that time. Many countries only concentrate on maximizing income but forget to replace the used resources in the process. Another major disadvantage of international trade is that it requires modification of products as competition continues to grow tighter. This many call for various countries to slice into their budget and invest in the trade. International trade is expensive to maintain. The third major disadvantage is that it slowly kills local and regional trade. Countries tend to major much on international trade and neglect promoting the local market. This is because the international market has cheap goods and saves on expenditure. Many countries import goods even though they are locally available. This aspect demoralizes low scale producers and in turn make them work in cooperates so as to meet the target of international trade.

Functions of economies

The economy of a state or country determines many operations in that state. The price scale of commodities in a particular place depends on the economy of the place. The economy is expected to perform four major functions in any given set up. First, the economy is expected to determine the kind of food to be produced (Bourdieu Pierre 36). This is because, in the budget of a state, the food products that are easily acquired are given much focus on in order to reduce the cost of importing food and major on producing more of the available produce. The economy is also supposed to capacitate the amount of goods that the state is required to produce either for local consumption or for export purposes. This is in order to control the utilization of available resources and avoid depleting them. In this case, the economy determines the usage of the available resources and has a duty to protect as well as prevent the extortion of the resources. Resources and the economy are directly proportional because the economy relays on the available resources in order to weaken, maintain its position or in other cases strengthen.

The economy determines the amount of resources allocated to generate output in various sectors of production (Bourdieu Pierre 57). Countries that are cautious about their economic status link the concept of utility to the production process and output. Production level should not exceed the level or available resources. Preventing the extortion of resources help to create a stable economic status thus it is the obligation of the economy to address the utility of resources. Finally, the economy is supposed to determine the distribution of resources to be utilized. This is to facilitate the development and enable more production of goods. An increase in production needs to goods promotes trade and stabilizes the economy.