Actors in Global Politics Non-State Actors
POL 130
Introduction to International Politics
Actors in Global Politics – non-state actors
“A novel distribution of power among states, markets, and civil society is underway, ending the steady accumulation of power in the hands of states that began with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648.
List of types of non-state actors
Firms
IGOs
Types based on single-multiple purpose and global vs. non-global (143)
INGOs
Variety of subject areas is vast; knowledge agencies
Changes in number of IGOs and INGOs (142)
What is Hezbollah? Is it a state? An INGO? A terrorist organization?
What category do we put the Mexican Drug cartels?
What factors make it possible for an actor to matter in international relations:
Ability to control resources that can affect other actors
Various forms of power: military, economic, political, territory.
Ideas – legitimacy, expertise
Focus of global interstate cooperation
Defines global standards
Enforces global standards
Technology, investment resources, access to global markets, innovation capabilities
What resources do states have that make them the most powerful of global actors?
What kinds of IGOs and INGOs have what kinds of resources?
IGOs
United Nations
Why do Americans hate the UN?
Why do Americans like the IMF and World Bank more than UN?
Answer: Follow the money
Why have the UN? Should the U.S. withdraw from the UN?
WTO, IMF, WB
Explain what these IGOs do and how they are different
European Union
What are the main events in the development of the EU since 1958?
Explain the Euro and European Central Bank
What crisis does the EU face today?
International Development Law Organization – Is this an IGO?
NGOs
IFRS -
GAVI Alliance -
Technoserve -
Infraco -
Transnational firms
Why are TNCs so well-liked by governments throughout the world?
Why are TNCs able to negotiate with governments on equal terms?
What unique resources do they possess?
TABLE V.xxx
Largest Twenty Nations by GDP
2010 (trillions $US)[1]
NationGDP
1. U. S.14.66
2. China10.09
3. Japan 4.31
4. India4.06
5. Germany2.94
6. Russia2.22
7. U. K.2.17
8. Brazil2.17
9. France2.14
10. Italy1.77
11. Mexico1.57
12. South Korea1.46
13. Spain1.37
14. Canada1.33
15. Indonesia1.03
16. Turkey.96
17. Australia.88
18. Taiwan.82
19. Iran .82
20. Poland .72
Source: CIA, World Factbook,
TABLE V.xxx
World’s Largest Transnational Corporations (Financial and Non-Financial)
Listed by Assets or Revenues
Financial TNCsAssetsNon-Financial TNCsRevenues (2008)
($ trillion)($ billion)
BNP Paribas2.949Exxon477.4
Royal Bank Scotland2.682Royal Dutch Shell458.4
HSBC2.364Wal-Mart404.3
Bank of America2.339BP365.7
Japan Post Bank2.320Chevron273.0
Deutsche Bank2.261Conoco-Phillips240.8
Barclays2.237Total234.6
Credit Agricole2.232PetroChina221.6
Mitsubishi2.184China Petroleum220.4
JP Morgan2.135Toyota204.0
ICBC2.044General Electric182.5
Citigroup2.002Volkswagen166.5
Bank of Tokyo1.841Eni Group158.2
ING 1.673General Motors 149.0
Mizuho1.672Ford Motor146.3
China Construction 1.642Daimler140.3
Sumitomo Mitsui1.600E.On126.9
Bank of China1.588ArcelorMittal124.9
Lloyds1.575Hewlett-Packard118.4
Agr. Bank of China1.570Fiat116.0
Banco Santander1.546Siemens116.0
SocieteGenerale1.467Thyssenkrupp114.3
UnicreditoItaliano Spa1.331Samsung110.3
UBS 1.290IBM103.6
UniCredit1.245Honda99.5
Wells Fargo1.244GDF99.4
Commerzbank1.145Metro AG99.4
Credit Suisse1.022Hitachi99.4
Source: UNCTAD Annex Tables, Nos, 26 and 28,
Author’s calculations from various annual reports.
[1] The data for GDP are in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP), adjusted to prices in the United States.