Political Activities Amongst Nations

These fundamentals are significantly different in practice if not always in name:

CG1¹: Balance of power replaces group power.

CG1²: International law and conventions replace rule of law.

CG1³: National decisions replace official decisions.

CG1⁴: Global issues replace societal issues.

CG1⁵: The well-being of all peoples replaces the public interest.

CG1⁶: Conscience of humanity replaces moral institutions.

CG1⁷: Human rights replace communal needs.

CG2¹: Military-economic manoeuvres is more specific than political manoeuvring.

Governments may move troops or ships or commission new weapons to assert dominance. Economic measures like tariffs and foreign aid may also be used to send messages about power and aims.

CG2²: Public statements replace official briefings.

Senior politicians use addresses given ostensibly for benign reasons to send messages about intentions and interests. For example, they may use a state of the nation speech, a speech at a military graduation or to the business community. Government leaders or their spokespersons also regularly face journalists, singly or together, to give particular messages.

CG2³: Secret diplomacy replaces in camera deliberations

Government leaders often meet together privately when what is said is never revealed. Secrecy may be used for a variety of reasons e.g. when foreign countries are demonised for political gain, necessary diplomacy must be pursued in secret.

CG2⁴: Political narratives replace public advocacy

To deal with global issues, governments and pressure groups tell stories that are often far removed from reality while claiming to be for the good of all.

CG2⁵: Public debate. 

The equivalent amongst nations is possibly debate at the United Nations General Assembly, Security Council and other Committees. NGOs rarely engage with government leaders in the regular way that interest groups interact with politicians.

CG2⁶: Moral challenges remain.

NGO’s may challenge governments in regard to atrocities, and human neglect in association with natural disasters or cruel dictators.

Mobilization seems essentially unchanged .

CG3¹: Grand strategy replaces victory strategy.

Nations of any size currently attempt to be as powerful as possible in their region if not in the world.

CG3²: Inter-governmental measures replaces social measures.

In the face of a global crisis (e.g. the recent financial collapse, the climate change issue), governments may form groups that propose a range of measures that will be taken by each.

CG3³: Multilateral commitment replaces popular commitment.

In the face of needs that transcend borders, it is possible national governments will commit themselves to making certain changes.

CG3⁴: Moral crusades occur.

For some time, there has been a crusade against evils, like world poverty and people trafficking, mainly driven by non-governmental action but occasionally joined by governments.

Governments have taken a crusade against drug cultivation and trafficking, where legalization and regulation would provide a far safer, healthier and cheaper outcome.

CG3⁵: Righting of wrongs remains.

Nations often have great difficult acknowledging past errors in regard to other countries e.g. Japan, re atrocities of the former militaristic regime; Turkey, re the Armenian genocide.

War is not Politics 

The mutual exclusion of violence and politics, applicable within society, should be extended internationally. USA has tried to get allies to join wars that are painted as moral crusades e.g. the Vietnam war against communism, and the coalition of the willing fighting for freedom and democracy in Iraq.

Do the two higher components of a crusade apply in these cases? (Acting self-interestedly as the conscience of humanity-CG3⁴₄, and obligatorily serving the well-being of all peoples-CG3⁴₃.)

CG4¹: National proposals are the equivalent of vested interests.

CG4²: Consortia of nations (e.g. UNO, EU, APEC) produce papers.

CG4³: Specialized agencies (e.g. WHO, FAO) make recommendations in Reports.

CG4⁴: ?NGO Reports? no obvious equivalent exists here, although certain NGOs do surveys and present documented findings, ideas, and impassioned pleas.

In the absence of world government, authorization reverts back to national governments.

CG5¹: ? There is no significant elected leadership on the world stage.

CG5²: Appointed leadership is found within governments and within the various international bodies and NGOs.

CG5³: Hegemonic leadership replaces emergent leadership because the most powerful nation (or nations) seek to become leaders in their region or even globally. Some small countries can show leadership in particular areas without the use of power (cf. Switzerland, which in the 20^th century had a special role because of its neutrality).

Money allocated to global bodies (e.g. UNO, NGOs) is available for use.

CG6¹: Geopolitical imperatives usually dominate activities of national governments that use the wealth provided by their citizens.

CG6²: Humanitarian imperatives usually dominate activities of NGOs and charitable foundations with global reach. Where NGOs are predominantly funded by governments, then humanitarian activities may be impeded or blocked.

CG7¹: Peaceful coexistence is a realistic vision for humanity based on adherence to the CG1-responsibilities.