Prepared by: Ayndanasi
Non-state actors, sometimes also referred to as non-governmental actors, comprise those entities, authorities, institutions, groups, or even individuals—whether domestic, regional, or foreign—that play a role in the global arena according to the capacities and powers they possess or the extent of their participation. This role-playing inherently requires a specific decision or the execution of a specific action.
Non-state actors are identified as those entities and frameworks whose representational activities cannot be controlled by states, and they encompass a set of specific characteristics, including: the existence of an organized structural leadership, the exercise of their own independence from the decisions of the state to which they have geographical affiliation, and these actors may represent ethnic, sectarian, tribal, or ideological groups. They possess their own political objectives and have the necessary capacity to implement their goals; therefore, they are considered effective actors in the state’s policy-making.
In a broader definition, non-state actors encompass civil societies and organizations, multinational companies, and non-governmental organizations that exist outside state sovereignty, or at least have the capacity to operate beyond that specific state sovereignty, and they transcend the geographical boundaries of the homeland and state due to the various capacities and the diverse resources and inherent powers they have incorporated, including information capacity and technology.
In a more concise definition, non-state actors are those semantic entities that operate in the international sphere in a manner distinct from states, according to the authority and rights designated for them to exercise, and they must also bear all those obligations and duties that are incumbent upon them and designated for them, whether these obligations are customary, ethical, or treaty-based, which align with the nature and international duties in one field or several fields of international law, according to the competence required and incumbent upon them to bear international responsibility.
Of course, these groups do not necessarily always play a positive role. There is often disagreement regarding the determination of a clear and unified definition, because there is a significant difference between the formal definition and their actual field role. The prevalent formal academic definition encompasses those international aspects and entities that have transcended the state and can play a role outside the classical Westphalian states through their capital, income, and political influence. Sometimes these groups also take other non-governmental and non-peaceful paths, such as creating armed forces and using violence to impose their political, religious, and sectarian ideologies. For example, in the Arab world and particularly in the Middle East after the Islamized Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979, which created or incorporated several groups, networks, institutions, organizations, and militias and made them loyal within the region, many of which played a role in weakening the sovereignty of traditional and centralized states in the region, such as Lebanese Hezbollah, the Houthis of Yemen, and so forth.
The role of armed and violent non-state actors emerged and played a more prominent role after the Cold War, particularly from the side of the former Soviet Union, which adopted a strategic approach and was utilized more under the banner of exporting revolution and inciting oppressed and weak peoples, and was used as a card against capitalist systems. During those few decades, the Soviet Union armed and financed many of these groups and incited them against states. Several organizations and groups emerged and operated in this sphere, and some of them established themselves under the veil of liberation movements.
Non-state actors have several types, including: economic ones that conduct economic activities and work within the global financial system, such as multinational companies.
Some have a political nature and participate in state policy-making and international relations as well. In addition to these, some play a role within the social, cultural, and humanitarian framework.
In general, the characteristics of non-state actors can be summarized in several points:
They possess an independent organizational structure and have a specific leadership outside the national state.
They possess financial capacity and material capital, which has enabled them to maintain their independence and accomplish the objectives they desire, because they are financially independent.
They are not bound by the boundaries of their state and possess external, international, and global relations.
They encompass various activities that they have organized within the framework of their own means and objectives, and through which they wish to be influential on the domestic, regional, or international political situation, according to a specific and purposeful schedule and plan.
They possess extensive relations and comprehensive networks with other governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Regarding the types of these non-state or non-governmental actors, there are several types, such as: international and non-governmental organizations, multinational companies, individual actors, security companies, research centers, internet activists, global civil society, global media, and so on..
- Originally published in Publishing Section by the Center for Future Studies and translated by Nawroz Mohammed for Kfuture.Media.
