The importance of interdependence and international cooperation We are not one nation alone in the world. We do not create the beliefs, state of development and environment of the entire globe. Acting as if no interdependence exists within states is not only ridiculous, but also dangerous. Professor Squibwell draws attention to this issue, and while his views may be a little extreme in stating that “the world functions as a single integrated unit”, he is correct in suggesting that we need to “collaborate with other states, strengthen international organizations and support the humanitarian and educational activities of international civil society". International relations are dictated, to a large extent, by a set of norms. While some states may, at times, disagree about what actions should be considered “normal,” most nations recognize the mutual benefits that can be achieved through cooperation on generally accepted “rules.” Some examples of norms include the peaceful resolution of disputes and respect for national borders. These expectations are respected by most state leaders and are somewhat institutionalized by international organizations (IOs) such as the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Whether humanitarian, economic, environmental, or any other form of group, each of these organizations is responsible for regulating different standards of behavior. With members ranging from 2 to 100, international organizations would not exist if there were no need for nations to rely on each other for regulation or assistance. The creation and continued existence of such groups demonstrates that Professor Squibwell's call for states to collaborate is valid. Another trend in world politics that legitimizes Professor Squibwell's view is the importance of trade. Nearly $5 trillion is traded internationally every year, representing 15% of global economic activity. (Goldstein, 351) While mercantilists argue that it is not the role of international organizations to make plans for mutual gains in terms of trade, liberalists have more practical views on the matter. They believe that states should not look at their own short-term gain as if they were competing with the rest of the world, but that instead they should find ways in which to match countries' long-term mutual gain. ... middle of paper ...... the communicative and informative roles that are creating supranational relationships cannot be ignored. Telecommunications have made a lot of progress in recent history and are advancing further as we speak. These improvements are bringing people of different states, cultural groups and mentalities closer together than the world ever imagined. While there are still large rifts in beliefs and cultures, ordinary people are able to quickly and easily hear the voices of the people from whom they are so incredibly dissimilar. A kind of global culture is beginning to emerge. Supporting integration in this form would not mean diminishing the notion of different cultures, but rather adding a sense of understanding and identification of individuals as human beings and as members of national groups. As you can see, interdependence is a fact of political, economic and life. The world now needs to cooperate to solve urgent problems. With the communication and political coordination capabilities of today's global society, it is necessary to take an advanced position on issues, bringing states together to enjoy.