Critically Exploring Aspects of International Studies (Essay Sample)

Critically Exploring Aspects of International Studies
Customer Inserts His/her Name
Customer Insert Grade Course
Customer Inserts Tutor Name
23rd April 2013
Critically Exploring Aspects of International Studies
In the face of globalization, conflict resolution has become a crucial aspect of the field of international relations and international studies. Conflict resolution in international studies consists of the different processes and methods applied to facilitate a peaceful settlement of conflict between conflicting international bodies. The bodies under conflict may be different governments, States or different international organizations or in some cases a State versus an international organization. In many instances, the international bodies that are committed to making an attempt to end their conflicts through active communication engage in the process of conflict resolution. Communication in this context entails the relay of information on the ideologies and motives of the conflict to the other international body (Wilmot, 2007). This process often involves negotiations that are collective. Consequently, different procedures and methods are available to international bodies in resolving conflict. These methods involve diplomacy, negotiations, peace building and mediation alongside other methods. In this paper, I will relate the issue of conflict resolution in the international arena to its historical context. Further, I will apply the subject of cultural anthropology and its meaning in this context. The paper will further relate the issue of international conflict resolution to the phenomenon of globalization.
Historically, the issue of conflict resolution has been in existence in international relations since the civilization of human beings (Bercovitch, 2009). Historically, Wars were the crucial tool of conflict resolution between international bodies. In many instances of international relations, Wars have historically took place between international groups on a contest that was incompatible. The nature of incompatibility between international groups would either be governmental, for instance in the case of the Cold War between the United State and the Soviet Union, or territorial e.g. when the United State fought to gain possession of Porte Rico alongside other island. Further, the issue causing the conflict can have opposition bases against an alliance, a State or an organization that applies armed force to enact an incompatible position in the interstate or intrastate conflict e.g the US entered the WWI due to the launch of German military into the War (Bannon, 2003). In some instances, interstate Wars may end up in a peaceful agreement as witnessed in the split of Palestine and Israel.
Cultural anthropology is a crucial aspect in the field of conflict resolution and globalization. The process of resolving conflict as both an academic field and a practice of international relations is highly susceptible to culture in the face of globalization. In cultural contexts of the west such as the cultural context of the United State and Canada, the process of peacefully resolving conflict entails free channels of communications; solving problems as well as drafting agreement that fulfill the needs of the individual nation. In these cultures, resolving conflict involves talks on how to find a solution that portrays a win-win situation to both of the parties in the conflict. On the other hand, in cultural contexts that are non western e.g. cultures of china and, Afghanistan and Vietnam, finding a solution that is win-win is significant. However, in the non western cultures, communication that is direct, addressing the issues at stake explicitly between the parties at conflict may be termed as explicit rudeness; it can transform the conflict into a delayed and worsened state. In the non-western cultures, it makes more sense to resolve the conflict through tribal, community or religious leaders (Waal, 2009). In these cultures, it is better to address the issue of conflict indirectly by engaging third parties; and further engage indirect stories to make suggestions into the conflict. Conflicts that are intercultural are mostly the most challenging to solve since the disputants expectations may vary enormously. Inter-cultural conflicts often have more occasions for misunderstanding.
It can be assumed superficially that globalization tends to remove and eliminate inter-state barriers while simultaneously opening the possibilities for conflict pacification. This assumption comes from the fact that the improved channels of connection and information exchange will constantly eliminate the barriers that often translate into conflict. However, in reality, the connection between globalization and conflict resolution or peace building/ making does not occur directly. Globalization is a complex phenomenon that brings with it complexities in the field of conflict resolutions between international bodies. Over the past, with the advancement of the international relations through globalization, rising information flow emphasizes how local, regional and global injustices and stereotypes facilitate local fragmentation. Rather than bringing people together, globalization has translated into greater fragments and conflicts between international bodies (Ury, 2009).
Further, globalization has begun to uncover the different dimensions and aspects of conflict and its resolutions; aspects that had been submerged previously in the exercise of the system of the Westphalia states. In the same instance, a question arises in regard to whether the process of globalization will remain an event that is a long term event structurally, or whether globalization is a result of hegemonic influence of the west, and consequently whether it will influence conflict resolution. Further, in the face of globalization, the practice of conflict resolution has expanded from a national border to the global practice. The practice has gone past the localized boundaries. This has further escalated the cost of conflict resolution; there has been increased use of the third parties that play a role of resolving conflicts globally. As a matter of fact, governments, development organization and relief organizations have increased their peace building teams as a result of globalization. On the other hand, communication is a crucial tool for conflict resolution. In an environment that is global, the ability to resolve conflicts by effectively communicating tends to be often challenging. Even in instances where the states or the international bodies in conflict speak a similar language, misunderstanding are more likely to arise. This misunderstanding may arise from the cultural and ethnic differences between the international bodies. In the last decade, many examples demonstrate the impact of poor communication on the effective performance of governments. Consequently, globalization and cross cultural communication have significant impacts for the peaceful resolution of conflicts between international bodies. Each of the parties in international relations must gain effective skills of resolving conflicts with bodies from different cultures in the globe. On the other hand, globalization has brought in new trends in regard to trade networks, similar production and cooperation; varying international groups get more knowledge about each other in the face of globalization. Consequently, these groups are more likely to conflict more, in the face of globalization (Augsburger, 1992...