Actors in International Relations Are the State

¶ … actors in International Relations are the State people. Discuss this statement with reference to International Society theory.

Modern international system is based on state interaction. Therefore, the principle actors in international relations are the state people. The state people make decisions in the international arena; they collaborate, coordinate their activities with other state people, and represent their respective citizens in international bodies. Non-state actors such as non-governmental organizations and corporations can influence state people but they are not the principle actors in international relations, as decisions pertaining to those are made by state people.

As the theory of international society posits, states have their own society where they have established common rules and institutions through dialogue and consent to conduct their relations and acknowledge their common interest in maintaining these agreements. The theory also suggests that the international society is in a state of anarchy, lacking any global ruler or global policemen. Nevertheless, there are common rules and norms that the states respect. The institutions that are used to maintain cooperation and dialogue among states are war, diplomacy, and international law. Those states that accept these norms and recognize their limited responsibility toward others, viewing them as part of a larger society, constitute the international society. But these arrangements among states are decided by state people who represent participating countries.

Non-state actors such as corporations cannot act independently of state actors. Corporations normally need a mandate from states to carry out their business activities. The decision to grant them a license to operate within a state lies on the shoulders of state people. It is not a rare occurrence in international business where a powerful corporation is sued by or kicked out by state authorities of developing countries. Corporations in such instances can retaliate but they do so with the help of state actors from their home countries. Much has been made about the power of corporations lately, suggesting that in the twenty-first century the roles of states have been minimized and that corporations now rule the world. Much has also been made about the power of corporations to undermine weak states in developing countries. But these are mistaken assumptions. Corporations are not free to act in any country without getting a license from local state actors. But when a corporation, say, from the United States cannot solve a dispute with a Latin American local government, the corporation is likely to get assistance from the U.S. government because independently of state actors corporations cannot resolve such disputes.