"GLOBAL POLITICS IN THE HUMAN INTEREST" (MEL GURTOV).   Term Paper ID:19437 Click to get this paper

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Paper Abstract: Summarizes work in interdependence of nations & peoples. Paper Introduction: Global Politics in the Human Interest Mel Gurtov's textbook, Global Politics in the Human Interest takes a broad and thorough view of world conditions. His background as professor of political science, RAND Corporation employee, and author of eleven books and numerous articles provides a solid basis for his lively, intelligent writing in this work. The purpose of this paper is to briefly summarize Gurtov's book and to discuss his major themes. Global Politics in the Human Interest covers the conditions affecting world well-being. Gurtov steps beyond traditional political views and sees the world as a planetary unit, much as an astronaut on the moon. He rises above national viewpoints to a vision of global concerns--peace, food and employment for all, cultural dignity. He discusses the delicate concept of Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. Thesestatistics are sobering illustrations of Gurtov's theme of world crisis(pp. All persons may have food, shelter, health,and education. Approximately 1.2billion people live in absolute poverty, their incomes ranging from $2 to$4 per year. All persons may be free from torture, arrest, and threat.Everyone may participate in choice --job, residence, lifestyle, personalvalues, and type of government. The purpose of this paper is to briefly summarizeGurtov's book and to discuss his major themes. Prejudice anddiscrimination are counterproductive. Gurtov discusses indetail the contrast between these two values at the personal level,institutional level, and the national level. Countries who cannotafford to provide basic needs for their people spend money on arms. These primary values carry with them a set of positiveassumptions about the nature of man. The two greatest superpowerspossess destructive power equal to about 5, World War II's. The personal power of the individual needs to be recognized --ordinary people acting to make their communities and world more secure.When people act outside of government to decrease arms, feed everyone,decrease poverty and discrimination, improve communication, and teach self-sufficiency, global politics in human interests can become a reality.Gurtov inspires the reader to let go of old historical ideas of lack andcompetition, believe in one's heart that peace is possible, and to aim forresponsible planetary citizenship on a safe, green and blue globe. About a billion people aremalnourished. Every action creates an effect. Over two billionpeople do not have access to clean water. A globalhumanistic approach values honesty, shared empowerment, and internationalcooperation. These outdatedapproaches to survival must be supplanted by a dramatic transformation.This change is a psychological change more than material, and it happenswithin each individual before it can happen at national and internationallevels. Global humanism supports active problem-solving so that all personsmay live within their rights. Arms expenditures continue to increase. No longer isthe world a set of isolated, separate nations grappling with individualconcerns. New transnational cooperation outside therealm of politics upstages traditional diplomacy (p. They are likewise dependent upon each other's good senseand security. Interdependence includes difficulties that require a new, large-scalecooperation--terrorism, famine, ecological disasters, and endangeredspecies. As individuals in large numbers simplify their lifestyles,decrease their wants, and participate in community improvement, the globecan ultimately be healed. The theme of interdependence runs throughout the book. The world population continues to grow at a pace of 8 millionannually, drastically crowding the planet and burdening its resources.Tropical forests are becoming depleted; plant and animal species arebecoming extinct; and world food reserves are shrinking. Theunderdeveloped countries account for three-fourths of the world'spopulation but have only one-fifth of its income. A realistic, corporateapproach values toughness, amorality, control, and protectionism. His background as professorof political science, RAND Corporation employee, and author of eleven booksand numerous articles provides a solid basis for his lively, intelligentwriting in this work. 183). 6-11). His firsttheme is that the world currently is in a state of crisis. The final chapterimplores the reader to stretch beyond the usual nationalistic thinking to ahope for transforming world politics to an agenda which truly serves allhuman interest: "The ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beautyand the test of our civilization --Ghandi" (p. Western banks bailed out Poland in 1982 andcurrently finance China's efforts to industrially modernize. As Richard Falk says, "the most revealing worldorder statement each of us makes is with his or her life" (p. Today all the majoreconomies are deeply enmeshed in the global capitalist system of trade,investments, and lending. He moves the reader through anunderstanding of previous sense-bound theory and practice based on realismto a newer value of humanism in perceiving the globe. Separate chapters discuss each level of current world civilization--the Third World, the First World, and the Second World. Global humanism seeks to transforminternational politics. Other forms of interdependence include extraordinary numbers ofeconomic and political refugees, inflation and recession "exportation," andirresponsible disposal of chemicals. The oppression of poverty, racism, patriarchy, imperialism, terrorism, andreligious persecution has no place in a civilized world. Gurtov enables thereader to see commonalities among countries in each group and to understandthe relationships among issues facing each group. The mosttalented world scientists are occupied in military research and developmentinstead of finding solutions to world problems. The core elementof a global-humanist philosophy is that human interest is more importantthan any other interest--state, ideological, economic, or bureaucratic.Global humanism values peace, justice, ecological balance, and humanegovernment. Bythe year 2 this number will be dramatically larger. Gurtov describes interdependence in terms of mutual dependence. World income isnot equally shared. Interdependence is also economic. 42). The global agenda has becomelarger and diverse, beyond the scope of politics. (1991). Gurtov explores several major themes in this textbook. The late professor Roy Preiswerk inquired, "Could we studyinternational relations as if people mattered?" (p. Global Politics in the Human Interest Mel Gurtov's textbook, Global Politics in the Human Interest takes abroad and thorough view of world conditions. In the late 197 's, about 322 million people were unemployed. A further theme is the concept of global humanism, which greatlycontrasts with former approaches of corporate realism. Global politics in the human interest. 4-6). Boulder:Lynne Rienner Publishers.----------------------- 7 Effective knowledgeable world citizenship requiresthe ability to see across national boundaries, inside as well as outside ofsocieties, and within all levels of societies--races, classes, and systems. Global Politics in the Human Interest covers the conditions affectingworld well-being. The greenhouse effect requiresinterdependent cooperation. References Gurtov, M. Gurtov steps beyond traditional political views and seesthe world as a planetary unit, much as an astronaut on the moon. Forexample the two superpowers' populations are hostage to each other'snuclear arsenals. In thirty-four countries 8 percent of the population cannotread. He risesabove national viewpoints to a vision of global concerns--peace, food andemployment for all, cultural dignity. Responsibility needsto increase in caring for world population as one species sharing theworld. The developed countries earn about four-fifths of theworld's income but include only one-fourth of the world's population. Gurtov's philosophy requires a radical shift in traditional thinking. Everyone has a right to feel secure.Gurtov makes the assumption that global humanism will be possible only asindividuals become peaceful and secure within themselves. The disciplines ofeconomics, sociology, biology, anthropology, feminism, and sportscompetition all have a place in a new interdisciplinary approach totransnational politics. Global humanism seeks to look beyond dichotomies(you-me, us-them, rich-poor) to creative solutions to universal problems.Dominance is inappropriate. Fear is unnecessary. 21 ). Every country's disaster influences others. He discusses the delicate concept ofinterdependence in contemporary world politics--the interwoven tradeconnections among all countries. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.