PROMOTING
WORLD PEACE AND INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING: ROLE OF TRANSNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
LIKE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL.
By
Olufemi.P.Adelusi (Ph.D)
INTRODUCTION:
In order to properly examine our
subject -title above, it is required that we all keep in mind the
following:- Countries interact and the
resultant interaction lead to international relations, when peoples of different
countries interact, it is said to be transnational relations. The combine interaction of States and peoples
lead to or constitute World Politics.
The term ‘Politics’ could be defined in terms of conscious employment of
resources, “both material and symbolic, including the threat or exercise of
punishment, to induce other actors to behave differently than they would
otherwise behave” (Nye J. S. (Jr) and Keohane, R. O. 1972:380). World politics is characterised by war or
peaceful forms of relationships. International
Understanding underlies world peace. Its
absence encourages or determines war.
Governments (Elected or
Dictatorships) conduct most of the affairs of the countries among
themselves. Governments have nationally
stated or defined interests to uphold and protect on behalf of their
citizens. Most countries’ national
interests as defined and pursued by their governments are not always in
harmony. These interests are usually
classified into core or vital and non-vital interests. Whenever core or vital interests are enforced
without a complimentary understanding from opposing countries, breed hostile
relations otherwise referred to as violence.
Just like war has been found to
be too serious to be left with the Generals alone, so also the arena of World
politics has seen the coming of’ Non-State/Non-Governmental’ ‘actors’. These are referred to as transnational
actors. Put in another way, “any unit of
action that attempts to exercise influence across State boundaries and
possesses significant resources in a given issue area is an ‘actor’ in World
politics” (Ibid.383). Rotary International qualifies as a transnational
Association.
For convenience, this paper has
been divided into three parts as follows; first part is the Introduction,
Rotary International, as a Transnational Association constitutes the second
part, while the conclusion forms the third part.
II.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL AS A
TRANSNATIONAL ASSOCIATION PROMOTING WORLD PEACE THROUGH INTERNATIONAL
UNDERSTANDING.
The
existence of transnational relations dates back to pre 1914. Oran Young has observed that, “over the bulk
of recorded history, man has organised himself for the political purpose on
bases other than those now subsumed under the concepts ‘State’ and
‘Nation-State’ “(Young, O. R. 1975).
Indeed, the point being stressed here is not whether transnational relations
are new or that they Supersede inter-State politics, but that they affect
inter-State politics by altering the choices open to Statesmen and the costs
that must be borne for adopting various courses of action. Further more, transnational relations are
known to provide different sets of incentives, or pay-offs for States.
Historically,
these altered pay-offs were found to have been insufficient to ensure peace in
1914. It nevertheless demonstrated
during the period that, transnational relations do not influence inter-State
politics, but that it merely warns us against the incautious assumption that
transnational relations render war impossible between States linked by
extensive transnational ties (Nye J. A. (Jr) and Keohane, R. O:375).
In spite of
the above observations, it has been found out lately that transnational
relations today take different forms that 1914.
This has been due to two main factors, one; Mutual sensitivity of
societies has increased and second, the growth of transnational social and
economic organisations has created powerful and dynamic transnational actors
capable of adapting to change and of consciously attempting to shape the world
to their interests.
“Rotary
International falls into the category of transnational
Associations/Organisations. It shares
the attributes of Non-governmental/Non-State actor. Its membership, which cuts across state
boundaries, makes it disposable to exercise influence across these
boundaries. In fact the fourth Avenue of
service’ of the Association, enjoins members to encourage and foster the
advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship
of business and professional persons united in the ideal of services” (Rotary
International, Chapter 8:III).
Furthermore,
each Rotarian (as distinguished from just being a member of Rotary Club) (Barth,
R. R. 1994:44), wherever located has been charged with the task of helping to create
a well informed public opinions. As
“such opinion will inevitably affect governmental policies concerned with the
advancement of international understanding and goodwill toward all peoples”
(Rotary International, 1992 Manual of
Procedure : op. cit:III).
A list of
methods was advanced for achieving this ‘ideal of service’ (Ibid: 112). These range from; looking beyond national
patriotism, resisting any tendency to act in terms of national or racial
superiority; seeking and developing common grounds for agreement with peoples
of other lands, to promoting peace between Nations, upholding the principles of
justice for mankind and defending the rule of law and order, to preserve the
liberty of the individual so that he may enjoy freedom of thought, speech and
assembly, freedom from persecution and aggression and freedom from want and
fear. There is need for reconciliation
between the need to translate these methods into practice for achieving the
goal of ‘ideal service’ and the charge that “a Rotary Club should not adopt
resolutions of any kind dealing with specific plans relating to international
affairs. It should not direct appeals
for action from clubs in one country to clubs, peoples, or governments of
another country or circulate speeches or proposed plans for the solution of
specific international problems” (Nye J.S. (Jr) and Keohane, R. O. op. cit: 380).
How does a
Transnational Association like Rotary International (henceforth referred to as
R. I) carry out this ‘ideal of service’?
What are the ‘self evident truths’ that may hinder the attainment of
this laudable service? What are the
likely and objective factors that would render a close ‘rapprochement’ of these
ideals possible?
