Introduction
The global economy is characterized by the free flow of capital and trade, as well as sourcing cheap labor from foreign labor markets. Globalization can promote or disrupt peace among countries that are trading (Katinka, 2008). While some authors view globalization as having resulted in peace and capable of promoting peace and stability in the future through economic integration (Ellen, 2004), it can destabilize some states.
It can also promote or disrupt stability and democracy among participants of international or foreign trade. It has been observed that in the era of post-Cold War, the global economy has caused concerns for international security (Katinka, 2008). Following the happenings of globalization and the related changes in the security of several nations, several implications have arisen as far as the United States security policy is concerned. No wonder, security has been a global issue.
Case of Russia
There have been changes in the international security arena as a result of global economic developments. The issues surrounding power stability of nations like the United States and Europe as far as international security is concerned, include the possibility of the country to form integration with other countries considered as its security rivals, development of weapons by various countries, as well as the economic advantages derived from conquest by the U.S and Europe. For instance, Russia’s insistence on nuclear weapon development has been a security concern for the United States and European countries as it directly affects their national securities (Moeller, 2008).
It has been posited that Russia will not win against the Europe and US by trying to compete on power display as it carries high costs for Russia. The external activities and aggression by Moscow authorities and their security policy and concerns have been motivated by the past, as well as the need for security in the future. Russia has been suffering from a minority complex and sees the need to prove prowess following the fall of the Soviet Empire (Moeller, 2008). Moscow’s policy and agenda seem to be motivated by the desire to assert and prove its strength in Europe, as well as the whole world. Moscow has also been motivated by the desire to assert that it is has a great role as a center of integration in the post-Soviet empire (Alexandrov, n.d.).
Russia has rejected globalization notions to expand EU and considers itself insecure from the West. It is these reasons that have made Russia be isolated from the global economy. This approach has other complications for Russia, since countries such as the United States and EU respond by forming stronger bonds with non-Russian powers. The way Russia handles its relations with countries such as Ukraine determines whether such countries will be integrated to them or they will be more integrated with the West. USA stands to be implicated as Russia attacks and mistreats or confronts other countries (who are part of EU) such as Denmark, Canada and Norway, and through the desire of Russia to take Arctic. In addition, its desire to collaborate with nations such as Venezuela may irritate the US. While it has the oil and gas as resources the West need so badly, they also need the West technology and finance (Moeller, 2008).
Globalization can lead to isolation of some countries, which increase the opportunity costs. Economic conquest in the Cold war era has been characterized with some disadvantages as the aforementioned opportunity cost increases. International security relations in the European Union have improved following economic integration in the region. However, there are other forces that have played a role for this kind of development such as globalizing production of weapons by various nations. These healthy relations have led to formation of the European Union and the reduction of conquest threat by Germany and France (Katinka, 2008). However, there have been reported negative impacts of globalization on international security relations, such as with the Cold War effects on the relations between the United States and Russia. Russia seems to have been isolated from global economy following the fall of communism which has been blamed for ending command economy. Russia has not even succeeded in the integration to the global economy, even after its embrace for capitalism.
However, it does not mean that the security relations between Russia and US have been sour. In fact, they have been described as mixed (Katinka, 2008). This is because they are negative on one side, and positive on the other. They can be described as healthy, thanks to the partial integration of Russia to the global economy through adoption of capitalism. These relations shape the way the United States must make its security policies in order to strengthen national security, such as formulation of an anti-terrorism policy. One of the recommendations posited about how US should deal with globalization in order to cater for its implications for international security is taking a multilateral approach to relating to countries such as Russia.
Reference List
Alexandrov, Oleg. n.d.. “The City of Moscow in Russia’s Foreign and Security Policy: Role, Aims and Motivations.”
Ellen L. Frost. 2001. “Globalization and National Security: A Strategic Agenda.” In The Global Century: Globalization and National Security, ed. Richard Kugler and Ellen Frost. Washington, D.C.: NDU Press, 2001, 35-74.
Katinka, Baraysch, 2008. “The Russian Challenge I,” YaleGlobal, 2008. Web.
Moeller, Joergen. 2008. “The Russian Challenge II,” YaleGlobal. Web.