Complex Interdependence
In 1970s, a new perspective known as transnational relations arose to question realism key assumptions of state as main and the only actor of world politics. This theory gave a new analytical framework to understand the international relations which was contrary to the state centric paradigm of realism. With complex interdependence as its central concept, this theoretical analysis advanced “synthesis of liberal + realist perspectives by constructing a way of looking at world politics and also the idea of institutionalism to foster cooperation”. It is asked how under conditions of complex interdependence world politics would be different than under realist conditions means this analysis ask to see “ what realism overlooked”.
The phenomenon of Interdependence is not new; states have always been interdependent on each other for their economic functions and especially for security purposes. We have seen the complicated interdependence among states in the alliance system to achieve their political ends before First World War. The earliest example of interdependence comes from Norman Angell’s “The great illusion (1910) when he said the economic interdependence will minimize the occurrence of war on the basis of cost-benefit analysis.”
Countries are dependent on each other for trade and transaction, they interact globally e.g. flow of money, goods, people and messages across international boundaries but all transactions among countries are not characterized by interdependence because???
Where there is reciprocal costly effect of transactions, there is interdependence” If no costly effect so only interconnectedness.” If we try to explain the term interdependence, so in a very simple word we can say it means mutual independence on each other which results in mutual benefit, When the well being of a state depends on the cooperation of a second state,