How Do Changing Technologies Affect International Politics, Research Paper Example

Recent times have seen an emergence of sophistication in the way people transact business due to the advancement in technology. From the minutest of issues to the biggest inventions and innovation, technology continues to play a leading role. This is especially so with the birth and development of the computer and its associated medium of communication; the internet. The area of international politics and relations has especially undergone rapid changes because of technological advancement. This paper will dedicate itself to discussing the effects of changing technology on international politics.

Media networks and online technologies have often been used for effective campaigning for or against certain international issues. An example is a campaign by United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organizations to ban the use of landmines. Initially, the campaign was largely unsuccessful because of the organizations’ inability to reach what would be referred to as the critical mass of signatories necessary to force compliance. Most of the major nations declined to sign for a long period of time. With time however, a quiet grassroots campaign aimed at coordinating international organizations using online technologies was able to reach a lot of people, and after 1992, a record 140 countries had signed the treaty banning use of landmines. So effective was the campaign that in 1997, the founder of the online campaign strategy, Jody Williams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Advancement in technology had been used to galvanize the international community to bind themselves to the banning of landmine use, which is by and large a political decision (Taylor 101).

It is an undeniable fact that most countries have many of their citizens living in the Diaspora. Though separated from their motherlands by the physical distance, these people have always used electronic mails (Emails) and web blogs to contribute to and influence both internal and external policy decisions in their motherland. These policies involve an array of issues such as economics, politics etc (Hall 94). It is for example possible for American citizens staying in Iraq to use emails and web blogs to petition America not to use military measures to bring peace because they will be targets of abduction and killing. Using this information, their relatives can pressure the government to enact legislation banning military action against Iraq. This is a political decision that has a major impact on America’s relationship with the international community.

Rapid technological advancement has made it possible for news to be directly transmitted from source to the viewers (Dore 139). This is a common feature of live broadcasting. This has the effect of bypassing channels of diplomacy, which would often edit and possibly, present an altered version of positions. Using live transmission of news for example, it is possible for the president of America to address the international community on certain policy positions taken by America, and which have an international impact. Using the same forum and advanced technology, newsmen and leaders around the world are able to ask questions and receive immediate feedback from the president himself, hence limiting chances of distortion. Various interest parties such as social and nongovernmental organizations would have the opportunity of interrogating such leaders. Leaders of other nations would also use such avenues to craft policies which define their relationship with others as a result of watching such live broadcasts.

Advancement in technology has also made it possible for dissatisfied organizations to use communications networks to plan and execute protests against issues of concern such as globalization and other perceived social, economic and political issues (Smith 318). An example are the protests that take place whenever leaders of the most industrialized countries are meeting, or during meetings of the World Trade Organizations. After such protests, the leaders and delegates have often reflected on why such protests had to take place and consequently, taken measures aimed at remedying the situation. The coordination of such protests is done by people who may not be physically present in countries where they are taking place, but rely heavily in advanced communications technology. These are often decisions that have a bearing on international politics as they address grievances presented by protestors or dissenters on the international platform.

Terrorism organizations and activities have drastically altered the way nations interact politically at the global level. Recruitment of members for such organizations is usually done via email. Coordination of their activities is similarly done via email and other communication gadgets. It has for example been established that the about the bombing in New York of the World Trade Center was entered on a China registered website, but input was made in England. Countries which share similar terrorist threats have come up with measures aimed at warding off such attacks and other activities. Some of the measures involve deployment of sophisticated technological gadgets, some of which have had to pass through legislation by participating governments before they are allowed for use. The presence of such gadgets and shared interests has helped cement relations, including political ones, between governments.

Faster communication made possible by advanced technology has also had an influence on international politics. It is a fact that countries which have advanced in technology are quite exposed to the rest of the world than those which are still undeveloped. Actions in such countries are easily captured and relayed globally hence causing the international community to intervene. Those which are not developed do not have such exposure (Richards 414). When war broke out in Somalia for example, reports and pictures by CNN were relayed internationally, hence prompting immediate action by the US and other countries. Conversely, the conflicts and human rights abuses in Angola and Sudan went unnoticed because of lack of media reporting. As a result, international intervention, which among other things takes a political nature, was not possible. Political interaction between countries that have not developed well in technology with the rest of the world could therefore be limited, while it is more robust in countries that have advanced technology.

It has also been established that countries with advanced technology have the ability to exercise considerable political influence internationally. Such a country is able to control the flow of information, has military might and so on. All these give it a competitive advantage among nations on the international sphere. America and Japan are for example respected because of their superior technology. Such nations can determine whether the world remains peaceful or degenerates into war and conflict. Just as much as some nations fall over themselves in their bid to win such country’s friendship, others view them as threats and rivals and they are always suspicious of them. In this case therefore, advanced technology becomes both a blessing and a curse.

It is also evident that countries with superior weaponry, thanks to technological advancement would easily resort to war at the slightest provocation, while those not well developed will shy away. Peace or war in a way has an impact on how countries relate politically. This kind of situation is important in ensuring that nations of the world cooperate more closely so as to avoid conflicts. This therefore leads to more international cooperation among nations and reduces the possibility international strife.

Advanced technology lowers the cost of transfer of information and other transactions from one part of the world to the other. With this lowering of costs, there is a regular exchange of information, leading to the establishment of, and operation of many international institutions.  These institutions are important in the maintenance of international peace, which is actually a political decision. Countries like America have rapport with many nations of the world because it allows free flow of less sensitive information. Countries like China are still closed up because of restrictions placed on the flow of information. As such, China has less political influence internationally than China.

