Interdependence refers to a situation where actors or events in different parts of a system affect each other in either a positive or negative way. There are four dimensions of interdependence: its sources, benefits, relative costs, and symmetry. Interdependence can originate from physical or social phenomena. Military and economic interdependence involve mutual dependence and policy choices that determine costs and benefits. While interdependence can create joint benefits that encourage cooperation, it also mixes domestic and foreign issues and leads to more complex conflicts as states prioritize their absolute over relative gains.
2. WHAT IS INTERDEPENDENCE?
INTERDEPENDENCE refers to a situation whereby
actors or events in different parts of a system
affects each other. Also it’s a mutual dependence
the situation can be either good or bad.
• Interdependence is a relationship in which
changes or events in any single part of a
system will produce some reaction or have
some significant consequences in other parts
of the system.
3. Sources of interdependence
• There re four distinctions that describe the
dimensions of interdependence which is its
sources, benefits, relative cost, and symmetry.
Interdependence can originate in
physical(natural)or social(economic , political ,
or perceptual) phenomena. all these
distinctions helps us to clarify the degree of
choice in situation of reciprocal or mutual
dependence
4. • Military interdependence: is the mutual
dependence that arises from military
competition, there is a physical aspects in the
weaponry, and the development of nuclear
weapons and the resulting possibility of
mutually assured destruction. however an
important element of perception is also
involved in interdependence and a change in
perception or policy can reduce the intensity
of the military interdependence.
5. Economic interdependence: economic interdependence
involves policy choice about values and cost.
A relationship between two or more people, regions, nations or
other entities in which each is dependent on the other for
necessary goods or services. Economic interdependence often
occurs when all parties are specialized in the fulfillment of
some requirements, and must trade with others for unmet
requirements. For example
China buys lots and lots of U.S. dollars in order to keep the $
strong and the yuan low. This means more money for America
which, in turn, america buys lots and lots of Chinese products.
6. BENEFITS OF INTERDEPENDENCE.
• The benefits of interdependence can be
expressed as zero-sum and non zero sum, zero
sum is a situation whereby one’s gain is the
other’s loss And positive sum situation both
sides gain in a negative situation both side lose.
• Some liberal economists only think of
interdependence in the aspect of positive
gain(joint gain)in which everyone benefits and
failed to pay attention to the political aspects of
interdependence.
7. • Also some liberal analysts thinks that
globalization make the world more
interconnected and that cooperation will
replace competition among the states because
they believes that interdependence creates
joint benefit which encourages cooperation
but states are more concerned with their
absolute gain from interdependence than
relative gain
8. • And lastly interdependence mixes domestic
and foreign issues together which gives rise to
much more complex coalition and more
pattern of conflict and different distribution of
benefits than in the past.