One key
word in this particular ‘fourth avenue of service’ is the ‘ideal’. When defined, it stands for a perfect state
of. In essence, the members of R. I are
called upon to move closer to this ‘ideal of service’. This brings up the consideration of one basic
fact that, ideals are always standards set for attainment. The moment standard is reached, it no longer
represents and ideal. It is along this
same line of thought that Jesus Christ, have enjoined the believers to be ‘as
perfect as their father in heaven’. We
all know how many people have attempted and are still attempting to reach this
ideal.
Concerning
the ‘self evident truths’ that may hinder the attainment of the laudable ‘ideal
service’; the first that comes to mind readily is term Peace. It is not subjected to one definition. The peace with Justice for some people is the
only acceptable direction to aspire to, while the peace of the Graveyard is
what expresses the desire as well as fulfils the aspiration of other
people. Now one would be left to imagine
that R. I stand for the reconciliation of the two definitions. Indeed Transnational relations entail some
complexity. This self evident truth
leads to another related one, which is the unequal distribution of power and
values in the world.
Power has
no single definition too. It could be
seen as the desire to have’ influence on the outcomes of a relationship or ‘the
exercise of control over resources’.
While values are linked to or derived from the combinations of or
precise identification with the above definitions of power. At the centre of World Politics is the
concept of power propelled by values adhered to or cherished. World politics has been defined as political
interactions between any ‘ significant actor’ whose characteristics include,
autonomy, the control of substantial resources relevant to a given issue area
and participation in political relationships across State lines. It has also become a self evident truth that
Transnational Associations as coalitions possess the richness of possibilities
for determining outcomes in World Politics.
R.I has shown by its set of separate year starting in July and ending in
June and its Standard Club Constitutions, that it engages in conscious
employment of resources, “both material and symbolic,.. to induce other actors
to behave differently than they would otherwise behave” (Nye J.S. (Jr) and Keohane, R. O. op. cit:380). Having
highlighted some grey areas in the march towards the attainment of the
far-flung ‘ideal service’ contained in the Fourth Avenue of Service, it would
also be in order to draw attention to the likely and objective factors that
would facilitate a closeness to the ‘ideal’ sought. Prominent among such factors are; First, the
fact that men identify themselves and their interests with corporate bodies,
other than the Nation-State. This makes
transnational actors flourish where dual loyalties are regarded as
possible. In this regard, world minded
Rotarians have been asked to look beyond national patriotism and consider
themselves as sharing responsibility for the advancement of international
understanding, goodwill and peace.
Second,
improved technology has removed many of the imperfections of communications
that once helped separate societies.
Satellite cable linkages have rendered the world a village, similarly,
development in Air Travels and Telecommunications technology are also
contributive to this opening up of Frontiers and State Boundaries. In this regard, the World Community Service
of R. I comes under mention here. The
WCS programme has been packaged to make Rotarians conduct projects that aim at
improving lives and meeting human needs thereby promoting world peace through
international understanding and goodwill by means of material, technical and
professional assistance.
CONCLUSION.
We have
been able to contribute to highlighting the role of Transnational Associations/Organisations
like Rotary International in the promotion of world peace and International
Understanding.
It was
pointed out that Non-governmental/Non-state actors like Rotary International
operate as transnational associations effectively because of their Manifest and
Latent objectives. The latent ones being
the influence on outcomes, or control over resources across boundaries, while
their Manifest ones are as stated in their Manual of Procedure, which place
emphasis on individual membership efforts at practising dual loyalties.
Some ‘self
evident truths’ that may hinder the pursuit of the ‘ideals of service’
contained in R. I constitution in general and in the Fourth avenue of service
in particular, were also pointed out. The most important being the role of and
the determination of the correct definition of the concepts of peace, power,
and values of States and peoples in the international system, since membership
of R. I is drawn from Nation-States that hold differing and different definitions
of the above concepts.
Finally,
the likely and objective factors that could facilitate the promotion of world
peace and International Understanding by Transnational Association like Rotary
International were posited; One, the advancement in Communications brought
about by improved technology. This means
that the barrier of distance and State Boundaries have been reduced the
Satellite Cable T. V and other telecommunication outfits. Second, the fact that men have been known to
identify themselves and their interests with corporate bodies other than the
Nation-State. Thus one expects transnational
actors like Rotary International to flourish in locations or States where dual
loyalties are regarded as possible and thereby promoting World Peace through International
Understanding.
NOTES AND
REFERENCES
Barth, R. R. (1994)
“Are You A Rotarian? “in The Rotarian. February.
Vol.164.
No.2 p.44.
Nye J. S. (Jr) and Keohane, R. O.( 1972), Transnational
Relations and World Politics (Cambrige Mass: Harvard University Press. ). p.380.
ROTARY International, Manual of Procedure (1992): A Reference
Manual for
Rotary Leaders. Chapter 8, p.III.
ROTARY International,( 1992), Manual of Procedure:
op. cit. Chapter 8. p.III.
Young, O. R. (1975), “The Actors in World Politics”
in J. N. Rosenau et. al, (eds), The Analysis of International Politics (Glencoe,
III. Free Press. ).
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