Advanced technology has the ability of changing the identities of people within the society, and to some extent, occasionally evolves a novel constituency that has a cross-national outlook. This in a way affects international politics. A case in point could be the use of technology to reverse the gender of an individual from, say, male to female. Soon, such people begin asking for certain rights, and this will force states to enact regulations that recognize their unique status. These regulations will need legislation and domestication in member countries, which is a political process.

The media, which is one of the most technologically advancing fields, has continued to redefine the role of the state to its people (Samuel 411). There is a lot of emphasis on openness on the part of various players in governmental circles as far as communication with the public and other stakeholders are concerned. This kind of openness has changed the boundaries of nations and made them more transparent. This makes it easy for other countries to get involved in the affairs of one state and in the process, suggest improvements to the current situation. This is more so given the fact that the world is quickly shrinking into a small village; thanks to technological advancement.

It is also evident that technological advancement has led to a more fluid political relationship between the nations of the world. There are certain nations which are always bickering because of the development and manufacture of nuclear weapons, which is made possible by advanced technology. Iran, China, the US and many others have always been wary of each other because of suspicions over the amassing of nuclear weapons. Since these nations have allies among other nations, there is the possibility of creating political blocs around the world, whose net effect is the polarization of nations in terms of those supporting or opposing nuclear weapon manufacture. This eventually has an effect on international politics.

Admittedly, there are some countries which have strong internal institutions, but weak in their relations with the international community. Usually, such countries have low levels of technological innovation. Similarly, others might have weak internal institutions, but strong external relationships. Such countries have higher levels of technological innovation. The upshot of this is that advancement in technology gives a country a respectful and influential position internationally, with the ability to influence international political policies.

Though the above discourse has centered on the positive effects of technological advancement, there are certain instances that have seen it negatively affect international politics. In the first place, technology has opened up the boundaries of nations in such a way that outsiders can easily monitor the situation in a country, and make comments or take actions that affect that country. This kind of situation compromises a nation’s sovereignty, which is one of the most important political assets a nation could ever have. Unnecessary meddling made possible by advanced technology can therefore be considered a negative effect.

Related to the loss of a country’s sovereignty occasioned by technological advancement is the issue of loss of secrecy by nations. It has become increasingly difficult to transmit classified data via most communication media, because intruders are now able to hack onto people’s systems, snoop and access such information illegally. This has forced nations to make sure that they process and transmit only that information that is less controversial when exposed to the public. Those with ability have developed more advanced systems that guard against such intrusion. Nations have hence been forced to be more transparent and responsible in the way they conduct their business, including that hinging on politics.

Technological changes have also led to the development of complicated weapons, as well as complex methods of attack by enemies. An example is the terrorist attacks done by members of the Al Qaeda terrorist group. This group is able to recruit and carry out related activities with secrecy and precision because of advanced technology. There are certain countries considered as safe havens for such groups, including Afghanistan, Somalia and so on. Countries that have been affected by such attacks have moved to put in place measures and legislation that take a hard-line position on such countries. The suspicion with which supposed sponsoring countries are viewed has in a way affected how such countries relate with victim countries, such as America and Kenya, which have at one time suffered such attacks. In order to protect themselves, there has been need to develop and install technological gadgets besides solidifying their relationships and partnerships so as to effectively fight terrorism. Countries sponsoring such activities have often found themselves shunned by the rest.

As earlier stated, advanced technology leads to more open and competitive institutions which shrewd innovators can use to keep their challengers in weaker positions. Those with the technological might would then take advantage of this to source for knowledge and investment which they would then use to their advantage against their competitors. This kind of advantage is gained from various sources accessed by use of technological gadgets. Because of their superior internal positions, such people would easily find their way to positions of influence internationally, while their competitors remain unknown.

Technological changes have often led to internal conflicts within states, which often spiral into international conflicts. Various countries, especially the industrialized ones, are at various stages of technological advancement and innovation. Weaponry is one such area. Each of them would wish to test the superiority of her weapons in warfare. For this reason; whenever two or more factions within a country conflict, each one of them is likely to get military support from the manufacturers of weapons so as to test their effectiveness. Each of these countries would later get into conflict as a result of supporting competing parties, hence compromising international peace and destabilizing international politics.

Technological changes have the potential of splitting nations of the world along the rich-poor divide (Dore 219).  Whereas the rich countries can boast of advanced technology, the poor cannot, and have to often rely on technological gadgets and expertise from the rich countries, most of which may not be to the standards of those used in the rich countries. Since the poor countries have to rely on the rich ones for technological know-how, the rich countries would easily take advantage of this reliance to force the poor countries to do their bidding. An example is where rich countries insist one some conditions such as democratization of institutions, liberalization of the economy, respect for human rights, privatization of state corporations etc before specific assistance programmes can be extended to the poor countries. Such conditions place the political destiny of developing countries, and by extension that of the whole world, in the hands of the developed ones.

From the foregoing, it is evident that technological changes have a lot of effect on the political affairs of countries internationally. Whereas some aspects of the changes are meant to further international peace and prosperity, there are others which seek to subjugate certain countries, hence creating some form of international instability. Used responsibly however, technological advancement should be able to transform the politics of the world and help make it a better place for all.

Works Cited

Dore, Clarence. Politics and Technology. New York: Stem Publishers, 2006.

Hall, Stanley. Technology as a Political Vehicle. Washington: Macmillan, 2005.

Richards, Angelina. Technological Power Play. Chicago: University Publications, 2005.

Samuel, Isaacs. Responsible Politics. New York: McGraw Hill, 2007.

Smith, Irene. Political Thoughts. Illinois: The Jacksons Readers, 2004.

Taylor, Henry. Technology, Politics & International Relations. New York: Aspen Publishers, 2007.