Home
As we enter into the modern world, the role of non-state actors have increased drastically from the time they were first created. Soft power and globalization is now helping countries come together through institutions and encourage solving problems through cooperation rather than direct power. Analyzing the recent international events, there is definite evidence that non-state actors now have a huge influence in world order, because they act as the mediums in which most states work through to solve transnational problems. There are some critics still think that states still have the most influence, and that statement isn’t entirely false. U.S is arguably the most powerful hegemon in this world as of this moment, and exerts its influence over many countries. However, the non-state actors have been the biggest factors in the current world system in helping international conflicts and problems. Think of organizations such as the IMF and United Nations. When Southeast Asia Financial Crisis hit in the late 90s, the IMF took charge in aiding countries that were slumping from the economic meltdown, and implementing economic policies to ensure that such a phenomenon wouldn’t occur. It was a case where U.S could’ve directly intervened to help out these countries. Instead, U.S and the Asian countries cooperated with an international institution to solve an economic problem. Every since the end of the Cold War, more countries are relying less on help from a powerful state, and utilizing coordination among one another to resolve conflicts. Since non-state actors are created to serve that very purpose, it makes sense that they are slowly growing in significance in this current world order.
Because of the rising significance in globalization, it is valid to argue that realist theory is slowly becoming irrelevant. The continuous power balancing struggles among states have been slowly diminishing. The utilization of military by states to balance power is being replaced by military interdependence, which is where countries from all over the world combine military manpower and resources to keep security and peace throughout the world. Collective security efforts are becoming more relevant than balance of power as we enter into a new age where countries are becoming dependent with each other for economic and political purposes. Therefore, realist theory is now becoming inapplicable in this new world system, where states are apprehensive to enter into conflicts with each other because they are all becoming interdependent with one another.
NGOs and PMSCs receive funding from several different sources. NGOs receive funding from the government and the public. PMSCs can receive from a variety of entities, including governments, states, corporations, and wealthy individuals. The source of these non-governmental organizations makes their behavior rather unpredictable. On one hand, PMSCs and NGOs are private organizations seeking funds from powerful states, governments, and corporations. This can foster competition between the organizations, and can compel them to offer top quality and loyal service to their clients. On the other hand, their funding lasts so long as they are still hired by their clients—which means that to maximize their profits, they would do a sub-par, inefficient job to prolong their contracts as long as possible.
The services that non-state organizations provide probably are not superior to the level of service that could be provided by governments, because non-state organizations can be inefficient and unreliable. How so? The non-governmental organizations, unlike actual governmental organizations, are not monitored properly. And in a war environment where everything is hectic, there is little oversight and a lack of clearly defined requirements for the non-governmental organizations. As a result, these organizations can end up doing terrible jobs for potentially crucial assignments. Legitimate government organizations may or may not have the same technology and money as do private corporations.
Because of the rising significance in globalization, it is valid to argue that realist theory is slowly becoming irrelevant. The continuous power balancing struggles among states have been slowly diminishing. The utilization of military by states to balance power is being replaced by military interdependence, which is where countries from all over the world combine military manpower and resources to keep security and peace throughout the world. Collective security efforts are becoming more relevant than balance of power as we enter into a new age where countries are becoming dependent with each other for economic and political purposes. Therefore, realist theory is now becoming inapplicable in this new world system, where states are apprehensive to enter into conflicts with each other because they are all becoming interdependent with one another.
NGOs and PMSCs receive funding from several different sources. NGOs receive funding from the government and the public. PMSCs can receive from a variety of entities, including governments, states, corporations, and wealthy individuals. The source of these non-governmental organizations makes their behavior rather unpredictable. On one hand, PMSCs and NGOs are private organizations seeking funds from powerful states, governments, and corporations. This can foster competition between the organizations, and can compel them to offer top quality and loyal service to their clients. On the other hand, their funding lasts so long as they are still hired by their clients—which means that to maximize their profits, they would do a sub-par, inefficient job to prolong their contracts as long as possible.
The services that non-state organizations provide probably are not superior to the level of service that could be provided by governments, because non-state organizations can be inefficient and unreliable. How so? The non-governmental organizations, unlike actual governmental organizations, are not monitored properly. And in a war environment where everything is hectic, there is little oversight and a lack of clearly defined requirements for the non-governmental organizations. As a result, these organizations can end up doing terrible jobs for potentially crucial assignments. Legitimate government organizations may or may not have the same technology and money as do private corporations.
