PROMOTING WORLD PEACE AND INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING: ROLE OF TRANSNATIONAL ASSOCIATION LIKE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL.

BY

OLUFEMI ADELUSI

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.  Furthermore, 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. ).