ABSTRACT
Any discussion of 'international society' that goes beyond the conception of a society of states' must take into account the transnational activities of individuals, firms, interest associations and social groups. These societal actors have significant effects on the flow of material resources, know-how and ideas around the world, and cannot be ignored in any full account of international relations. At the same time, they co-exist and interact with states. A sound understanding of world politics depends on understanding the different types of societal actors operating transnationally, the various relations that can exist between them and states, and the sorts of tactics they adopt in their efforts to influence states.
