Question 1
There are varying definitions for a nation-state and non-state actor. First it is important to understand what each one signifies to understand the differences. The nation-state, is a kind of unit that may join a political entity of a country. From such alignment, it aims to gain its political legitimacy. “…nation-state is a recent creation originating in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The nation-state can be seen as a construct formed by non-state actors to further specific group interests”[footnoteRef:1]. [1: Cedric Ryngaert, Non-State Actor Dynamics in International Law: From Law-Takers to Law-Makers (Routledge, 2016), 14.]
The nation-state actor can do certain things because he or she is working for the government. They can compromise or disrupt target environments, persons, or organizations in order to gain access to important and valuable intelligence or information. They also can generate incidents that have global significance. They work towards the goals of a government and can be semi-hidden or visible. Or, they can be organizations that want to further a political agenda through specific actions. A good example of a nation-state actor is a Super PAC.
A Super PAC is an organization with the ability to raise unlimited funds from corporations, individuals, as well as other groups to defeat or support or a political candidate. The United States government allows them to donate a limited quantity of money to candidates, especially presidential candidates. Republic candidates often use these Super PACs to gain the money they need to run a successful campaign. “Restore Our Future raised $18 million from about 200 donors. For comparison, the Romney campaign would have needed to collect the maximum donation of $2,500 from 7,200 individuals to raise that amount”[footnoteRef:2]. [2: Conor M. Dowling and Michael Gerald Miller, Super PAC!: Money, Elections, and Voters After Citizens United (Routledge, 2014), 2.]
A non-state actor may have a lot of political influence, but it is not affiliated or linked with any state or country. Multinational corporations for example, are non-state actors that are for profit companies or organizations operating in various sovereign states. One notable company is Coca-Cola who is widely popular and can influence popular opinion. Violent non-state actors like drug cartels, can influence politics through actions like bribery and so forth, allowing their crimes to go unnoticed by the general public and gaining protection from facing legal action for their illegal activities. Non-state actors and their existence conflicts with realism’s assumptions as well as other black box theories concerning international relations.
Non-state actors can gain legitimacy by creating Super PACs that can then fuel the selection of key political candidates that will pass legislation that goes in line with their goals. A good current example of this is the Trump Administration and Trump’s cabinet. Some of those in his cabinet do not really have political experience or experience in political office, similar to President Donald Trump himself. Yet, they have key positions within the United States government that grants them great power.
These people were once non-state actors that then became nation-state actors and managed to achieve political legitimacy. Trump’s pick for Secretary of State, Rex Tillersn, is an Exxon Mobil president and chief executive. “The president and chief executive of Exxon Mobil would oversee a department that has centered on alliance building and globalism, which Mr. Trump has said he would dismantle”[footnoteRef:3] He donated to political candidates until one day, he was able to gain the right candidate in Trump who was then able to give him a legitimate position in the government, to which now has holds great power. [3: The New York Times, "Donald Trump?s Cabinet Is Complete. Here?s the Full List," The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia, last modified December 15, 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/politics/donald-trump-administration.html?_r=0.]
These non-state actors turned nation-state actors blur the line and don’t really showcase the true difference between the two. That is why one must look at violent non-state actors to see a clear difference. While sometimes non-state actors may become nation-state actors, what separates them is the lack of allegiance on the part of non-state actors to any country or government. Introduce the element...
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