VIRTUAL STATES
New global political climate breeds imaginary nations
OSCAR KILLIAN OPINIONS EDITOR
Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: Observations
The new national order, complete with unprecedented executive power is predicated on the assumption of several unprecedented global conditions.
John Ikenberry explains that one of these conditions is the existence of "virtual states."
The term virtual state refers to an organization resembling a nation or government, including culture, national identity, and presence in global affairs.
The difference is it isn't necessarily based in a definitive geographic area.
In the case of autonomous terrorist cells, the main subject of Ikenberry's work regarding recent US foreign policy, they are also beyond the reach of national diplomacy, or the sanctions used to negotiate said diplomacy.
Unfortunately these virtual states, and the threat in the form of terrorism they present the US and the modern world at large, has resulted in an overhaul of US foreign policy to deal with the threat.
This includes the push definitive of Wolfowitz's career toward a world in which the US has no competitor state in terms of military power.
This means the development of military technology at such a breakneck speed that no other nation would even think about trying to catch up.
It includes a new analysis of the global political climate and the threats facing the nation, an element of which is the existence of virtual states.
Since terrorist cells and the figurative states they belong to have proved themselves dangerous, and are beyond dealing with diplomatically, it is the contention of proponents of the new US order that said states must be eliminated outright.
If this means invading another nation fostering such an imaginary state, whether it be voluntarily or because of that nation's inability to eliminate the state because due to lack of state strength, so be it.
If could lead, and already has, to the weakening, noncooperation with, or outright rejection of international treaties and partnerships.
This is also considered necessary and justifiable in light of the new sorts of threats endemic to the post-modern political climate.
John Ikenberry explains that one of these conditions is the existence of "virtual states."
The term virtual state refers to an organization resembling a nation or government, including culture, national identity, and presence in global affairs.
The difference is it isn't necessarily based in a definitive geographic area.
In the case of autonomous terrorist cells, the main subject of Ikenberry's work regarding recent US foreign policy, they are also beyond the reach of national diplomacy, or the sanctions used to negotiate said diplomacy.
Unfortunately these virtual states, and the threat in the form of terrorism they present the US and the modern world at large, has resulted in an overhaul of US foreign policy to deal with the threat.
This includes the push definitive of Wolfowitz's career toward a world in which the US has no competitor state in terms of military power.
This means the development of military technology at such a breakneck speed that no other nation would even think about trying to catch up.
It includes a new analysis of the global political climate and the threats facing the nation, an element of which is the existence of virtual states.
Since terrorist cells and the figurative states they belong to have proved themselves dangerous, and are beyond dealing with diplomatically, it is the contention of proponents of the new US order that said states must be eliminated outright.
If this means invading another nation fostering such an imaginary state, whether it be voluntarily or because of that nation's inability to eliminate the state because due to lack of state strength, so be it.
If could lead, and already has, to the weakening, noncooperation with, or outright rejection of international treaties and partnerships.
This is also considered necessary and justifiable in light of the new sorts of threats endemic to the post-modern political climate.
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