Is Democracy Necessary for Capitalism - Assignment Example

Assessment Name Institution Course Tutor Date Assessment Question 1: Is democracy necessary for capitalism? Democracy and capitalism correlate to each other. For economy of a country to boost up, there need be democratic stability which affect how economic growth factors policies, such as investment from local and international investors, are implemented. Dictatorship, as was observed in the colonial period amongst different countries that were under dictatorship regime of colonisers, only directs to personal interest of the rulers. After decolonisation, several countries have shown rapid economic growth majorly associated democratic stability in the regions. Singapore (6.4% GDP growth rate between 1970 and 2000) and Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo) are some of the countries that have shown relatively high levels of capitalism due to democratic stability, allowing investments, after dictatorship ruling of the colonies. Therefore democracy is necessary for capitalism. Question 2: What are the prospects and challenges of a multipolar world? Globalization is bearing a fruit; multi-polarisation; of advantage to the world, especially developing countries. However, it comes with its prospects and challenges such as: redistribution of powers amongst countries, global instability. Some superpower countries take advantages of vulnerabilities of polycentricism to redistribute their powers amongst vulnerable countries. This is evident in Ukraine crisis where Russia is currently exploiting the desperation of Ukraine to have power ever the region in exchange of exports such as weapons and oil. Multi-polar world has also increased and still showing increased levels of instabilities in the future. Question 3: In which area has globalisation fulfilled its promise? Globalisation back in the past decades promised many expectations. Not the entire promises have been fulfilled. However, some areas have enjoyed the fulfilled promise of globalisation. Education and associated developments have, for quite a span of time, been enjoying the achievements of globalisations. Take for instance, Australian universities which are flooded by students from different part of the world coming together building their career in the foreign country. Communication is also an area that demonstrates achievement of globalisation. Globalisation has connected the world via difference modes and media of communication. Internet, for example, has demonstrated greatly how communication has been effective, where information is share amongst people around the globe. This has shared developments in terms of technology, economy, as well as politics besides other many fields. People share business, politics, science and research ideas that have influenced global development positively. Question 4: Why do states such as Iran and North Korea seek nuclear weapon? Countries such as these two, Iran and North Korea, seek nuclear weapons some major reasons that pertain their national security. Nuclear arms are considered to have political utility. With these types of weapons, countries such as Iran and North Korea can involve other nations in extortion of political concessions in demand to what they lack. The former US president, Bill Clinton, had done that several times to maintain its superiority globally amongst nations. Another reason why these countries would seek nuclear weapons is because these weapons are treated as potential defence against unexpected and inappropriate violation or exploitation by neighbouring countries which in some case, are connected to such incidents by history. North Korea seeks nuclear weapons to protect her territories against potential threats by US and its neighbour, South Korea, with which history depict attempts of communist government invasion into the country by the two countries. Question 5: Is climate change better described as security issue or environmental issue? Climate change in recent researches is pictured far beyond environmental issue. Climate change is compared to national security threat such as nuclear proliferation amongst other. This is because it has claimed numerous lives in most part of the world. Defence department form across the globe has produced report with comprehensive argument to explain the coherent security issues of climate change. Poor economic state and political instabilities cause poverty, seeking for desperate environmental resources exploitation for sustainability which in turn causes global warming. Political war such as those in Syria are also reported to be major causes of climate change causing insecurities such as droughts, diseases, death, amongst others. Climate change is, therefore, considered a security issue. Question 6: How can you explain Russia’s behaviour over the past few years on the international political stage? Over the past few years on the international political stage, Russia has perceived its neighbouring counties as enemies claiming most of its zones on the borders have been eroded by the neighbouring countries themselves. Russian believes to take controlled and reconstructs its eroded borders by new generation welfare (NGW) strategy, which is claimed to be combination of organised military violence with political and diplomatic activities. Ukraine crisis situation has been taken advantage of by Russia to express it superiority politically, exploiting the vacuum left by the US which only relies on military response and not political strategies. Russian’s recent political behaviours aimed at gaining superiority in the Middle East is bring war back in Europe if not assessed critically. Question 7: What factors have caused Somalia to be assessed as failed state? The term “failed state” refers to a situation where the government of a country fails in its personality performance due to existence of civil unrests rendering the government to be unable to control all of its territory. In the case of Somalia, there has been no functional central government and governance is left to a section of executive without judiciary. The existing portion of the government has failed to provide citizen needs such as food, health care, infrastructure, education. It has also failed to take complete control of the Somalia territory as presence of civil war has left some territory left to terrorists. It is this war that destroyed state judiciary leaving judicial matters to Islamic Court Union. Declining economic status has also been evident in Somalia for now almost 50 years characterised by civil war. Generally, Somalia has failed in all the aspect of political performance making it a failed state. Question 8: What risks do failed states pose to international political system? Failure states cause challenges to international political systems as it is claimed that several states that have been declared “failed states” are characterised by civil war which in most cases end up spreading into the neighbouring countries. This is a security threat that a failed state poses to its neighbours. The cases of Somalia and South Sudan clearly depict this situation. Failure stated also argued to be the harbour places of terrorist which is a major threat to international political system, causing several unrests. Another consequence of a failed state to international political is the influx of refugees into the neighbouring countries causing political concern since their issues seek attention of international refugees and disasters management bodies. Question 9: What is causing the increasing levels of protest in Saudi Arabia? Increasing levels of protest in Saudi Arabia is majorly caused by political instability within