AOS 1 - Global Actors Flashcards
Define nation.
Groups of people claiming common bonds based on culture, language and history. Some nationalities have their own states (nation-states), such as the Japanese, whilst others want their own state, such as Tibetans and Kurds.
Define state.
Traditionally the central actors in international relations, states possess a permanent population, defined territory and recognised sovereignty. States are not necessarily culturally homogenous, and may comprise one (nation-state) or more nations.
Define sovereignty.
A legitimate or widely recognised ability to exercise effective control over a territory within recognised borders. It is the primary organising principle of global politics which provides states with the authority to represent their territorial entity within the international community. State sovereignty can be challenged internally (for example by secessionist groups) or externally (for example, one state invades another)
Define power.
The ability of one global actor to influence the actions of another global actor. Power can be exercised in a range of types and forms.
Define global governance.
Institutions, rules, norms and legal arrangements that seek to facilitate co-operation and manage relations between states. Governance is carried out by both governmental organisations like the UN and non-governmental organisations like the ICC.
Define multilateralism.
System of co-ordinating relations between three or more states, usually in pursuit of objectives in particular areas.
Define public opinion.
Sentiment shared by the people. Can be an important factor in influencing the foreign policy decisions of governments.
Define globalisation.
The acceleration and intensification of exchanges of goods, services, labour and capital which promote global interdependence. This acceleration and intensification has been facilitated by rapid changes in communication and technology. Globalisation has widespread impact on social, political, economic and cultural life.
Explain the difference between a state and a nation.
A state has defined territory, recognised sovereignty, a functioning government and economy and a permanent population that is not necessarily culturally homogenous. On the other hand, a nation has common bonds based on language, culture or history, doesn’t necessarily have sovereignty; some do, such as the Japanese, and some wants sovereignty, such as the Kurds.
What are the aims of the state?
Territorial integrity and the continuation of state sovereignty (protect borders, ensure economic sustainability and growth, motivates to form alliances, domestic peace and stability), improving its international standing to help it influence other states and individual national interests (geo-political or strategic interests, economic and trade interests and being perceived as a good international citizen.)
What is the role of the state?
To meet the needs of its citizens through providing them with security, justice, freedom, order and welfare. The ability to fulfil this role varies due to the imbalance of developed and developing states and the existence of failed states.
Explain the ability of Chad to fulfil its role as a state.
It is ranked 5th on the Foreign Policy Magazine index of failed states. It has ethnic clashes, banditry and fighting between government and rebel groups. An estimated 180,000 Chadians have been forced from home in the past three years. 20% of children die before the age of 5.
Explain the ability of Niger to fulfil its role as a state.
The annual spending on health per person is less than $5, which is significantly less than the WHO recommendation of $34 for low-income states. Its average life expectancy is 53.4 years, in comparison with Australia’s 81.81. It has the 3rd highest infant mortality rate and its GDP per capita is $700, making it the 7th lowest out of 228 states.
Evaluate the power, authority and influence of the state.
The USA has influence and authority over such institutions as the UN, WTO and IMF: holds veto power in SC, ignored WTO Brazil cotton decision, holds 17.4% of votes in IMF = veto. States have ultimate sovereignty and remain ‘masters of treaties’.
UN challenges state power with sanctions e.g. no-fly zone over Libya, resolution 1973. IMF imposed economic conditions on Greece. TNCs, control 1/3rd of world trade, if Wal-Mart were a state would be China’s 8th largest trade partner. Third agenda issues mean states must work multilaterally and abdicate sovereignty e.g. 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions (signed May 30, 2008 and came into force August 1, 2010; states party to the Convention are required to stop production of cluster munitions and destroy existing stockpiles through enacting national legislation (legislative sovereignty impinged upon). 108 states have signed and 75 ratified
Explain the challenges to state sovereignty.
