THE GLOBAL

INTERSTATE
SYSTEM
GROUP 4:
Albopera Valeriano
Balinas Wady
Dayao Yrad
WHAT IS IT?
WHAT IS IT?
The Global Interstate System is an
institutional arrangement of governance that
addresses regional or globalized issues that
go beyond the scope of a nation-state
(Chase-Dunn, 1981).
WHAT IS IT?
In his article Interstate System and
Capitalist World-Economy: One Logic or Two?,
he described the interstate system as
multicentric, with multiple sovereign states
preventing the emergence of a single global
empire.
 WHAT IS IT?

The Treaty of Westphalia (1648) laid

the foundation for the modern
interstate system by establishing state
sovereignty (Osiander, 2001).
Over time, this system evolved not as a
neutral framework but as a
mechanism for capitalist expansion,
enabling competition and economic
interdependence among
decentralized states (Chase-Dunn,
1981).
 WHAT IS IT?

Scholars like Wallerstein (1974) argue the

interstate system reinforces economic
inequality between core and peripheral
states, while Buzan and Little (2000) highlight
how its evolution is deeply tied to imperial
legacies and globalization.
 WHAT IS IT?

Traditionally, sovereignty referred to the

supreme authority of states over their
territories without external interference.
However, globalization has made this idea
increasingly obsolete. States are becoming
increasingly interdependent.
A. EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION
ON NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS
 A. EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS

National and local policies are now

influenced not only by local factors but also
by international and global realities.
 A. EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS

EXAMPLE

The Montreal Protocol, a treaty addressing

ozone-depleting substances, serves as an
example of this global influence on
governmental policy.
 MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER

Aims to phase out the

production of numerous
substances responsible for
ozone depletion, signed in
August 26, 1987 with 46 country
signatories (US EPA, 2017).
 MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER

Definitive evidence of the

Montreal Protocol's
success was discussed by
NASA and projected that
ozone levels will return to
1980 levels by 2032
(Watts, 2018).
 A. EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS

EXAMPLE

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) often

attaches strict conditions to its financial
assistance.
 A. EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS

EXAMPLE

During the 1997 Asian

Financial Crisis, countries
like Indonesia and South
Korea had to implement
austerity measures and
restructure key parts of
their economies, including
labor and banking
regulations, as a condition
for receiving IMF loans
(Woods, 2006).
 A. EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS

Globalization has expanded the scope of

global governance by including non-state
actors such as NGOs, multinational
corporations, and transnational advocacy
networks. These actors participate in
shaping global norms and influencing state
behavior.
 A. EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS

EXAMPLE

The United Nations (UN) grants consultative

status to thousands of international NGOs,
allowing them to contribute to global
policymaking, especially in human rights and
development (Cole, 2016).
 A. EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS

EXAMPLE

Greenpeace, for instance,

plays a major role in
shaping international
environmental standards
by lobbying both states
and institutions like the
UN Environment
Programme.
B. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
AND ITS RELATIONS AND AFFAIRS
 B. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ITS
RELATIONS AND AFFAIRS

WORLD BANK

An international financial
institution that provides loans
to countries for the world for
capital projects.

Established during the Bretton

Woods Conference in 1944.
 B. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ITS
RELATIONS AND AFFAIRS

UNITED NATIONS (UN)

Seen as a facilitator of global

governance

Has regional commissions composed

of officials from different countries in
charge of making certain laws that
promulgate certain rights for economic
and social development.
B. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ITS RELATIONS AND AFFAIRS

Looks at the stability of the international

International monetary system by monitoring global economy,
Monetary Fund lends to countries, and provides policy and
(IMF) technical advisory functions to members
(Maverick, 2019).

Regulates international trades, ensures smooth

World Trade flow of trade, and provides a forum for
Organization negotiations for trade agreements among
(WTO) countries and regions of the world (International
Monetary Fund, 2019).
B. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ITS RELATIONS AND AFFAIRS

World Health Responsible for global researches on medicines

Organization and vaccines including the World Health Report
(WHO) and Survey.

Organization Thirty-five member countries aim to stimulate

for Economic economic progress and world trade by providing
Cooperation a platform to compare policy experiences and
and identify good practices in domestic and
Development international economic policies and programs of
(OECD) its members.
B. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ITS RELATIONS AND AFFAIRS

International
Labor Deals with labor problems and international labor
Organization standards and social protection for workers.
(ILO)

Food and
Agriculture Leads international efforts to defeat hunger,
Organization of eliminate food insecurity and malnutrition, and
the United increase resilience of livelihoods and food.
Nations (FAO)
B. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ITS RELATIONS AND AFFAIRS

Contributes to peace and security

by promoting international
UNESCO
collaboration through educational,
scientific, and cultural reforms.

