10 20 2010 The State in a Changing World Most state emerged since the mid 20th century Only 500 years old Nearly doubled after WWII THE FUTURE OF THE STATE Important international actor but confronting the IGO challenge 8X as many IGOs as states International trial of dictators undermines the sovereignty of the state Arguments Against the State 1 No Longer Utilitarian Not providing physical safety Not providing economic prosperity Not providing general welfare 2 Elites don t pursue the people s interest Those who govern and those who are governed Sanctions cripple the average people not the leaders States The Defense 1 Nationalism still relevant today 2 Learning to cooperate 3 New demands strengthen the state role of the state is not diminishing its changing 4 Sovereignty is a relative concept US refuses to join international criminal courts to avoid troops being tried for war crimes Some smaller states fear imperialism from UN 5 States organize politics better than IGOs 6 7 The world is Darwinian a stateless world is an Anarchic World IGOs can t replace states yet If you don t promote interests you will fall prey to those who do Realist view The State The Verdict Will the state continue to dominate Less powerful today than 100 years ago Will it be the principle focus of political identity Can t imagine life without the state most of the underdeveloped world can t imagine life with one