Imperialism, Imperial Policies and Global/ Regional Status Quo and Its Development Response After Terrorist Attacks of 9/11
Lapatsanun Patcharanarapong
GST 6320 Peace and Conflict
November 18, 2012
Prof. Richardson
Global Studies
Northeastern University
Introduction
The concept of ‘status quo’ is one of maintenance of distribution of power at any given point in time and the preservation of such. The term is derived from ‘status quo ante bellum’ which refers to maintaining the peace treaties and settlements that stabilized the region since the last general war. Thus status quo is about keeping things the way it is, its motive is to preserve and not necessarily gain, boast or heavily influence any new positions that may break the balance. To apply it in current times and specifically to the new and less known form of war- unconventional terrorist war post 9/11, it has shifted global status quo to a certain degree and definitely shifted regional status quo in areas such as North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
According to Morgenthau, domestic and international politics have three standard patterns of policies. A policy that seeks to keep and maintain power- which is referred to as status quo, a policy to increase power- which is referred to as imperialism, and a policy to demonstrate power- also referred to as a policy of prestige. In this essay, focus will be on the two policies of ‘status quo’ and ‘imperialism’.
A nation that is seeking to keep the power that it already has, and has no intention in changing the level of power, is pursuing a policy of status quo. (Morgenthau, 2006, p.50) A nation that tends to increase its power or attempt to enhance in power status is pursuing a policy of imperialism. He also discusses concept of status quo as a diplomatic term of foreign policy “referring to the usual clauses in peace treaties that provide for the evacuation of territory by enemy troop and its restoration to the prewar sovereignty”. (Morgenthau, 2006, p. 51) The essential purpose of status quo is to maintain the distribution of power at the particular moment, and
GST 6320 Peace and Conflict
November 18, 2012
Prof. Richardson
Global Studies
Northeastern University
Introduction
The concept of ‘status quo’ is one of maintenance of distribution of power at any given point in time and the preservation of such. The term is derived from ‘status quo ante bellum’ which refers to maintaining the peace treaties and settlements that stabilized the region since the last general war. Thus status quo is about keeping things the way it is, its motive is to preserve and not necessarily gain, boast or heavily influence any new positions that may break the balance. To apply it in current times and specifically to the new and less known form of war- unconventional terrorist war post 9/11, it has shifted global status quo to a certain degree and definitely shifted regional status quo in areas such as North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
According to Morgenthau, domestic and international politics have three standard patterns of policies. A policy that seeks to keep and maintain power- which is referred to as status quo, a policy to increase power- which is referred to as imperialism, and a policy to demonstrate power- also referred to as a policy of prestige. In this essay, focus will be on the two policies of ‘status quo’ and ‘imperialism’.
A nation that is seeking to keep the power that it already has, and has no intention in changing the level of power, is pursuing a policy of status quo. (Morgenthau, 2006, p.50) A nation that tends to increase its power or attempt to enhance in power status is pursuing a policy of imperialism. He also discusses concept of status quo as a diplomatic term of foreign policy “referring to the usual clauses in peace treaties that provide for the evacuation of territory by enemy troop and its restoration to the prewar sovereignty”. (Morgenthau, 2006, p. 51) The essential purpose of status quo is to maintain the distribution of power at the particular moment, and
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