International Civil Aviation

For regulations of international air
Organization (ICAO);
transport; shipping and prevention
International Maritime
of pollution at sea; developing
Organization (IMO); International
standards on ICT; international
Telecommunication Union (ITU);
intellectual property rights
The World Intellectual Property
standards.
Organization (WIPO)
 C. GLOBALISM AND INTERNATIONALISM

GLOBALISM
Is an ideology based on the belief
that flow of people, goods, and
information should flow freely
across national borders.
(Roudoemetof, 2005).
Focuses more on the economic
aspect of the exchanges among
countries and society. (Sargent, 2008)
 C. GLOBALISM AND INTERNATIONALISM
INTERNATIONALISM
Defined as political, economic, and
cultural cooperation between
nations. (Roudeometof, 2005)

Emphasizes diversity and

celebrates multiculturalism, while
globalism focuses more on the
economic aspect of the
exchanges among countries and
society. (Sargent, 2008)
 PROBLEMS WITH
GLOBAL INTERSTATE
SYSTEMS
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL
GOVERNANCE ON
NATIONAL AUTONOMY
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

A. Causes

a. Global institutions limit national decision-making

b. Trade agreements force policy alignment
c. International cooperation overrides local priorities
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

A. Causes
a. Global institutions limit national decision-making

WTO agreements bind member countries

to specific tariff commitments, limiting
their ability to unilaterally adjust tariffs or
provide subsidies. For instance, countries
cannot raise bound tariffs without
negotiating compensation with affected
trading partners or invoking specific
exceptions. .
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

A. Causes
a. Global institutions limit national decision-making
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

A. Causes
b. Trade agreements force policy alignment

The IMF often imposes conditionalities

when countries accept financial
assistance. These include requirements to
cut public spending, privatize state-owned
enterprises, or liberalize trade policie
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

A. Causes
b. Trade agreements force policy alignment
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

A. Causes
c. International cooperation overrides local priorities

COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution: Global Equity vs. National

Strategies

The COVAX initiative aimed to ensure equitable global

access to COVID-19 vaccines. While it promoted fairness,
some countries felt compelled to adjust their national
vaccination strategies to align with international
guidelines, sometimes at the expense of local health
priorities.
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

A. Causes
c. International cooperation overrides local priorities
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

B. Effects

a. Reduced policy independence

b. Tension between global and local interests
c. Rise of nationalism and backlash
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

B Effects
a. Reduced policy independence

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has warned

that the U.S. tariffs could reverse global trade growth,
projecting a decline in world merchandise trade by
0.2% in 2025. The WTO criticized the U.S. for
sidestepping international trade rules, and several
member countries are considering formal disputes
against the U.S. actions. Such international pushback
highlights how unilateral tariff policies can isolate the
U.S. and challenge its commitments to global trade
norms
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

B Effects
a. Reduced policy independence

Why it matters:

→ The U.S., as a WTO member, is expected to follow rules that

limit unilateral tariffs.

→ When the U.S. imposes tariffs without negotiation, other

countries may retaliate or file disputes, forcing the U.S. to
adjust or defend its policies internationally.

→ This reduces U.S. flexibility in setting trade policy without

facing global consequences.
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

B Effects
b. Tension between global and local interests

When Greece went into a debt crisis in

2010, it had to slash public spending and
raise taxes as part of the deal to get bailout
money from the IMF and EU.

These austerity measures caused a lot of

public anger, protests, and economic pain,
like rising unemployment and poverty.
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

B Effects
b. Tension between global and local interests
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

B Effects
c. Rise of nationalism and backlash

The U.S. delayed exports of vaccines and

raw materials to other countries.

This created global backlash, particularly

from India, which was struggling with a
deadly COVID wave and faced vaccine
shortages.

It also strained diplomatic ties and raised

ethical concerns about vaccine equity.
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

B Effects
c. Rise of nationalism and backlash

Nationalist policies led to hoarding of

vaccines, with some countries ordering
3–5x their population needs.

Global South countries protested,

leading to debates at the World Trade
Organization over waiving vaccine
patents.
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

C. Recommendations

a. Make global rules fair and inclusive

b. Allow national flexibility in agreements
c. Balance global and national priorities
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

C. Recommendations
a. Make global rules fair and inclusive

​ he International Criminal Court

T
(ICC) case against former Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte is an
example on how global interstate
systems strive to make
international rules fair and
inclusive by holding leaders
accountable for alleged human
rights violations, regardless of their
status or political influence.
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

C. Recommendations
a. Make global rules fair and inclusive

The ICC's proceedings against

Duterte illustrate the mechanisms
through which global interstate
systems enforce international
human rights standards:​

Equal Accountability:
Victims' Rights
International Cooperation
Deterrence
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

C. Recommendations
b. Allow national flexibility in agreements

Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT)

The IMF's PRGT is a key facility that provides interest-free

loans to low-income countries. During the COVID-19
pandemic, the IMF rapidly scaled up emergency financing
through the PRGT, committing nearly $9 billion in 2020 alone.
Overall, since the onset of the pandemic, the IMF has
supported 57 low-income countries with approximately $35
billion in interest-free loans via the PRGT.
 II. PROBLEM I
IMPACT OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON NATIONAL AUTONOMY

C. Recommendations
c. Balance global and national priorities

In July 2020, the IMF approved an additional $171.9

million disbursement under the Rapid Credit
Facility (RCF) to Madagascar to help address urgent
financing needs arising from the COVID-19
pandemic. This brought the total IMF COVID-19
emergency support to Madagascar to $337.9
million.

