week 6 post class blog Trump card

This class was very interesting as we had the opportunity to examine the recent summit between President Trump and Kim Jong un.  I really appreciated the hopeful opinion that Emma shared that this may be the opening door for something greater. I however do not feel hopeful about future relations.  I agree with the sentiment that this is more show than anything. Trump has made millions on using smoke and mirrors to trade on his name. I think he continues this same technique with his presidency to maintain his base. There was no real diplomatic presence for this meeting. There are no assurances for a follow on meeting. The United States gained no real concessions and has agreed to pull away from military exercises on the border. I think his style of diplomacy is dangerous and sets a precedent that States can appeal to Trump's ego and gain valuable concessions. I believe that Trump won this for himself and his base but the American people and diplomacy have lost big time. At some point I have to wonder if the United States is near to breaking off from being a rational actor on the international stage.

I tend to fall more along a constructivist lines. I believe that humans have a lot more control over the way we set our social order and are capable of fundamental change.  I will utilize an example from a previous blog post utilizing international women's movements. Today people have access to the freedom of information that has the capability to rapidly transcend international borders. We have seen ISIS move across boarders to execute attacks within the United States as well as Europe. Clearly in the modern world we are faced with a new challenge to identity. With this shift in identity the major players on the international scenes have the potential to be non state actors. One cannot ignore the international business market and their ability to manipulate states in their best interests. Apple is a great example of a power international business organization in the way their moved their headquarters to Ireland. They were so powerful that the current administration set current tax laws to be more favorable.  This sway of powerful companies within government is nothing new however the way in which they clearly move outside a home based country and pit countries against each other shows a new style and autonomy. Technology has allowed dispersed offices to all be in the same room with each other. This allows organizations to break free of the chains of identity based on location and reach out to new markets and people. the increase of technology will only increase the capabilities to reorganize with non state actors.  I think this will continue and ultimately the whole dynamic of power will shift.