International relation discussion 2 - Article Example

In this era of globalization, do you think that multinational corporations (MNCs) are posing a real threat to s' sovereignty? The private sector has gained a lot of power in our society due to the immense amount of cumulative wealth held by multinational corporations. These corporations are serving in the best interest of our society by creating millions of jobs in the United States and abroad. The largest multinational corporation in terms of job creation is Wal-Mart with over 2.1 million employees internationally (Answers, 2010).

The governments of countries are supposed to provide an infrastructure for economic and social development. The problem with this premise is that many governments across the world lack the resources to provide these services to the general public. The sovereignty that the government once held over the population is not as strong as in the past due to the influence of the private sector. I do not believe that multinational corporations pose a threat to the state sovereignty due the fact that the private industry is helping the government fulfill its social function inadvertently through its economic activity in the marketplace.

These corporations donate a lot of money and resources to help battle social problems such as hunger, disease, and poor educational infrastructure. Their contributions are performed without an added cost towards the government. Multinational corporations benefit from establishing good relationship with the government of countries by obtaining economic incentives in order to reduce labor cost, lowering taxes, and provide financing for capital projects. Private corporations and governmental institutions benefit when they cooperate and work in alliance in order to provide maximum benefit to the general public Define "Unipolarity" and comment on the role of the US as a hegemonic power that might affect world stability.

Unipolarity occurs when one nation has economic, military, and cultural control over the international community. In the modern world the United States is the closest state that resembles unipolarity due to its ability to influence other world leaders. During the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan the United States utilized hegemonic power to influence many powerful nations such as the United Kingdom to join them as allies in the war. Many countries in fear of repercussion joined a war they did not believe in.

Another factor that increases the economic power of the United States is that a lot of countries utilized the dollar as their currency for reserve purposes. The United States has a lot of experience dealing with diplomatic issues. It seems as if the United States are always sticking their nose in the dealings of many foreign countries. After the Cold War the United States gained a lot of military power which they have retained in the 21st century. The armed military forces of the United States are by far the most technologically advanced and superior militia in the world.

This country has effectively used its military to influence the behavior of other countries. The US has used its military to help battle the war on drugs and terrorism. It would be beneficial to spread the power to create better balance. An example of an organization that shares power among the powerful nations in the world is the G8. References Answers.com (2010). Walt-Mart Stores Inc. Retrieved January 22, 2011 from http://www.answers.com/topic/wal-mart-stores-inc