How Can A World Polity Approach be Used to Analyze the Establishment and Redevelopment of Transitional States?

Abstract

This paper uses a world polity approach to analyze the establishment and development of transitional states. To do so, I shed light on the world polity theory as specified by previous literature. The notion of an interconnected set of actors and institutions as being part of a world society is introduced to understand how action in the international community is a byproduct of an interrelated set of context specific processes. Special attention is given to nation states, and international non-governmental organizations to set the stage for where transitional states fall within this paradigm. A causal historical analysis of the Arab Spring is used to describe how a world polity model can be used to analyze how transitional states come into fruition. From this, I offer a case analysis of the ways international non-governmental organizations influenced humanitarian aid in post-revolutionary Egypt as part of redeveloping this transitional state by using the example of anti-female genital cutting campaigns. It was found that these organizations were able to effectively translate world cultural scripts to influence humanitarian action. Overall, this paper highlights how the world polity theory can indeed be used to examine complex transitional states in an innovative and profound manner.