Power, international law and peacekeeping form a major aspect of the global talk, forums and discussions; as the threat to global security, stability and understanding are threatened especially by the rise in the terrorist attacks; and the armed conflicts witnessed in the today’s political global affairs. This work is an analysis of the efforts to enforce global power, international law and peace enforcement; in the midst of the present turmoil in global security posed by the terrorist and War related activities; carried out by the Middle East nations and the general rise of fundamental Islam. This will be done through assessing the global efforts towards adherence to international law, power control and peacekeeping by the global powers and international organizations.
The concept of power; its characteristics and international relations can be defined from several different perspectives taking a political science view; historian orientation and international relations practice model. From these various approaches power can be viewed as a goal of nations or state leaders; as a gauge of influence and management of events, issues, outcomes and stakeholders. Power can also be looked at as reflection of triumph in conflict and strife in the pursuit of security and stability. Power can also be looked at as the direction of resources and capabilities bestowed on the different state entities that further extend to the global management of the same. Power in this case can be summed up to host the economic and military capabilities within the international network; where those with significant powers are referred to as superpowers. Other entities considered as possessing power internationally include multilateral international institutions, military association institutions, multinational institutions, NGOs and other independent organizations like the church.
From recent world affairs it is evident that the states of the Middle East and the fundamental Islam pose a threat on global security; as evident from the 9/11 attack on the world trade centre. As a control effort the world superpowers like the U.S should tighten the security systems put in place; as well as carry out control measures to ensure that these nations do not create weapons of mass destruction like nuclear bombs through international control. In the process of controlling this situation; international organizations like the U.N and the I.C.C come in to pronounce the action points from a nationally non-inclined perspective; as well as convicting individuals of crimes threatening global peace for institutions like the I.C.C.
The concept of adherence to international law can be considered from different considerations of public international laws; existence of conflicts within the laws adopted internationally; and law related unions like the European Union law, and law agencies. From a wider view international law can be looked at from its different spheres like ‘public international law’; ‘private international law’ and or the law of supranational institutions. Public international decrees refer to and are concerned with the interrelation between sovereign states. The sources for these decrees are customs, treaties, and practices between nations like the Geneva Convention. Conflict laws are used in the case private regional laws are not in harmony with one another while the E.U law is a supranational legal network; which plays the role of enforcing decrees against or for their member states in ensuring justice and global peace.
Coming to the Middle East states and the general fundamentalist Islam as a threat to global security is; as they are in support of and emphasize the principles of sovereignty and zero-interference in their national internal affairs from other nations; as well as impose restrictions upon warfare by Islamic shari’a which are considered statutes of legal rules by them. The major global powers can come in to dissolve the risk by fostering conventions like the “Reviving the Islamic Spirit” between the Islamic nations and America. The role of international governmental organizations here is highly important as institutions like the ICC come in to establish a level ground between the different regional laws; in ruling out offenses related to international law.
Peace enforcement as a bracket concept housing peacekeeping and peace making; is the practice of ensuring peace within a given region or area. It is relatively different from peacemaking as its options involve the use of force to achieve negotiation between clashing parties. It further is carried out by none of the conflicting parties, but by an eternal party not affiliated to either sides of the conflict. It further differs from peace keeping in that the external party willfully uses force in responding to the violations of the desired peace.
With regard to the Middle East nations and the general fundamentalist Islam community as a threat to the global security status desired; the ‘Russian and CIS peace enforcement’ in Tajikistan; was geared to resolving the conflict between the Russian and the CIS sides. The role of the major powers like the U.S in diffusing the insecurity situation comes in to establish a level ground between the conflicting parties or engagement. An example in this case is the peace enforcement efforts employed by the U.S in Iraq. The role of international institutions in peace enforcement is evident from the case involving the U.N; where alliance and resolution of the case were left to them, after the Bush administration had triggered the situation.
In conclusion; it can be argued that the role of international power, international law and peace enforcement is of a great importance in the role of ensuring global security and peace. The role of global powers, international institutions and other non-governmental organizations is also very crucial in keeping the balance that is desired especially in addressing the issue of the threat posed by Islamic states, and the Islamic fundamentalist society in general.
Work cited
Rourke, John. “International politics on the world stage”, 12th edition. McGraw-Hill Press. (2007): 30-150.