From Anarchy to Confederacy: A Theory of International Politics

This dissertation advances a novel systemic theory of international politics. Today, the most salient feature of the international system is not the presence of multiple opposing great power poles, but rather, an enduring leading power commercial confederacy. The Western order develops out of a US led hegemonic subsystem following World War II and steadily deepens and expands. Chapter 2 of the dissertation argues that this Western order is a great deal more enduring than previously thought, precisely because cohesion rests on the interactive combination of multiple unifying bonds. This order is now a semi-permanent, path-dependent, and remarkably resilient feature of the international political landscape. The commercial confederacy is a leading power configuration that now conditions the behavior, to varying degrees, of every state in the system. Bonding, or commercial and institutional integration, is now the dominant behavior induced by the system. To be competitive, states are led to pursue distinct politico-economic strategies of integration. Chapter 3 develops a novel systemic theory of international politics. Chapter 4 discusses how systemic theory should be tested and outlines a preliminary research program. Chapter 5 is plausibility probe of China's grand-strategic behavior in the reform era. As an outsider, China has responded to the prevailing systemic pressures by pursuing a bonding strategy. That is, China has pursued political and economic strategies of integration

Syria: adjusting to the new world order

The advent of the New World Order has challenged Syria's role in the Middle East. Traditionally viewed as a pariah state, and a Soviet satellite, Syria's future looked uncertain. Syria, however, has been able to accommodate the transformation in the world order. The New World Order amounted to a redistribution of global power. The transmutation of Soviet power towards the US culminated in a unipolar world order. The withdrawal of Soviet support through the advent of the New World Order threatened Syria's quest for regional hegemony. Existing in a state of anarchy, the co-ordinates of Syria's foreign policy have been founded upon the principles of self-help, national security, and national interest. These principles have found their expression through Syria's intractable struggle with Israel. Syrian foreign policy has been determined by two factors: primarily, by the international political system, and secondarily, by the influence of domestic politics. Omni balancing provides an explanatory model for foreign policy behaviour that bridges the divide between the determinants of the international political system and the influences of the domestic arena. Following a rational policy, the Syrian state was compelled to realign with the US- led world order, in order to pursue regional hegemony. It was able to display its accommodation of the New World Order by joining the US-led coalition forces in the liberation of Kuwait in 1990/1991. Syria's adjustment to the New World Order was rewarded with a place in the post-war regional order, and a central role in the Madrid Peace Conference

How successful were President Obama’s efforts in climate diplomacy?

This thesis explores the possibility of combating climate change as a result of climate diplomacy exercised by President Obama. The aim is to examine President Obama’s actions through a method of norm-centred constructivism. This thesis’ core research question is: to what extent was President Obama’s diplomacy successful in addressing the problem of climate change? Chapter One contextualises the subject matter by providing a background and laying out the criteria for success. Chapter Two argues that there is a lack of consensus regarding what classifies as effective climate diplomacy. This chapter explores the theoretical assumption of norm-centred constructivism, which stated that norms introduced by leaders could change collective identity and overcome anarchy through the creation of a collective community. Chapter Three outlines the methodological framework of norm-centred constructivism. Chapter Four assesses the extent to which President Obama’s climate diplomacy was innovative and creative. Chapter Five discusses President Obama’s achievements and lost opportunities. The core analysis reveals an evaluation of President Obama’s normative influence. Chapter Six summarises the research findings and presents conclusions offering problem-solving solutions. The Obama administration promised dramatic changes in regard to climate leadership. However, the momentum occurred late in the second term. President Obama achieved a reasonable degree of success given the lack of sustained support from public opinion, a number of competing national priorities, political gridlock and constraints exerted by the structure. Although President Obama did not change the system’s structure, his main success was that the worldwide shift toward low-carbon energy has been irreversible. President Obama’s climate diplomacy succeeded in creating the norm of environmental stewardship. The signing of the Paris Agreement generated unprecedented levels of global solidarity. President Obama helped to unite the world around “the spirit of the times”. The creation of a global climate community offers hope for a successful solution