Managing Global Issues as Actors Multiply

This module provides a roadmap to understanding the challenges that arise in the management of global issues as actors increase both in number and influence.

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Resource List

These resources provide a baseline of understanding, but as the international environment continues to evolve, new data will become available.

Organizations:

  • National Intelligence Council: The National Intelligence Council (NIC) supports the Director of National Intelligence in the role as head of the Intelligence Community (IC) and is the IC’s center for long-term strategic analysis. The NIC publishes many reports, including papers addressing the emergence and impact of non-state actors (NSAs), particularly in relation to the United States. https://fas.org/irp/nic/nonstate_actors_2007.pdf

Recent Publications and Journal Articles:

  • The Age of Nonpolarity: What Will Follow US Dominance: Haass lays out an argument for non-polarity in the 21st century following United States’ dominance for much of the previous century. He examines emerging centers of power as well as non-state actors, and the consequences that this will have for the US and international system as a whole. Haass prescribes multilateralism as essential in addressing global issues within this new non-polarity.
  • The Rise of Non-State Actors in Global Governance: Opportunities and Limitations: This essay examines the rapid changes to the international system and rise of new international actors in the second half of the twentieth century, with a particular focus on non-state actors and organizations. The authors acknowledge the benefits and challenges presented by this new international system.
  • Power Failure: The Diffusion of State Power in International Relations: This article gives an overview of how the rise of non-state actors—and frequent state facilitation of this rise—has led to a diffusion of power in the international landscape. The author argues that the result is nonpolarity: rather than few prominent world powers, there are many influential actors with different types of power.
  • The Nexus Between Sanctions and Non-Polarity: The Case of Iran: Chingono examines the decreasing efficacy of sanctions as a reaction to global issues in a non-polar world, presenting a relevant example of the need for adapted policy in a changing international setting.

Other Resources:

  • Sharing the Stage: Non State Actors as Leaders in Global Governance: One Earth Foundation contributors give an overview of the role of non-state actors in multilateral response to global issues.

Books:

These materials were developed as an initiative of the Advanced Thinking in Homeland Security (HSx) curriculum at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security.

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