Bull's Pandemic
Bull – Reflective
What kind of event would change the international system? Chris pointed out the infamous alien invasion in class and how the inter-state system would transform into a world government alignment. I, however, would like to discuss the possibility of a dissolution of the international states system, an event that would catalyze the inward concentration of the states. This event would be an international health pandemic, on a scale that we have not known. This pandemic would force the world to become disconnected and shut off. Transnational contact would limit itself to virtual interactions, etc. But would this cause the end of international society? After all, as I have just noted, virtual interaction would not cause to the spread of the pandemic and perhaps it would even help states cooperate to overcome the pandemic.
Well, lets just take a step back and see exactly what Bull means by the decline of the states system: “that it has ceased or is ceasing to be capable of fulfilling the basic ends of goals of man on earth” (272). Bull acknowledges three primary reasons that contribute to this view, including the disability of the state’s system to provide for peace and security; the inability to provide for more ambitious goals of econ and social justice; and state’s system as an obstacle to ecological harmony between man and his environment (272-273). And to remind us what these basic elementary ends are, lets look back on page 4: some measure of security of life against death; keeping of promises; and the stable possession of property.
I don’t know if the actual course of the international system, emanating from the preceding events of a pandemic of this sort can be foretold, life is not and should not be viewed as fatalistic because several courses of action are likely to occur, and even those that we have not thought of, like Deutsch acknowledges. Just as ideas in correspondence to the Alien invasion were uncertain in the direction of the state’s system, the possibility of a pandemic follows a similar suit. So will there be a total break down and dissolution of the states system or a world order, or perhaps something in between?
What kind of event would change the international system? Chris pointed out the infamous alien invasion in class and how the inter-state system would transform into a world government alignment. I, however, would like to discuss the possibility of a dissolution of the international states system, an event that would catalyze the inward concentration of the states. This event would be an international health pandemic, on a scale that we have not known. This pandemic would force the world to become disconnected and shut off. Transnational contact would limit itself to virtual interactions, etc. But would this cause the end of international society? After all, as I have just noted, virtual interaction would not cause to the spread of the pandemic and perhaps it would even help states cooperate to overcome the pandemic.
Well, lets just take a step back and see exactly what Bull means by the decline of the states system: “that it has ceased or is ceasing to be capable of fulfilling the basic ends of goals of man on earth” (272). Bull acknowledges three primary reasons that contribute to this view, including the disability of the state’s system to provide for peace and security; the inability to provide for more ambitious goals of econ and social justice; and state’s system as an obstacle to ecological harmony between man and his environment (272-273). And to remind us what these basic elementary ends are, lets look back on page 4: some measure of security of life against death; keeping of promises; and the stable possession of property.
I don’t know if the actual course of the international system, emanating from the preceding events of a pandemic of this sort can be foretold, life is not and should not be viewed as fatalistic because several courses of action are likely to occur, and even those that we have not thought of, like Deutsch acknowledges. Just as ideas in correspondence to the Alien invasion were uncertain in the direction of the state’s system, the possibility of a pandemic follows a similar suit. So will there be a total break down and dissolution of the states system or a world order, or perhaps something in between?
posted by Holly at 8:30 PM
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