8.3 Nations in the Global Village

Should internationalism be pursued?

Big Idea:

  • To what extent should organizations promote internationalism?

While the physical size of the planet Earth is still the same, the human world (and our connections between and among each other) is shrinking. Technology has decreased travel time while increasing the connectivity between people.

This connectivity and the resulting impact nations have on each other today would have been unbelievable a century ago. When one nation experiences financial, environmental, or political crises, the ripple effect is felt not only by nearby nations, but also by others across the globe. For instance, in 2008 the economic crisis in the United States had a direct impact on US citizens, but the ripple effect on world financial institutions, developing nations, and humanitarian aid was unprecedented. Images of political unrest in Myanmar against the Rohingya people, viral movements such as the January 2017 Women's March, and changes in national leadership now have a direct and an indirect impact on the international community.

© Flickr


© Thinkstock
In today's world, written messages, images, and voice communication can be sent and received instantly almost anywhere. A trip around the world can now be completed in just a few days. The space shuttle takes about 90 minutes to make one orbit around the Earth. People are becoming more and more connected. Globalization is expanding at an ever-increasing rate. The instant connectivity between people in various countries enables the rapid deployment of resources to solve international problems. World Wars I and II taught us that countries following foreign policies of isolationism and ultranationalism bring only conflict. Yet, isolationism and ultranationalism still exist in today's world, making internationalism even more important.

Watch

Watch the following video explaining globalization and how interconnected countries have become. How does globalization impact Canada's approach to international issues today?


Of course, when a country decides to follow a policy of internationalism by becoming a member of one or more international organizations, it may have to give up something in return. Just as an individual sometimes has to give up some of his or her freedom to live peacefully with other people, countries may have to compromise on some of their sovereignty and national interests. Internationalism is a give-and-take relationship among countries. The benefits of this compromise, however, are rewarding (for example, peace is a great benefit).

Go to your textbook, Understanding Nationalism,  and read pages 246 to 248. Take notes on what you have read in your textbook and viewed on this page (if you need help taking notes, click here). This information will highlight the various global changes and factors that have increased international connectivity.