The funds were intended to finance health and

economic relief spending, including increased
social assistance to the most vulnerable.
 III. PROBLEM 2
INEQUALITY AMONG
STATES IN THE GLOBAL
SYSTEM
 III. PROBLEM 2
INEQUALITY AMONG STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM

A. Causes

a. Economic gap between rich and poor countries

b. Bias in global financial institutions
c. Limited access to technology and education
 III. PROBLEM 2
INEQUALITY AMONG STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM
A. Causes
a. Economic gap between rich and poor countries
The global economy is structured in a way that favors developed (core)
countries, giving them control over trade rules, finance, and markets.

For example, sub-Saharan African countries rely heavily on raw material

exports, which are vulnerable to price shocks and exploitation by richer
nations.

According to the World Bank (2023), low-income countries received less

than 1% of global foreign direct investment.
 III. PROBLEM 2
INEQUALITY AMONG STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM
A. Causes
b. Bias in global financial institutions
Institutions like the IMF and World Bank often favor wealthier countries that
have more voting power.

For instance, the IMF's quota system gives more influence to countries
contributing more funds giving the U.S. over 16% of the vote while many
African countries have less than 1%.

This affects decision-making, often leading to policies that benefit donors

over recipients.
 III. PROBLEM 2
INEQUALITY AMONG STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM
A. Causes
c. Limited access to technology and education
Developing nations often lack infrastructure, internet access, and skilled
labor, making it hard to compete globally.

According to UNESCO (2022), over 244 million children and youth

worldwide are out of school, mostly in low-income countries.

Technological dependency forces poorer states to import expensive tech

and services, keeping them in a cycle of underdevelopment.
 III. PROBLEM 2
INEQUALITY AMONG STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM

B. Effects

a. Debt dependency and financial struggle

b. Political instability and unrest
c. Limited voice in global decisions
 III. PROBLEM 2
INEQUALITY AMONG STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM
B. Effects
a. Debt dependency and financial struggle
Developing countries borrow from richer ones or institutions, trapping them
in cycles of debt.

Example: Sri Lanka’s debt crisis (2022) unable to pay loans from China and
other sources, the country defaulted and faced severe inflation and
shortages.

Many African countries spend more on debt repayment than on health and
education.
 III. PROBLEM 2
INEQUALITY AMONG STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM
B. Effects
b. Political instability and unrest
Inequality and economic hardship can lead to protests, violence, and weak
governance.

In Venezuela, economic collapse led to mass protests, shortages, and

millions fleeing the country.

Poor public services and unemployment feed distrust in government.

 III. PROBLEM 2
INEQUALITY AMONG STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM
B. Effects
c. Limited voice in global decisions
Developing nations often have little say in international negotiations like
climate summits or trade agreements.

For example, during the COP26 climate summit, wealthier countries

dominated the agenda, while smaller nations, especially island states,
struggled to get fair attention on urgent climate aid.
 III. PROBLEM 2
INEQUALITY AMONG STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM

C. Recommendations

a. Reform global voting systems

b. Improve access to aid and funding
c. Support tech and education in poor countries
 III. PROBLEM 2
INEQUALITY AMONG STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM
C. Recommendations
a. Reform global voting systems
Redistribute voting power in the IMF and World Bank to better represent
global South voices.

For example, advocate for "double majority voting" where both financial
contribution and country count are considered equally.
 III. PROBLEM 2
INEQUALITY AMONG STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM
C. Recommendations
b. Improve access to aid and funding
Increase grants and low-interest loans for development, especially in health,
education, and climate resilience.

Example: The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) provides aid to

improve education systems in over 90 low-income countries.
 III. PROBLEM 2
INEQUALITY AMONG STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM
C. Recommendations
c. Support tech and education in poor countries
Promote technology transfers, fair access to innovations, and invest in
quality education.

Programs like UNESCO’s Global Education Coalition aim to reduce the

digital divide through public-private partnerships.
CONCLUSION
 CONCLUSION

The Global Interstate System reflects the

growing complexity of governance in a
world shaped by globalization. It is evident
that state sovereignty increasingly operates
within a global context.
 CONCLUSION

While this system promotes cooperation and

collective progress, it also poses significant
challenges to national autonomy and
deepens inequalities among states.
 CONCLUSION

To ensure a just and effective global order,

reforms must prioritize inclusivity, respect
for national contexts, and equitable access
to resources and representation.
 CONCLUSION

By recognizing both the benefits and

drawbacks of global governance, nations
can better navigate a world that is
interconnected yet diverse.
THANK
YOU
BY GROUP 4