Twelfth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

A halt of the state as a chief social actor in the international system began at the end of World War II. The state as any living organism is aging and withering as time progresses. Challenges facing the withering state are rooted in rapid globalization and the contribution of technology towards all institutions which shape the state. This paper is not arguing that the state is useless. However, the state is no longer the sole primary custodial parent. The state must share custody with a host of relatives and friends towards fulfilling all specific concerns on its entire social welfare. It is impossible to think of any recent global movements, shifts, or changes facing the state that do not stem from non-state actors. The state of the twenty-first century is powerless in keeping up with rapid technology and its impact on distributing information. Range of diverse technological tools and diverse narratives (fake or real news) is a tough blow for the state. This push and pull have moved into academia and practice. The traditional view of a state and the institutions designated to maintain its existence are experiencing a process of deconstruction. As a result, this paper argues the critical roles of core disruptors: non-state actors, Technology and Mass Communications, which influence the withering state as it hopelessly loses political primacy in the international system.