Gilpin argues that the major problem of the global state system is the maintenance of peace. Therefore, because the state holds the monopoly over the means of violence and consequently the source of power and control, the nation-state is necessary to maintain global order. So, the state still holds a central and positive role in the modern world, and just because military force is used to sustain world order less frequently, this does not mean that there has been a decline in the importance of local military power. Also, the nation-state is important in providing a sense of both social and cultural identity. So, even if the nation-state becomes functionally redundant, it is still important to the cultural and psychological maintenance of political and social organisation, and therefore .
Nationalism is alive and well.
Far from being secondary and obsolete, the nation-state, nationalism and the idea of the national interest are central elements in the contemporary world . Therefore state autonomy is increased through their ability to gain greater security and greater empowerment via interconnectedness. Also, and probably most importantly, there is a distinction between interconnectedness and interdependence. Interdependence implies a mutual vulnerability to external events, whereas dependence implies a condition of asymmetrical vulnerability. Globalisation causes relations of dependence between nation-states and can therefore highlight existing inequalities within the global system.