the country which has also affected international relations of the country with its neighbours alongside the international relations bodies. Citizens have been protesting against injustice and impunity practices by the government, evident by the way prisoners/suspects are executed without trial, as argued by stated in the international news reports. The evident competition of political dominance in the Middle East by the two countries, Saudi Arabia and Iran, has conflicts between the countries. Iran cut the diplomatic connections with Saudi and it is now treated as a potential threat to attacks in Saudi. Citizens protest due to resultant insecurity. Corruption and gender discrimination in the country are also some major causes of protest. ` Question 10: Is ISIS still a threat to stability in the Middle East, and why? It is quite evident that ISIS is still a threat in the Middle East. This is as a result if continuous division amongst Islamic communists amongst countries in the Middle East. This potential threat is fuelled by the on-going division between the Sunni and the Shia Muslims. Evidently in Saudi Arabia, this division has caused conflicts as individuals from the offended group protest against the government executions of their members. Iran, in reaction to this, has perceived Saudi enemy and has cut off the diplomatic advantages towards Saudi. These instabilities are potential influence of ISIS attacks against these alleged discriminations. As also demonstrated by the Russian’s international political behaviour in the Ukraine’s issue, the ISIS are likely to react in protest against Russia’s NGW of seeking dominance and power over other countries. Question 11: Has international nuclear non-proliferation system been a success of failure? Failures of International Nuclear Non-Proliferation System Nuclear weapons are globally deemed a major threat to security. They are characterised by enormous destructive capability, as countries with such programs building nuclear weapons are always treated as threats against the existing power balance amongst countries of the world. Having nuclear weapons programs in a country increases the probability or potential accidental attacks or retaliations involving nuclear weapons that can majorly impact negatively on the victim county. International nuclear non-proliferation system came as a unity of world nations to campaign toward abolition of nuclear weapons as well as programs amongst countries. The rational for this was to create a global environment where threats due to nuclear attack are eliminated. The system also aimed at maintaining power balance amongst countries in this era of globalisation as well as promoting international unity and development though coordination. For the effectiveness of this system’s ambitions, nuclear non-proliferation treaty was signed amongst countries in acceptance to the abolition of such program associated with nuclear. From the sign of treaty in 1968, by reducing their own nuclear forces and employing nuclear non-proliferation through their bilateral cooperation, countries such as Russia and United Sates have been striving on the front to prevent other nations and non-state groups from acquiring and possessing nuclear weapons. This is a major demonstration of commitment by these two countries to keeping their nations safe as well as international security stability. However, this system cannot be argued to have been successful as was the primary expectation, or rather, ambition. The treaty signed by this system to eradicate nuclear threats has shown some signs of failure, an implication that the threats are still existing. Those countries that were seen at the frontline fight in support of abolition of nuclear weapons are the same countries leading innovation of nuclear programs. Russia and US, the world’s deemed leading nuclear forces are seen modernising nuclear systems that are predicted to be operational in the near future. This is a sign of use of the system not to disarm, but to redirect the course and intelligence in nuclear weapon forces. Despite the one major success in eliminating nuclear proliferation in Libya, the system has tried to incorporate interested parties, international organisations , amongst other bodies, participating in international summits such as Six Party Talks on North Korea, P5+1 grouping on Iran, and most recently, the development of global nuclear security summit that are, even though, determined to address nuclear program issues but have not achieved much since countries such as Iran and North Korea are still seen seeking nuclear weapons. Protest outside the United Nations (UN) building in April 28th of 2015, is an indication that US, amongst other nations have not disarmed they nuclear weapon. This is another expression of failure of international nuclear non-proliferation system. Another aspect suggesting failure of the international nuclear non-proliferation is the current predicament of the global nuclear power. It is an expectation by many that emergence and development of nuclear energy to power the global economic energy will be the greatest achievement of the globe. However, it has been evident that the same reactors that are used to generate nuclear energy with a rationale of boosting global energy are the same that in turn used to generate nuclear weapons within countries with such materials. This comes as a result of the system’s failure to implement basic principles governing such reactors sites to regulate and assure the activities carried about in such places. If some countries like Iran and North Korea seek this nuclear weapons against violation or invasion by US and their other neighbours, then Russia and China will as well join the movement aimed at stopping US from threatening global power balance. This will be another incident of failure of the international nuclear non-proliferation system to keep China and Russia; amongst other countries like India and Pakistan, that are believed to have gained possession of these weapons after the Second World War; besides failure on Iran and North Korean whose nuclear weapons programs are evident. The system is currently pursuing an agreement involving every world nation to enforcing new rules that limit the circumstances under which they can acquire and use nuclear resources and technologies. This is bound to fail considering the on-going rambling amongst countries considered as non-nuclear states opposing such agreement as long as countries like USA, Russia, China, France, United Kingdom (UK), India, Israel, North Korea, and Pakistan continue to use their nuclear weapon technology programs as an expression of power over non-nuclear states. In conclusion, the international nuclear non-proliferation system has made endeavours to end the use of nuclear weapons in the world but, evidently, has failed in many areas. Despite the attempts, Korea and Iran are still seeking nuclear weapon, whilst countries like India, amongst other countries in the Middle East, are believed to be having on-going nuclear weapons programs. All these area of failure are contributed to by much of global politics of power balance amongst nations whilst some countries are trying to gain superiority or recognition in their regions. Therefore, international nuclear non-proliferation has failed. Coordinating and cooperating non-nuclear nations and the nuclear states have been a major issue itself as much politics surround it. No non-nuclear states are willing to agree to the implementation of new rules to regulate how they can use nuclear technologies. Some countries are also using nuclear technology possession as an expression of power over non-nuclear states. Read More