Non-State Actors in World Politics

NON-STATE ACTORS IN WORLD
POLITICS
The goal of the course is
to provide students with an overview of international

relations theory as it pertains to the study of non-state
actors, such as international organizations,
transnational corporations, NGOs, transnational
advocacy networks, and terrorist networks, as well as a
working knowledge of some of the major issue areas
surrounding the topic. By the end of the course,
students should be able to summarize and critique the
relevant academic literature and engage in policy
debates about the role of non-state actors in multiple
substantive issue areas.
Requirements
1) Attendance, discussion, and course readings

are all essential parts of your success in the
course.
2) This course will be conducted in a seminar
format, with students taking responsibility
for leading much of the discussion.
3) Each student will be charged with helping to
facilitate the class discussion (beginning with
a short 5-10 minute presentation)
Final Paper:
3) The final paper is on a course-related topic of
your choice, subject to my approval. Papers
should be 8-10 pages in length, not including
the bibliography. You are encouraged to
consult with me about your topic.
4)2 written tests
Finally, please familiarize yourself with the
University’s policy on cheating, plagiarism, and
documentation. It is your responsibility to
understand and abide by this policy. If you do
not understand what constitutes cheating or
plagiarism, or are uncertain about whether
something qualifies as cheating or plagiarism,
please ask.
Required Texts
David Lake, Hierarchy in International Relations,

2009, Cornell University Press.
Deborah Avant, Martha Finnemore, and Susan
Sell. Who Governs the Globe, 2010, Cambridge
University Press.
Rodney Bruce Hall and Thomas Bierstekr, The
Emergence of Private Authority in Global
Governance.
The first part of the course evaluates the history, definition,
emergence, and distinctions between different non-state
actors, as well as the theoretical literature on understanding
transnational activism and private authority. It will also
address the normative issues that have emerged from the
growth of non-state actors in international politics.
The second part of the course evaluates specifics of non-state
actors in world politics, including their authority, power, and
influence on politics or policies.
The third part of the course surveys the different actors and
groups we consider key non-state actors in world politics.
The fourth part of the course reviews the role non-state actors
have had in various issue and policy areas, such as
environmental politics, human rights, development, and
standards.
Non-State Actors: Distinguishing NSAs from IGOs and states
two kind of actors in the world of International

Relations which are
• states and
• nonstate actors.
Theoretical perspectives of international politics provide
answers to these basic questions:
• Who are the main actors in international politics? Why do

actors do what they do in international politics?
• What are the underlying factors that govern relationships in
global politics?
• How have international relations changed or stayed the
same over the centuries?
• What accounts for conflict and cooperation in international
politics?
• Each of the theoretical perspectives presented here
provides different answers to these questions.
• Each perspective is based on different assumptions about
humans, governments, and international politics.
Theories of IR and NSAs
– Realism: primarily interested in the role of violent non-
state actors (the ‘bad’)
• As threats to national security
– Institutionalism: primarily interested in the role of for-
profit non-state actors (MNCs, the ‘ugly’)
• As agents of interdependence and demand for
cooperation among states
– Constructivism: primarily interested in the role not-for-
profit organizations (NGOs, the ‘good’)
• As agents building transnational relations across
societies in order to promote universal values (human
rights, environmental protection, etc.)
• Such entities as international organizations,
whose members can be entities different from
states, may be classified as nonstate or not
depending on the election.
• By contrast, nonstate actors have been examined
from different disciplines, which acknowledge
their relevance and attach importance to the
international and transnational dimensions of
nonstate conduct given their power or impact.
Defining NSAs
• Some of studies have sought to define nonstate actors.
However, given the diverging goals and substrata of
different studies, definitions often differ widely among
them.
• Clapham 2009 examines this problem of the notion of
nonstate actors from a legal perspective,
acknowledging that all entities different from states are
nonstate in nature and that yet some narrower
definitions exist, with more limited scopes.
Additionally, it examines legitimacy and accountability
concerns related to nonstate conduct.
• Del Arenal 2002 examines the phenomenon of
increased nonstate power and relevance in
international society in a changing landscape;
and McDougal 1955 highlights the importance of
studying nonstate actors, given their participation in
power processes.
• Schachter 1997 examines the changing role and
relevant actions of nonstate actors and their
interaction with international law in a global context;
• Halliday 2001 studies nonstate dynamics, their
relevance throughout history, and the importance of
regulations of nonstate conduct.
• Non-state actors are individuals or organizations
that have powerful economic, political or social
power and are able to influence at a national and
sometimes international level but do not belong
to or allied themselves to any particular country
or state.
• an organized political actor not directly
connected to the state but pursing aims that
affect vital state interests
Types of Non-state Actors
Sub-state Actors (domestic actors )
They are politically assembled to influence policies
through interest groups, lobbying, donating to political
candidates or parties, swaying public opinion on
certain issues, and other means. (Multinational
corporations (MNCs)
Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)
(two main types of IGOs, the global IGOs and the regional
IGOs)
NGO (religious movement)
Terrorists or rather political groups (International Criminal
Groups )
• Why do states form IGOs and work through
them?
• (Interest, problem, platform for discussion)
The types of MNCs
Private businesses headquartered in one state
that invest and operate extensively in other
states.
Industrial corporations
Financial corporations
Who, what, why, and how?
Realism
Institutionalism
Constructivism
• What is the organizing principle?
• Who are the main actors?
• What are their main goals?
• What are the core capabilities?

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NON-STATE ACTORS IN WORLD

to provide students with an overview of international

1) Attendance, discussion, and course readings

David Lake, Hierarchy in International Relations,

two kind of actors in the world of International

• Who are the main actors in international politics? Why do

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