Changing of International Order in the Last Century - Essay Example

This paper argues that changes in international order were in a way that people attained more rights and powers over their day to day life, and states improved their international relations. In the first section, the paper will address various concepts of international order. Subsequent sections will discuss factors contributed to the international order change over the last century. International order changes Historically, it is observed that global countries depend on each other for trading activities, technological and education progress, and infrastructure development.

The emergence of globalisation greatly contributed to increased interaction between global countries. Scholars opine that the concept of international order creates a link between economic and political dimensions as political stability significantly influences a country’s economic landscape. Generally, concepts of international order give specific focus to states and consider war as a vital evil to be exorcised. Evidently, wars can make notable changes to the international order. “One widespread notion of international order equates order with international stability, that is, stable, predictable and controlled relations between states, in which turbulence, chaos and violence are largely (though not necessarily completely) absent” (Maull, 2005, p.94). .

To illustrate, the constructivism theory connected the evolution of international order to international relations. As discussed earlier, wars can have a great influence on the international order. Evidently, the World Wars I & II notably changed the international order. Although the World War I was considered the ‘War to End All Wars’, it directly led to World War II. These two World Wars significantly fuelled the international order changes over the last century. Many authors opine that the interwar period was characterised with radical changes in the international order and it observed notable changes in the balance of power approach that had existed in the pre-World War I Europe.

According to Ikenberry (2008), the World Wars led to the advent of the American era which in turn contributed to the formation of post-World War II international order. Throughout the post-World War II international order, an American dominance has been evident. Significant changes in the international order over the last century can be attributed to many structural changes in the global context and other global developments. Evidently, changes in the Soviet Union and Europe were a prime cause for international order changes occurred during the last century.

The changes in East-West relations emerged over the last century could be directly ascribed to Soviet Union, specifically the presidency exercised by Gorbachev. Sociologists point out that domestic reforms including ‘perestroika and glasnost’ executed by Gorbachev and Soviet foreign policy ‘new thinking’ markedly contributed to the development of a new international order. It is an undisputed fact that