Unit 3: Global actors
In this unit students investigate the key global actors of contemporary global politics. They use evidence to analyse the key global actors and their aims, roles and power. They develop an understanding of the key actors through an in-depth examination of the concepts of national interests and power as they relate to the state, and the way in which ONE Asia-Pacific state uses power to achieve its objectives. VCE Global Politics is a contemporary study and focus must be on examples and case studies from within the last 10 years. However, contemporary issues and events may need to be contextualised for students and this may require some investigation prior to this timeframe.
Who are the key actors in contemporary global politics? From where does their power stem? What impact do these actors have on global politics? What challenges do these global actors face in achieving their aims? To what degree can these global actors challenge state sovereignty? In this area of study students examine the key actors in contemporary global politics: states, Intergovernmental Organisations (IGOs), non-state actors, and ONE Transnational Corporation (TNC). The state has traditionally been seen as the central actor within global politics because the world is predominantly divided into these political communities. However, the power of the state is being challenged. Students develop an understanding that all global actors have the capacity to challenge state sovereignty to varying degrees. Additionally, state sovereignty can be challenged by regional groupings, contested and changing state borders, and issues that require multilateral resolution. The state exists as one of many actors in an increasingly globalised world, and while the process of globalisation does bring benefits to states, the traditional role of the state as the central actor in global politics is being questioned. The ongoing need for states to pursue security and stability has brought about increased examination of the role of global governance. Students explore the aims, roles and power of IGOs: the United Nations (UN), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). These IGOs are central to cooperative action because they establish, manage and facilitate relations between states through their processes, protocols and legal arrangements. Students consider the ways these IGOs also have the capacity to challenge state sovereignty. Non-state actors include a range of non-government organisations (NGOs) that pursue global objectives in relation to particular areas (for example, human rights, environmental protection); organised religions that engage in international advocacy; and groups that do not accept the legitimacy of the state, such as terrorist organisations. Citizens’ participation in global NGOs is increasingly facilitated by dramatic changes in communications and technology. Students investigate the aims, roles and power of TWO non-state actors and analyse the extent to which they are able to challenge the sovereignty of states. Students also consider the aims, role and power of one TNC within global politics and the global economy. These actors, facilitated by advances in technology and communication, have expanded their role and activities significantly, leading to the suggestion that TNCs can be more powerful than states. TNCs are considered by some people to be predators, exploitative of host states, and by others as drivers of progress, skills and innovation.
What is power? Why do different ideas about national interests exist? How is power exercised by an Asia-Pacific state? What is the most effective type of power for a state to use to pursue its national interests? How effective is the state in achieving its national interests? In this area of study students examine the way in which a specific Asia-Pacific state uses its power to pursue its national interests, and explore the factors that have shaped that state’s national interests in the last 10 years. Unit 3: global actors VCE Australian and Global Politics 2018–2022 31 Updated December 2017 For this area of study, students study ONE of the following states in the Asia-Pacific: Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, United States of America. National interests are used by states to describe, support and inform domestic and foreign policy actions. Students learn that although states vary markedly, they share a common interest in maintaining their sovereignty and national security. They also learn that one state’s national interests can differ from other states’ interests. There are often differing interpretations of a state’s national interests and views about them may depend on factors such as cultural identity, international relationships and state security. To achieve its national interests, a state may use various types of hard and soft power. Students consider the main foreign policy instruments available to the state: diplomacy, trade, aid and military. Students develop an understanding that the relative importance and effectiveness of different types of power and foreign policy instruments in pursuit of a state’s national interests vary considerably, and there is often a marked difference between the intentions and results.
