Information Technology and the Empowerment of New Actors in International Relations

Abstract

Reviewing the existing theoretical resources in the field of international relations, this work interprets the significance of science & technology on the international political economy, in terms of means, environment, and constructing factor, and argues for the need to recognize and analyze the development in science & technology as an internal factor in international relations. As a way to understand how science & technology works as an internal factor in international relations, this paper tries to examine how science & technology transforms the actors in international relations. The paper insists that science & technology, especially information and communication technologies (the internet, in particular), have been critical factors contributing to the emergence of new actors, such as terrorist groups, individual investors, transnational NGOs, in the areas of international security, trade, finance, production and social movement.