- Regional groupings
i. ASEAN and Myanmar – challenged because had to let aid in (in 2008 Myanmar was devastated by Cyclone Nargis, but the military junta refused to allow independent aid organisation in and demanded all aid pass through military channels (where it would be misappropriated). ASEAN (a South East Asia regional grouping) exerted diplomatic pressure on the Myanmar government, and as a result international aid organisations were let into the country)
ii. EU and Romania – had to accept 11-point plan (in 2011 there was a political crisis in Romania, with PM Victor Ponta calling for President Traian Basescu to step down; in response, the EU commission issued Romania with an 11 point plan of reforms that EU Commissioner Jose Manuel Barosso said was “essential for maintaining Romania’s credibility and stability” – Romania followed through with the reform plan) - Contested and changing borders
i. Internal groupings (Syrian conflict, since 2012 opposition groups such as the Free Syrian Army have been waging a war against Bashar al–Assad’s government, which is no longer able to exercise effective control over large swathes of its territory such as the major cities of Aleppo and Homs)
ii. Differences over borders (2008 Russo-Georgian War, Georgia’s sovereignty was challenged by Russia’s invasion in an attempt to take control of South Ossetia)
iii. Invasion (2003 of Iraq by Coalition of the willing) - Issues and crises requiring multilateral action
i. Convention on Cluster Munitions
ii. Climate Change
iii. Migration
State aims of the UN
i. Maintain international peace and security (e.g. by imposing no-fly zone over Libya)
In Libya this was successful, formed sound legal basis for action (March 17, 2011 UNSC voted for no-fly zone, 24 hours later Libya’s foreign minister announced that all government military operations would be halted)
Syria currently raging war, UN has done nothing because of Russia and China vetoing 3 SC resolutions, SC only “strongly condemns”
Peacekeeping operations have often had limited success e.g. Monusco failure
Limited by national interest of states
Lack of authority (invasion of Iraq)
ii. Develop friendly relation between member states
iii. Work collectively to solve problems of poverty, illiteracy, disease, environmental destruction and encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms (e.g. work of the UNDP)
iv. Be a centre of helping nations achieve these aims
Describe how the UN seeks to achieve these aims
• Haiti
o UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)
o Took over from the Multinational Interim Force after being invited by the government in 2004
o Mandated by UNSC resolution 1542 to “Restore a secure and stable environment, promote political process, strengthen government…and rule of law…promote and protect human rights” Also aims to lower poverty, restore legitimate but exiled government, restore police and rule of law, assist development of the economy, protect and rebuild infrastructure
o Numbers raised after 2010 earthquake
o Size in 2004: 10,019 with 6700 troops and 1622 police
o Size now: 13,357 with 7699 troops and 3542 police
o Problems
• UN soldiers acting recklessly
• In 2005 they attacked an arms depot without proper planning and killed 80 people
• Accusations of torture, massacres and violations of Geneva Convention
• Accusations of rape, sexual assault, pillage, robbery and theft
• Failure to prosecute or follow up accusations of UN misconduct and corruption
• UN forces made up of many people from many different countries completely alien to Haiti, meaning there is little unity and lots of racism
• UN forces have diplomatic immunity, so there is no consequences for their actions, soldiers long way from home and isolated
• Military action
- March 17, 2012
- UNSC approved no-fly zone over Libya by resolution 1973
- less than 24 hours later, Libya’s Foreign Minister announced that it would halt all military operations in response
- NATO, led by UK, Italy, France and US, deployed aircraft to enforce
• Peacekeeping
- 16 active missions
- 96, 537 peacekeepers deployed (as of July 31 2012)
- United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste
- formed by UNSC 1704 on August 25, 2006
- response to ongoing security crisis which included many rebel groups carrying out guerrilla wars against government
- consists of 1600 people plus support staff
- supervised 2007 election (had highest vote participation in history, 80%)
- ensured security of state after attacks on February 11, 2008, then the Falintil-Forcas de Defensa de Timor Leste. led by Alfredo Reinado carried out armed attacks against president Jose Ramos-Horta and PM Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao
• Moratorium on the Death Penalty - Calls on states that maintain the death penalty to establish a moratorium on its use and move towards complete abolition. Also aims to restrict number of offences punishable by death and respect the rights of those on death row
- December 18, 2007 GA voted 104/54 in favour to establish the Moratorium
- Italy changed de facto abolition of death penalty to de jure abolition on March 3, 2009 by ratifying Protocol 13 of the European Covenant on Human Rights as a direct result of resolution
Explain the role of the UN
- Based on keeping international peace and acts as observer of economic, social and human rights conditions
- Acts as administrative organisation as well as a diplomatic mediator
- Role in world affairs, irreplaceable by any other organisation
- Members agree not to use force without UN support, not always upheld (US invasion of Iraq)
- UN agrees not to intervene in domestic affairs (intervention in Libya)
Evaluate the power and influence of the UN
Able to impose on state sovereignty through binding SC resolutions (e.g. Libya)
GA resolutions carry weight symbolically because they show the will of the international community (moratorium on death penalty success)
Limited by the national interests of states, especially the Big Five (4th of February 2012, Russia and China vetoed a bill to force cessation of conflict and rebels-to-government negotiation in Syria, despite a General Assembly resolution condemning the situation in Syria and the assent of the other 13 members of the Council, because Russia supplies arms to Syria)
Financial veto of states (2010, members owed 4.1 billion), relies on member contributions (total budget of UN agencies is 12 billion – 2% of US annual defence spending) If the UN were a state, its GDP would languish around 160th-highest in the world, on a par with Djibouti, Belize and Guyana. Its military power, on the other hand, would place it 48th in the world, below Nepal but above Nigeria
• In 2010, only 26 of the 192 member-states paid their full contributions
Unilateral action still common (e.g. Coalition of the Willing invasion of Iraq)
Overall: While wielding some power on the global arena as a representative of the international community, the UN is limited by its dependence on the co-operation of states, as state interests overtake UN aims, and it relies financially on its members.
