The State (DP IB Global Politics: HL): Revision Note
The state, peace and conflict
State actors are governments and the official institutions of sovereign states
They are the primary actors in global politics and play a central role in conflict, both as initiators and as responders
In the context of peace and conflict, states can be broadly divided into violent state actors and non-violent state actors
The distinction is not always clear-cut
A state may shift from one role to the other depending on circumstances
Non-violent states may ultimately be drawn into military action
How state actors interact with each other, and with non-state actors, shapes the nature and outcome of conflicts at every level of global politics
Violent state actors
Violent state actors are governments seeking to achieve goals by violent methods
As the state is often seen as the primary actor in global politics, a violent state actor can be a considerable threat to global peace
Conflicts between state actors are called inter-state conflicts
Strategies used by the international community to limit the impact of violent state actors include some key international laws, such as the Geneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions
The four modern Geneva Conventions were adopted in 1949, following the experiences of World War 2
They have been ratified by 196 states globally
They set guidelines for states to act humanely in the instance of war
To protect the sick, wounded and non-soldier participants of conflict (e.g. medical or religious)
To protect naval personnel
To treat prisoners of war with humanity
To protect civilians
Some, including realists, argue that international laws have little influence on a violent state actor determined to violate the sovereignty of another state
Other methods state actors can use to limit the impact of violent state actors
Method | Explanation | Example |
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Economic sanctions |
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Public condemnation and calls for peace |
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Threats of violence and force |
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Non-violent state actors
Non-violent state actors involved in conflict include states whose sovereignty has been breached by an aggressive state
They may be states which border conflict zones and are negatively impacted by the conflict
They may be states trying to mitigate the impact of conflict
However, it is likely necessary for them to respond with violence at some point
Ways state actors help other states caught up in conflict
Offer humanitarian aid to support daily life if food and other necessities are cut off
E.g. During the conflict in Yemen, the United States, United Kingdom and European Union states have collectively provided billions of dollars in humanitarian aid
They have funded food, clean water, medical supplies and emergency shelter for civilians affected by the ongoing civil war
Offer to provide support and house refugees
E.g. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, neighbouring European states opened their borders to millions of Ukrainian refugees, providing housing, healthcare and access to education
Offer military support in cases where the conflict may spread
This is risky as it may be perceived as threatening to other actors
E.g. Since 2022, NATO member states have provided Ukraine with substantial military support, including weapons systems, ammunition, intelligence sharing and training
Work collaboratively with global governance institutions to determine the best way to support
E.g. In response to the conflict in Sudan the African Union and United Nations worked jointly to coordinate a humanitarian response, broker ceasefire negotiations and deploy peacekeeping monitors
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