Editing World (section)

=== World politics ===
World politics, also referred to as [[global politics]] or [[international relations]], is the discipline of political science studying issues of interest to the world that transcend nations and continents.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Baylis |editor1-first=John |editor2-last=Smith |editor2-first=Steve |editor3-last=Owens |editor3-first=Patricia |title=The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations |date=2020 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-882554-8 |edition=Eighth Edition, New to this |url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-globalization-of-world-politics-9780198825548?cc=us&lang=en& |chapter=Glossary}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Blanton |first1=Shannon L. |last2=Kegley |first2=Charles W. |title=World Politics: Trend and Transformation, 17th Edition - 9780357141809 - Cengage |date=2021 |publisher=Cengage |url=https://www.cengage.com/c/world-politics-trend-and-transformation-17e-blanton/9780357141809/ |language=en |chapter=Glossary}}</ref> It aims to explain complex patterns found in the social world that are often related to the pursuit of power, order and justice, usually in the context of [[globalization]]. It focuses not just on the relations between nation-states but also considers other transnational actors, like multinational corporations, terrorist groups, or non-governmental organizations.<ref name="Baylis">{{cite book |editor1-last=Baylis |editor1-first=John |editor2-last=Smith |editor2-first=Steve |editor3-last=Owens |editor3-first=Patricia |title=The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations |date=2020 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-882554-8 |edition=Eighth Edition, New to this |url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-globalization-of-world-politics-9780198825548?cc=us&lang=en& |chapter=Introduction}}</ref> For example, it tries to explain events such as the [[September 11 attacks]], the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] or the [[2008 financial crisis]].

Various theories have been proposed in order to deal with the complexity involved in formulating such explanations.<ref name="Baylis"/> These theories are sometimes divided into realism, liberalism and constructivism.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Blanton |first1=Shannon L. |last2=Kegley |first2=Charles W. |title=World Politics: Trend and Transformation, 17th Edition - 9780357141809 - Cengage |date=2021 |publisher=Cengage |url=https://www.cengage.com/c/world-politics-trend-and-transformation-17e-blanton/9780357141809/ |language=en |chapter=2. Interpreting World Politics through the Lens of theory}}</ref> Realists see nation-states as the main actors in world politics. They constitute an anarchical international system without any overarching power to control their behavior. They are seen as sovereign agents that, determined by human nature, act according to their national self-interest. Military force may play an important role in the ensuing struggle for power between states, but diplomacy and cooperation are also key mechanisms for nations to achieve their goals.<ref name="Baylis"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Korab-Karpowicz |first1=W. Julian |title=Political Realism in International Relations |url=https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/realism-intl-relations/ |website=The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy |publisher=Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University |access-date=14 April 2021 |date=2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Moseley |first1=Alexander |title=Political Realism |url=https://iep.utm.edu/polreal/ |website=Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy |access-date=14 April 2021}}</ref> Liberalists acknowledge the importance of states but they also emphasize the role of transnational actors, like the [[United Nations]] or the [[World Trade Organization]]. They see humans as perfectible and stress the role of democracy in this process. The emergent order in world politics, on this perspective, is more complex than a mere balance of power since more different agents and interests are involved in its production.<ref name="Baylis"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cristol |first1=Jonathan |title=Liberalism |url=https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199743292/obo-9780199743292-0060.xml |website=Oxford Bibliographies |access-date=14 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Constructivism ascribes more importance to the agency of individual humans than realism and liberalism. It understands the social world as a construction of the people living in it. This leads to an emphasis on the possibility of change. If the international system is an anarchy of nation-states, as the realists hold, then this is only so because we made it this way and may change since this is not prefigured by human nature, according to the constructivists.<ref name="Baylis"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cristol |first1=Jonathan |title=Constructivism |url=https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199743292/obo-9780199743292-0061.xml |website=Oxford Bibliographies |access-date=14 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref>